Modals “Can” and “Could”

3.2 The Analysis

There are the samples of the use of variety modals taken from the nine articles of Jakarta Post Newspaper.

3.2.1 Modals “Can” and “Could”

From the data above, there are 23 modals “can” and “could”. There are 2 modals “can” and 3 modals “could” expressing ability. There are 4 modals “can” and 2 modals “could” expressing possibility. There is no modals “can” and 1 modals “could” expressing permission. There is no modals “can” and “could” expressing request permission. There are 5 modals “can” and 2 modals “could” to describe theorotical or general. There. is 1 modals “can” and no modals “could” expressing suggestion. There is no modals “can” and 3 modals “could” expressing criticsm situation. a. Expressing ability  And Tokyo, more than most places in Japan, is highly dependent on electric trains and subways for commuting, so when there are blackouts, lots of people cannot get to work or easily organize their days.  Farmers in several Southern states said that a cotton price of about 1 a pound, their profit could be roughly 200 to 500 more per acre than they could earn growing corn or wheat. b. Expressing possibility  There’s still uncertainty over spill liabilities, and there is no real catalyst to see how this company can grow over the next three years. Universitas Sumatera Utara  By so doing, the center-right German government ignored the opinion of practically all energy and environmental experts in the country, who have consistently maintained that Germany could do without nuclear power by the mid 2020 and generate all electricity it needs from renewable sources by 2050. c. Expressing permission  Still, such measures can do only so much. d. To describe Theoretical or General  They face many uncertainties, and their profits can be wiped out by bad weather, rising seed, or by unstable crop prices, which can plummet as rapidly as their rise.  Nouriel Roubini, the New York University economist who became known for his pessimistic forecasts before the financial crisis, said in Dubai on Tuesday that an increase in oil prices to 140 a baarel could even cause some advanced economies to dip back into recession. e. Requset, order and suggestion  Anything over 4 and panic sets in, with companies wondering if they can survive. f. Criticism Situation  Ultimately, the need to conserve energy could force Japanese companies already among the most efficient in the world to emerge even leaner and more competitive. Universitas Sumatera Utara  Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said while the plutonium levels were not harmful to human health, the discovery could mean the reactor’s containment mechanism had been breached.

3.2.2 Modals “May” and “Might”