Usage of modal verbs

1)obligation, which in different contexts may acquire additional shades of meaning, such as advisability and desirability.1: He said that the status of the Greek minority should be viewed in the light of political balance. (Moscow news)

Example 2: He said that this was not a temporary problem. Lasting arrangements should be made. (W. Faulkner) [p.63]

Like ought to it generally refers an action to the future and followed by the simple infinitive. Reference to the resent should is used with the Continuous Infinitive or with the simple infinitive if the verb is stative.3: You shouldn't be sitting in home. Should may be combined with the Perfect Infinitive. In this case the meaning of the combination depends on whether the sentence is affirmative or negative. In an affirmative sentence should + Perfect Infinitive indicates that a desirable action was not carried out.4: He looks very ill. He should have stayed at home.

In a negative sentence should + Perfect Infinitive serves to show that an undesirable action was carried out.5: Oh, John, you shouldn't have done as you did. 2)supposition implying strong probability,6: The film should be very good as it is starring first-class actors.

The use of should in this case does not seem to be very common as this meaning is usually rendered by must. Addition to the above mentioned cases showing the independent use of should this verb occurs in certain object clauses where it depends on the lexical character of the predicate verb in the principal clause and in adverbial clauses of condition, purpose and concession.7: I suggest hat you should stay here as if nothing had happened. 7: Я предлагаю, Вам следует остаться здесь, как будто ничто не случилось.

Should may have a peculiar function - it may be used for emotional coloring. In this function it may be called the emotional should. The use of the emotional should is structurally dependent.is found in the following cases:

1)In special emphatic constructions where a simple predicate is not used:)in rhetorical questions beginning with why,1: Why should I do it? 1: С какой стати я буду это делать?

Example 2: Why shouldn't you invite him? 2: Почему бы Вам его не пригласить?

b)in object clauses beginning with why,3: I don't know why he should want to see him

c)in attributive clauses beginning with why after the noun reason,4: There is no reason why they shouldn't get on very well together

d)in constructions of the following kind,5: The door opened and who should come in but Tom in the set phrase How should I know? (Почём я знаю?) In the above cases should may be followed by the Perfect infinitive which in simple sentences refers the action to the past and in complex sentences shows that the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause.6: Why shouldn't I have done it?

Example 7: He didn't know why he should have expected them to look different

2)In certain types of subordinate clauses where should + infinitive is interchangeable with a simple predicate in the Indicative Mood:)in object clauses after expressions of regret, surprise, sometimes pleasure or displeasure,1: I`m sorry that you should think so badly of me

The rules of the sequence of tenses are not observed here. The Perfect infinitive is used to show that the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause.2: I am sorry that you should have had a row with Kate about it. b)in object clauses following the principal clause with it as a formal subject,1: It is absurd that such things should happen to a family like theirs Translation 2: the principal clause we find such expressions as it is wonderful (absurd, monstrous, natural, odd, queer, singular, strange, terrible and the like), it infuriated, (outraged, puzzled, startled, surprised and the like) me, it struck me as funny, etc. We also find he following interrogative expressions in the principal clause: is it possible (likely, probable)? , it is not possible (likely, probable), it is impossible (improbable, unlikely).we see from the above examples, the rules of the sequence of tenses are not observed here either.the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause, the Perfect infinitive is used after should.3: It is inconceivable that Mrs. C. should have written such a letter. c)in constructions of the following kind.1: That it should come to this! 1: И до чего дело дошло!

Example 2: To think that it should come to this!

Example 3: To think that it should have happened to me!

Some literary examples:4: It is good that the Government should have recognized the opportunity and the obligations so clearly. (E. Hermingway) [p.23]

To sum it up, it should be said that as compared to the use of a simple predicate in the Indicative Mood, the use of should + infinitive gives the statement emotional coloring such as surprise, amazement, irritation, indignation, pleasure, displeasure etc, i.e. it emphasizes the speaker's personal attitude towards the facts stated in the sentence. The Indicative Mood represents these acts in a more matter-of-fact way. Verb will has the following forms: will - the present tense and would - the past tense. The latter form is used in two ways:)in past-time context to express an actual fact and)in present-time context to express unreality or as a milder and more polite form of will. And would may also be used as verbs of full predication (not modal verbs). Will may be used as a regular verb (wills, willed). It means проявлять волю, заставлять, внушать. Would s a defective verb. It is used with reference to the present and means “ желать”. It is found mainly in poetry and like the verb to wish is followed by an object clause: I would I were a careless child. Shall and should are treated as two different verbs in modern English, will and would are considered to be the forms of the same verb, its original meaning being that of volition (Volition is a general term which includes such meanings as willingness, readiness, consent, intention and determination to perform an action). However, in some of their meanings the use of will is parallel only to would which denotes an actual fact in the past; in other meanings will is found alongside would which expresses unreality in the present or serves as a milder or more polite form of will. Use of will and would which denotes an actual fact in the past is parallel in the following cases:

