- Using modal verbs and expressions modality - Using modal verbs and expressions May Horverak 2014

Some useful Modal verbs May – might: expresses a possibility E.g. Tupac’s song shows that there may/might be another side of the story than the one presented in Obama’s speech Could: expresses uncertainty E.g. It could be that the truth lies somewhere between the two realities presented in the two texts. Should/ought to: expresses duty The politicians should/ought to do something to reduce poverty. May Horverak 2014

Some useful modal expressions Expressing degrees of certainty or obligation Adjectives: possible, probable, certain, likely, unlikely, clear, obvious Adverbs: possibly, probably, certainly, surely, definitely, clearly, obviously, necessarily, perhaps, maybe E.g. adjective: It is certain/clear/obvious that life is not fair for everybody. E.g. adverb: Obviously/Clearly/Certainly, life is not fair for everybody / Life is certainly not fair for everybody. E.g. Obama’s speech may possibly/perhaps give us some hope about American society. It is however unlikely that the problems in the ghettos are solved in the near future. Exercise: What word classes do the modal expressions in the last example belong to? May Horverak 2014

Exercises Identify some modal expressions in the essay-example «English as a world language». What function do these modals have? (Do they express obligation, possibility, reluctance etc.) Write 5 sentences with modal verbs and 5 sentences with other modal expressions about the topic of American values and social issues. May Horverak 2014