University Of Zakho

Faculty Of Humanities
English Department
Morpho-Syntax
Third year, sixth semester

“Modality in Verb Phrase System of English Language”

Prepared by:
Vina Abduljabbar Ramadhan
Supervisor:
Mr.Hozan Othma
To begin with, Modality in the verb phrase system of the English language refers to the linguistic
features that indicate a speaker's attitude or viewpoint towards the event or situation described by
the verb. The modality is expressed through modal auxiliaries, modal verbs, and other
grammatical constructions that convey meanings of possibility, necessity, ability, permission,
and obligation.

Moreover, Modality in the verb phrase system of the English language includes a variety of
modal auxiliaries, such as "can," "could," "may," "might," "must," "shall," "should," "will," and
"would." These modal auxiliaries express different modal meanings, such as ability, permission,
obligation, or prediction (Quirk et al., 1985). Additionally, modal auxiliaries can be modified by
adverbs like "probably," "possibly," or "certainly," to indicate different levels of certainty or
doubt. Understanding these different modal forms and their nuances is essential for effective
communication in English.

Additionally, Modality in the English language is also categorized into two types: epistemic
modality and deontic modality. Epistemic modality is used to express the speaker's assessment of
the truth or probability of a statement, while deontic modality is used to indicate the speaker's
assessment of the social or moral obligation related to the statement (Palmer, 2001). For
instance, "must" is primarily used to express deontic modality, indicating a strong obligation or
necessity, while "may" and "might" express epistemic modality, indicating possibility or
uncertainty. Understanding the distinction between these two types of modality is crucial for
effective communication in various discourse contexts.
Furthermore, The use of modals in the English language can vary across different dialects and
registers. For instance, some dialects of English have unique modal forms that are not found in
standard English, such as "ain't" for "is not" or "am not" (Greenbaum & Nelson, 2002).
Furthermore, modals can be used differently in formal and informal registers of English. In
formal contexts, modals such as "shall" and "should" are preferred over their colloquial
counterparts, such as "will" and "would." On the other hand, informal contexts often allow for
more flexible and creative use of modals, such as the use of "gonna" for "going to" (Biber et al.,
1999).

In conclusion, Modality in the verb phrase system is an essential part of English grammar,
enabling speakers to express their attitudes towards propositions and convey their degree of
certainty, obligation, or permission. A thorough understanding of the different modal forms and
their functions, as well as the distinction between epistemic and deontic modality, is crucial for
effective communication in various contexts and registers of English.
Reference
 Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Reppen, R. (1999). Corpus linguistics: Investigating language
structure and use. Cambridge University Press.
 Greenbaum, S., & Nelson, G. (2002). An introduction to English grammar (2nd ed.).
Routledge.
 Palmer, F. R. (2001). Mood and modality (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
 Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A comprehensive grammar
of the English language. Longman.