When they express habitual or recurrent actions.1: She will (would) sit for hours under the old oak tree looking at the beautiful country around her In addition to indicating an habitual action, will (would) in this case implies willingness, personal interest on the part of the doer of the action. Will (would) in this meaning is found in affirmative sentences and is followed by he simple infinitive. Present-time context will in this meaning is not common. In past-time context would is mainly characteristic of literary style.2: Then there were weekends when he would ride over to the house of one farmer or another and spend a couple of nights on the hills.

2)when they express refusal to perform an action.1: “Clark,” she said softly, “I wouldn't change you for the world”. (F. Scott Fitzgerald) [p.23]

This meaning is found in negative sentences; will (would) is followed by the simple infinitive. In Russian it is usually rendered as никак не хочу, ни за что не хотел.

When they are used with lifeless things to show hat a thing fails to perform its immediate function,1: My fountain pen won't (wouldn't) write.

In this meaning will (would) is found in negative sentences and is followed by the simple infinitive. In Russian it is usually rendered as никак не пишет (не писала), никак не открывается (не открывалась) and the like.

4)when they are used with the first person to express will, intention or determination,1: “Damn it!” he thought, “I'm going to get out of this hole. I will make money. I am an Englishman and I will suffer no priest to interfere in my business”. (B.J. Chute.)

Example 2: “I said I would do anything for him. We decided that we wouldn't interfere”. Meaning is found in affirmative and negative sentences. The present tense will, in addition to expressing its modal meaning, serves to refer an action to the future; the past tense would is generally used in reported speech and also serves to refer an action to the future but in this case it is viewed from a past moment. Use of will and would which expresses unreality in the present or serves as a milder or more polite form of will is parallel in the following cases:

5)in interrogative sentences where they express willingness, consent,1: Will you dine with me tomorrow, Lewis?

6)n clauses of condition introduced by if where they also express willingness, consent,2: “It's about forty minutes' walk from ere and if you'll come now I'll go with you” he said. No, we are not going to quarrel at all if you'll only let me talk. Mr. Marlowe? If you will come this way, please? (R. Chandler) both cases will (would) is followed by the simple infinitive and the action always refers to the future. Interrogative and conditional sentences are often actually polite requests in this case. There is hardly any difference between the use of will and would here; the role of would is to make the request still more polite. Use of will and would is not parallel in the following cases:

1)Will may be used to express supposition with reference to; the present or to the future in combination with the simple infinitive, or to the past in combination with the Perfect infinitive. This meaning is found with the second and third persons.1: This will be the school, I believe.

Example 2: You will have heard the news, I'm sure

It should be noted that the use of will in this meaning is not common.

Would may be used rather sarcastically to express that something was to be expected. It is found in affirmative and negative sentences.1: The law wouldn't call it a murder if I shot a thief entering my house by force. (W. De Mille)

This meaning can be rendered in Russian as Этого и следовало ожидать.

Note the use of will in the following sentences, e.g.:)phrases with will and would:)Will not have (won't have) followed by an object and an infinitive without to means “I'll see to it that it does not happen”.1: “I will not (won't) have you speak to me like that, her voice came sharply. 1b)Both would rather (`d rather) and would sooner (`d sooner) followed by an infinitive without to mean `to prefer'.1: “I'd rather do it myself” he said. c)Would … mind in interrogative sentences may also express a polite request: Would you mind getting me a cup of tea? Also occurs in certain subordinate clauses where it is structurally dependent.2: I wish the train would stop for a moment. This modal verb will - would is more often used in literature. Here are several examples on its usage.3: Senor Montevalde had never faced a bull without the protection of a stout fence, and never would. (F. Harvey)

Example 4: This Velma was an entertainer, a singer. You wouldn't know her? I don't suppose you went there much.(R. Chandler)

Example 6: “And what would you be doing, my dears?” she said. “What brings you to Gipsy's Acre?” (A. Christie) Example 7: Sometimes the boys would play a trick on their teacher (M. Spark). Example 8: It would be impossible to build a bridge without knowing it.(W. Faulkner)

