In Dialects^x, Modals^x

<I have to say (or I must say!), I am astonished at this conversation. I do not, for one moment, stop to consider whether there are external or internal factors involved before I say "I must do X" or "I have to do X." And I certainly do not do this kind of analysis if someone says it to...

Then again: Have to in They have to be in Rome for a meeting tomorrow is also an example of this subject-oriented modality, which is called dynamic modality. Dynamic modality plays an important part in considerations of have to , and its contrast with must . Epistemically, there seems to...

MrPedantic wrote: Hello Jussive I would say that the subjunctive is incorrect after in this instance, since "whether" presents one option of two: 1. She phoned to ascertain whether he was dining at the club (or not). MrP Well, I would have thought that the simple fact that she...

Hello td I'm not an expert or a student of linguistics. But we've had a few discussions about modals on this forum, and I've noticed three things: 1. Speakers of different dialects seem to respond differently to the same modal verb. 2. People's sense of 'tense' in modals seems to vary....

Hello Milky I'm happy to accept your adjustment – I used 'you go' in my original because it would have seemed strange to define phrase A by embedding it in phrase B. So now we have: 1. Given my perception of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that you will go. 2. You will go. ...

Hello Inanc I see I have not quite answered your original question. What I really wanted to know was how would C refer to A's present state at T2. To my ears, your option 1 seems to meet the criteria: 1. He can't have done that! I would read this, in context, as: 'it's not...

Paco: I'm sorry if I mistook your message. Many of people here (including me) are still beginners of English learning. So it is nice if you write in a way everybody can't misunderstand you. One reason why we ESL feel auxiliary/modals difficult to learn is their usage has been rapidly...

http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/auxiliary.htm#may Unless otherwise indicated, all written material on this Web site is the property of Professor Charles Darling and the Capital Community College Foundation and is published here for free use by the college's students and staff and for the...

JTT wrote: You couldn't have done more than glanced at the box "May/might", at the 'commnet' site, Mr P. If you had, you'd have noticed the glaring inconsistencies that show "that different people DO NOT hear conditional and modal verbs slightly differently. No need for all caps, JTT....

MrP: It wouldn't surprise me if there were something in what you say about dialect variation. JTT: Since this is expressing of a fair possibility, why would you have chosen the subjunctive form 'were', Mr P, Especially with ? I thought the indicative is used for reality/good possibility and...