3. Dynamic modality, which describes such properties as ability and volition to
the subject of the sentences : l can come. Often the same modals verb is used for more than one kinds of modality: may, for possibility it may rain tommorow and
permission you may smoke now: must for necessity the plane must have landed by now. And obligation l must go.
According to Betty schramfer azhar, the types of modal auxiliaries can be
divided into two kinds. First , modal auxiliaries with different meaning such us :
can, could, had better, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would.
Second, modal auxiliaries with similar expression such as: be able to, be going
to,be supposed to, be to, have to, have got to, used to.
23
Modal and semi modal can be grouped into three major categories according to thier main meaning excluding used to, which relates to past time.
a.
Permissionpossibilityability: can, could, may, might
b.
Obligationneccesity: must, should, had better, Have got to, need to, ought
to, be supposed to. c.
Volition prediction : will, would, shall, be going to.
24
Can and could are modal auxiliaries that used to assist verb to express ability, possibility and permission. Like other modal auxiliaries can and could are
usually placed before the predicates of the sentences in positive sentence, for example : l can swim, he could play guitar. In negative sentences, modal need
“Not” between modal and verb, for example: I cannot swim, he colud not play guitar. In interrogative sentence, for example : Can I swim? Could he play Guitar?
3. Sentence pattence of modal
Sentence is a group of word that contains at least object and one verb. A sentence expresses a complete thought.
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a. Positive sentence
The pattern of modal auxiliaries in the positive sentences is:
23
Betty Schramfer Azhar, Understanding and Using English Grammar p. 68.
24
Stig Johanson, Geoffy Leechand Doughlas Bibes, Longman Grammar of spoken and Written English, London: Edinburgh gate 2000, p. 485.
25
Alice Oshima Anna Oaline, Introduction to Academic Writing 3rd Edition, New York: Pearson education, inc. 2007, p. 11.
S + modal auxiliaries + V invinitive without “to” +oc e.g: Hani can speak English well
b . Negative sentence
The pattern of modal auxiliaries in the negative sentence is : S + modal auxiliaries +not+V infinitive without “to” +oc
e.g: Hani can not speak English well
c. Introgative sentence
The pattern of modal auxilaries in the introgative sentence is: Modal auxilaries +S+V infinitive without “to”+ oc
e.g: Can she speak english well?
D . Modal Auxilaries :
Can
and
Could
Usage of modal : can and could Can
is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone heshe know fairly well.
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The detail functions of can are
followed:
a. To express the ability.
e.g: I can speak three foreign language b. To express request to someone else for doing something.
e.g : Can you help me? c. To express asking or giving permission.
- Giving permission e.g: you can go home now
you can smoke here
26
Ibid., p. 68.
- Asking permission
e.g: Can l go home now? Can l use your Dictionary?
d. To express posibility.
e.g: She can be a good doctor in the future e. To express offering something to someone else.
e.g: Can l get you some tea?
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The detail functions of could are followed.
a.
Could expresses ability, subject to certain conditions which
probably do not exist. In this use, could can refer to the present, the past, or the future.
e.g: I could go now, if I wanted to. I do not want to
b. Could is used to request permisson. It is somewhat more formal
and polite than can. e.g: Could l borrow your pen?
c. Could is used to express the ability in the past.
e.g: When l was younger, l could run fast.
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d. Could also expresses the posibility.
e.g: He could be very busy at that time.
2. Meaning of Modal Auxiliaries : Can and Could
27
Silver Goridas Sukur, Complete English Grammar For TOEFL, Yogyakarta Indonesia 2007, P. 116.
28
Ibid., p. 169.
