Introduction

Lesson Modal Verbs & Modality Western Way

The basic helping verbs (be, do, & have) only help us when we talk about something that is clearly real
or unreal, but modal verbs allow us to discuss probabilities and feelings of anything real or imaginary.
We usually use them to show people’s control of potential or the probability of something being true.
The language function that modal verbs provide is known as modality.
In syntax, modal verbs are mostly the same as the basic helping verbs. We move the modal verb to the
front of a sentence to make questions (will you?), and we can make contractions with the modal verbs
and the clitic n’t (can’t). However, the modals shall, must, may, and might aren’t normally contracted
with n’t, and trying to make contractions with them will sound strange or silly (you mustn’t). Also, will
and would can be converted into clitics and contracted with the subject (I will = I’ll)(he would = he’d).
As you’ll see in the chart below, we can use modals in present tense and past tense, and we can also
show impossible potential with the past modals. However, modality also exists in the area between
reality and potential, and in this topic, we will call this area quasireality. Other sources may call this a
“hypothetical reality,” but that’s not a very accurate term. This type of information is separated from
reality in some way, but even so, it changes our understanding of reality.

Modality Diagram Western Way

To understand the grammar of
reality, we need to look at things
in a new way. “Present tense” is
not always present, and it would
be better to say it’s a tense for
“current” things. We use “past”
forms for unreal things because
they’re actually forms for things
that are “noncurrent” (we could
also say “isolated” or “limited”).
Verb forms for reality show a
tense, but the quasireality and
potential forms don’t – so these
forms can be used in a present or
past context – they’re not limited.
Modal verbs are never used in
their base present form (current
potential form). When modals are
used for reality, their events and
states usually repeat.
Chart Overview Western Way
The table below shows all of the modal verbs that we use today. Modal verbs can show a person’s
control of a potential state or event, and if the controller is the subject of the sentence, we say that the
control is internal – the subject decides what it wants to do (I will). However, if the control is external,
some other person is controlling the actions of the subject (you may). You can see in the table that the
typical external modals shall and may are slowly becoming less popular and losing meanings. The
passive meanings are the ones that don’t show anyone’s control (it may rain). Passive meanings show
only potential, possibility, or probability.
The “occurrence” feature means that a modal makes clear that something happens, and it’s not just a
consideration. The “certain” feature means that a modal makes clear that something is so sure that
questions can’t be asked about it. You can also see that shall and should are not available for all of the
normal uses of modal verbs. This is generally because they are changing or becoming unused.

Modal Chart Western Way

Will Shall Can May Must
Internal Control Choice Q Ability Q
Obligation Q
External Control Directive Q Directive Q Permission Q Permission Q
Passive (Control) Prediction Q Outcome Q Potential Q Possibility Q Deduction Q
CURRENT

[1]
Limitations Passive,
Passive, Passive, Passive, Passive,
with Have Negative,[2]
Non-Past Non-Past Past Only Past Only
Construction Past Only
Is Certain No No No No Yes
Has Occurrence Yes Yes No Possibly No
QUASIREALITY
PRESENT TENSE Repeats No Repeats Repeats Repeats
[3]
Would Should (old) Could Might Should
Internal Control Choice Q Ability Q
Advice Q
NONCURRENT

External Control Directive Q  Permission Q Permission Q

Passive (Control) Outcome Q Outcome Potential Q Possibility Q Expectation Q
Has Occurrence Yes Yes No Possibly No
QUASIREALITY
PAST TENSE Repeats No Repeats Repeats No
POTENTIAL No No
[1] Will and shall are non-past mainly because they have the occurrence feature. This means they can’t show that anything
is already complete. It must become complete later. All modals are passive in the have construction because people can’t
control things that are already complete.
[2] Positive have constructions show that something is complete, and can isn’t able to do that – it only shows potential.
However, if the construction is negative, nothing is complete and can simply shows that there is no potential.
[3] This is the old modal verb that functioned as the past form of shall. It’s included in this table because we still use it in
constructions like “should that happen, we will…” or “if that should happen, we will…”