Conclusion

Work was devoted to Modal words and their translation problems. Modal Verbs unlike other verbs. They do not denote actions or states, but only show the attitude of the speaker towards the actions expressed by the infinitive is combination with which they form compound modal predicates. These Modal Verbs may show that the action (or state, of process, or quality) is viewed by the speaker as possible, obligatory, doubtful, certain, permissible, advisable, requested, prohibited, order etc. Modal Verbs occur only with the infinitive. This or that meaning is to a great degree determined by communicative type of the sentence and the form of the infinitive. It is important to realize that the Modal Verbs have no meaning by themselves. Also the translator should know the peculiarities of the usage of the Modal Verbs. They proper translation to avoid misunderstanding in the process of translation. The process of writing the author formulated few basic grammatical rules applying to Modal Verbs:

All Modal Verbs are never used with other auxiliary verbs such as do, does, did etc. The negative is formed simply by adding “not” after the verb; questions are formed by inversion of the verb subject.

Modal Verbs never change form: you can never add an “-s” or “-ed”.

Modal Verbs are never followed by to, with the exception of ought to.

Modal Verbs are used in conversation. In the past it is possible to find them only in reported speech. The only exceptions are the Past Tense forms could, would, had, was and might which maybe used not only in conversations but also in narration.

Modal Verbs used in different business and technical documentation often have the ambiguous meaning that requires the great attention from the translation to translate the documents exactly not confusing the meaning of the Modal Verbs.

So there are in Modern English these modal verbs: should, would, may, might, can, could: to have and to be can also be used as modal verbs. May express possibility/high probability (97%) and permission (3%). The modals used to express permission are can (58%), may (16%), could (13%), and might (13%), could (17%). The three most frequent modals are would (28% of all modal occurrences), could (17%), and will (17%).this work the author showed the peculiarities of the Modal Verbs, how Modal Verbs can be used and translated, in what case we need to use one or another Modal Verb and why.

References

1. Н.А. Кобрина, Е.А. Кронеева, М.И. Оссовская, К.А. Гузеева. “Грамматика английского языуа: Морфология и синтаксис”, “СОЮЗ”, Санкт - Петербург, 1999 г.

2. И.П. Крылова, Е.М. Гордон “Modality in Modern English”, “Лист Нью”, Москва 2002 г.

3. Е.В. Угарова, “Все модальные глаголы английского языка”, Москва, 2009 г.

4. И.П. Иванова, В.В. Бурлакова, Г.Г. Почепцов, “Теоретическая грамматика современного английского языка”, “Высшая школа”, Москва, 1981 г.

5. “Грамматика английского языка. Пособие для студентов педагогических институтов.” Под ред. Ильиша.

6. “Learn to read science”. Н.И. Шахова и др. “Наука”, 1980.

7. “The English verb. A new grammar for every one”. А.К. Кравченко, Л.В. Ушакова и др. Иркутск, 1997.

8. “Модальные глаголы в английском языке”. Е.А. Зверева.

9. .“Составные глаголы в современном английском языке”. М.Д. Кузнецов и др. М., 1959.

10. “Пособие по морфологии английского языка”. Е.А. Корнеева. М. “Высшая школа”, 1974.

11. “Модальные глаголы в английской речи: учебное пособие для студентов институтов и факультетов иностранных языков”. А.П. Грызулина. М., “Высшая школа”, 1986.

12. “Английский глагол”. Т.А. Расторгуева, И.П. Верховская и др. М., 1987.

13. “Морфология английского языка”. А.И. Смирницкий. М., 1959.

14. “Учебник английского языка”. Е.К. Старщникова и др. М., 1979.

15. “Английский язык для студентов старших курсов”. Г.А. Попова и др. М., 1961.

16. “Практическая грамматика английского языка.” А.И. Каменский, И. Б. Каменская.

17. “Учебник английского языка.” Бонк Н.А., Котий Г.А., Лукьянова Н.А. М.: Высшая школа, 7-е изд. Год: 1982.

18. “Теоретическая грамматика английского языка” Блох М.Я, 2003 г.

19. Комиссаров В.Н., Коралова А.Л. «Практикум по переводу с английского языка на русский», Москва, «Высшая школа», 1990

20. “Модальные глаголы в английском языке”. А. Боярев, А. Кохан. 1987 г.

Размещено на Allbest.ru