MODALITY 3 – English Grammar Profiler
Modality is the language user’s attitude towards the world. It is related to things such as certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity and ability.
Point 29 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘will’ in the main clause after an ‘if-‘ clause to talk about possible future situations. ADVANCED EXAMPLES: If both choose to spare the other, the fox will eat just one of each of their limbs. If one chooses to spare while the other sacrifices, the sparer will be fully eaten while the traitor will run away with all his limbs intact. Finally, if both choose to sacrifice, the fox will eat 3 limbs from each. iWeb doesn’t allow us to search easily …
if CLAUSE + will CLAUSE (FUTURE CONDITIONAL) Read More »
B1 Point 74 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: PRESENT SIMPLE ‘IF’ CLAUSE + MODAL, FUTURE, POSSIBLE OUTCOME: introduce a possible future condition, with modal verbs in the main clause, to talk about a possible result. *This point should mention which modal verbs. Because the use of ‘can’ is A2. The use of ‘will’ is also …
If + PRESENT SIMPLE + MODAL Read More »
Point 112 in the category of MODALITY is defined as: ‘must’ to make invitations Locating ‘invitations’ requires manual searching. We can only start with a simple cluster search in iWeb for: you must come * * On the left appear to be invitations. 1 YOU MUST COME TO THE 220 2 YOU MUST COME UP …
You must come (invitation) Read More »
Point 120 in the category of MODALITY is defined as: ‘can’ with a limited range of adverbs (including ‘also’, ‘always’, ‘even’, ‘just’, ‘only’, ‘really’, ‘still’) in the normal mid position after the modal verb. PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: Some old people can only sit on the wheelchair. Chinese female level 3 writing class. A search on iWeb for: can_VM also|always|even|just|only|really|still _VVI 1 CAN …
CAN + limited range of adverbs Read More »
B1 Point 57 in the category of modality/adverbs is defined as: modal verb + modal adverb to modify an assertion, either through hedging or emphasis. B1 point 81 in modality/adverbs is defined as: increasing range of adverbs, for emphasis However, when we check the EGP examples for point 57 which include: surely|certainly|probably, we soon see …
modal verb + modal adverb Read More »
Point 30 in the category of QUESTIONS is defined as: alternative questions with two clauses and ellipsis (of the modal) in the second clause, often as a hedging device. It is quite impossible to find examples of the above grammar due to the length and complexity of the search string. The following sentence is not …
ellipted modal – alternative question Read More »
Point 213 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘may’ in a subordinate clause expressing concession with ‘however’, ‘whatever’, ‘whoever’ + ‘it or this may be or seem Our examples: All you’ve got to go on is streams of electrical impulses, which are only indirectly related to things in the world, whatever they may be. Compromises can be struck, however difficult it yet may be. A search in iWeb for: however _JJ it|this may_V be|seem 1 …
however | whoever | whatever + may + seem Read More »
Here are the most common verbs found in this grammar structure with examples:
You MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN about the party. She MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT you were serious.
They MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD that you were coming.
The negative past modal meaning expressed here is of possibility.
Point 201 in MODALITY is defined as ‘used to’ QUESTIONS For example: The New York Times Opinion | Nine Nonobvious Ways to Have Deeper Conversations What problem did you use to have but now have licked? 19 Nov 2020 The following list does not specify whether or not it is basic past simple. It must be manually checked. …
used to (questions) Read More »
Point 195 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘might’ followed by ‘but’ to console or justify For example: At first, you might have to consciously change how you pronounce certain words every time you speak, but with practice, you will soon be speaking them effortlessly. (more context) A search in iWeb for might * * * but 1 MIGHT BE WRONG , BUT 693 2 MIGHT SEEM OBVIOUS …
might * but * Read More »
Point 194 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘might’ QUESTIONS For example: How might you mark up the diagram to figure out what to do next? iWeb doesn’t allow us variable-length queries so the best we can do is: might _P * * ? 1 MIGHT YOU BE ABLE TO 191 2 MIGHT IT BE POSSIBLE …
might (question) Read More »
Point 209 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘BE SET TO’ – strong assertion about the future, especially in institutional contexts An iWeb search for: _VB set to _VVI 1 IS SET TO TAKE 4027 2 IS SET TO BEGIN 3858 3 IS SET TO OPEN 3608 4 IS SET TO BECOME 3532 5 IS SET …
BE + set to + INFINITIVE Read More »
Point 208 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘can’ in passive reporting clauses in a more formal impersonal style (e.g. for reports and academic contexts), such as ‘It can be said that’, ‘It can be argued (that)’, ‘It can be concluded that’, ‘It can be considered” (This point overlaps point 26 passive C1 dummy subject) A …
It can be + said | argued | concluded | considered + that Read More »
Point 205 in MODALITY is defined as: PAST, NEGATIVE: ‘needn’t have’ + ‘-ed For example: Well, we needn’t have worried. A search in iWeb: need n’t have _VVN 1 NEED N’T HAVE WORRIED 895 2 NEED N’T HAVE BOTHERED 117 3 NEED N’T HAVE FEARED 15 4 NEED N’T HAVE HAPPENED 11 5 NEED N’T …
needn’t have + PAST PARTICPLE Read More »
Here are two formally overlapping C1 grammar points in the English Grammar Profile: Point 200 in MODALITY/adverbs is defined as: ‘NOT NECESSARILY to express a possible exception to a general perception, i.e. not in every case. Point 23 in NEGATION is defined as: HEDGING, ‘not’ + stance adverb, often in a mid position, to soften …
not necessarily Read More »
Point 199 in MODALITY is MODIFYING ADJECTIVES adjectives with adverbs, often for emphasis. The two examples in the EGP are: painfully|highly obvious|unlikely *although there are 50 examples of ‘highly’ in the following top 1000 results, there are no examples of ‘painfully’. A search in iWeb for: _RR _JJ 1 REALLY GOOD 291231 2 ALSO AVAILABLE …
adverb + adjective (emphasis) Read More »
Point 197 in MODALITY/expressions with ‘be’ is defined as: HEDGING ‘be’ + ‘not’ + adjective + ‘that-‘ clause to make an assertion less direct A search in iWeb for: _VB _XX _J that_C 1 ‘M NOT SURE THAT 10255 If the situation had been reversed, and I’d lost a child in a fire, I’m not sure that fire dancing would be the answer. 2 IS NOT SURPRISING THAT 9211 3 …
BE + NOT + ADJECTIVE + THAT+ CLAUSE Read More »
Point 198 in MODALITY is defined as ‘dare’ question form A search in iWeb for: Dare _P _VVI 1 DARE I SAY 8113 2 DARE WE SAY 1864 3 DARE YOU SAY 226 4 DARE I ASK 195 5 DARE I SUGGEST 157 6 DARE I MENTION 118 7 DARE YOU CALL 118 8 …
Dare (question) Read More »
Point 189 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘will’ to talk about something HABITUAL AND TYPICAL The adverbs used in the EGP examples are used in our iWeb search: will_V _VVI normally|usually|often 1 WILL WORK NORMALLY 179 2 WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY 148 Marketplace.org Troubles with another Boeing plane “There’s an expectation that the economy will function normally and in a healthy way down the road,” …
will + usually | normally | often Read More »
Point 187 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘how dare’ to express disapproval or offence about something. For example: ” What? How dare you! ” the queen huffs. A search in iWeb: 1 HOW DARE YOU ! ” 94 2 HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT 89 3 HOW DARE YOU TRY TO 64 4 HOW DARE …
How dare you! Read More »