Дипломная работа: Modal verbs

Can and could followed by different forms of the infinitive, are found in special questions where they are used for emotional coloring (to express puzzlement, impatience, etc.).

E.g. What can (could) he mean?

What can (could) he be doing?

What can (could) he have done ?

Where can (could) he have gone to?

It can be rendered in Russian as: Что, собственно, он имеет в виду ?

As is seen from the above examples, the form could referring to present is sometimes clearly opposed to can in that it expresses unreality whereas can expresses reality. This may be observed in the following meanings:

ability – He can speak English. He could speak English if necessary.

possibility due to circumstances – You can get the book from the library. You could get the book from the library if necessary. E.g. “You can have a million books on our television screen, and even more. There is nothing to throw away.” (I. Asimov)

“How could a man be a teacher? “ (I. Asimov)

In the other meanings, however, this difference between the two forms is obliterated. Could is used either as a milder or mote polite form of can as a form implying more uncertainty than can :

permission – Can I use your pen? Could I use your pen? (more polite)

uncertainty, doubt, improbability – Can it be true? Could it be true (less certain). It can’t be true. It couldn’t be true (less certain).

We can also find some examples of modal verbs usage in some newspapers , magazines or in literature.

E.g. It could be true but it is advisable to find out first what has really happened there. (Может быть, это и правда, но лучше сначала выяснить, что же действительно там произошло.)

“Honey, you couldn’t support a wife,” she answered cheerfully. “Anyway, I know you too well to fall in love with you.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In this case the verb could is used here in the meaning of doubt, uncertainty and improbability.

May

The modal verb may has the following forms: may – the Present tense (e.g. it may be true) and might – the Past tense. The form might is used in two ways: a) in past-time contexts, mainly in reported speech in accordance with the rules of the sequence of tenses (e.g. He told me that it might be true) and b) in present-time contexts as a milder and more polite form of may , or as a form implying more uncertainty than may (e.g. Might I come and see you? It might be true) , or to express unreality (e.g. He might have fallen ill if he hadn’t taken the pills) .

May has the following meanings:

1) supposition implying uncertainty

E.g . He may be busy getting ready for his trip.

In Russian this meaning is generally rendered by means of the modal adverbs возможно and может быть.

In English this meaning may also be rendered by means of the attitudinal adverbs perhaps and maybe .

In the meaning of supposition implying uncertainty the verb may occurs in affirmative and negative sentences.

E.g. He may be at home.

He may not be at home (Возможно, что его нет дома).

Two factors may temporarily have increased their caution. (W. Faulkner)

In this meaning may can be followed by different forms of the infinitive depending on the time reference expressed.