Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: The Use of Modal Verbs in Research Articles
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Octavina Vidya Supramana
112007199
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
2012
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Octavina Vidya Supramana
112007199
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
2012
ii
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Octavina Vidya Supramana
112007199
Approved by:
Prof. Dr. Gusti Astika, M. A.
Anita Kurniawati, M. Hum.
Supervisor
Examiner
iii
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
This thesis contains no such material as has been submitted for examination in any course or
accepted for the fulfillment of any degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my
knowledge and my belief, this contains no material previously published or written by any
other person except where due reference is made in the text.
Copyright@ 2012. Octavina Vidya Supramana and Prof. Dr. Gusti Astika, M. A.
All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced by any means without the
permission of at least one of the copyright owners or the English Department, Faculty of
Language and Literature, Satya Wacana University, Salatiga.
Octavina Vidya Supramana: (
)
iv
PUBLICATION AGREEMENT DECLARATION
As a member of the (SWCU) Satya Wacana Christian University academic community,
I verify that:
Name
Student ID Number
Study Program
Faculty
Kind of Work
: Octavina Vidya Supramana
: 112007199
: English Department
: Language and Literature
: Undergraduate Thesis
In developing my knowledge, I agree to provide SWCU with a non-exclusive royalty free
right for my intellectual property and the contents therein entitled:
The Use of Modal Verbs in Research Articles
along with any pertinent equipment.
With this non-exclusive royalty free right, SWCU maintains the right to copy, reproduce,
print, publish, post, display, incorporate, store in or scan into a retrieval system or database,
transmit, broadcast, barter or sell my intellectual property, in whole or in part without my
express written permission, as long as my name is still included as the writer.
This declaration is made according to the best of my knowledge.
Made in
: Salatiga
Date
: ________________
Verified by signee,
Octavina Vidya Supramana
Approved by
Thesis Supervisor
Thesis Examiner
Prof. Dr. Gusti Astika, M. A.
Anita Kurniawati, M. Hum.
v
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
Octavina Vidya Supramana
Abstract
Modal verbs are a part of grammatical structures. Modal verbs play important role in
research articles. This study investigated the meanings of modal verbs used in research
articles. In this study, the data were collected from 10 research articles taken from 10
different journals. Those 10 research articles were published between 2006 to 2010. This
study only focused on the conclusion sections of each research articles which had sentences
with modal verbs. In the analysis, the sentences with modal verbs were identified in
accordance with their meaning based on the classifications of modal verbs proposed by Janet
and Ellen Lange (1999). The modal verb would, was analyzed based on Weissberg and Buker
(1990). The results showed that modal verbs often occurred in the conclusion indicating that
modal verbs were important in conclusion sections of research articles to deliver the
researchers’ intention. The modals can, should, may, could, might, would, must, and will were
found in conclusion sections’ sentences. The modal verbs were used to show ability,
possibility, advisability, expectation, past ability, degree of tentativeness, necessity, and
future time. This study can be very useful for teachers and language learners in understanding
research reports.
Keywords: Modal verbs, meaning of modal verbs, research articles
1
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Octavina Vidya Supramana
112007199
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
2012
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Octavina Vidya Supramana
112007199
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
2012
ii
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Octavina Vidya Supramana
112007199
Approved by:
Prof. Dr. Gusti Astika, M. A.
Anita Kurniawati, M. Hum.
Supervisor
Examiner
iii
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
This thesis contains no such material as has been submitted for examination in any course or
accepted for the fulfillment of any degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my
knowledge and my belief, this contains no material previously published or written by any
other person except where due reference is made in the text.
Copyright@ 2012. Octavina Vidya Supramana and Prof. Dr. Gusti Astika, M. A.
All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced by any means without the
permission of at least one of the copyright owners or the English Department, Faculty of
Language and Literature, Satya Wacana University, Salatiga.
Octavina Vidya Supramana: (
)
iv
PUBLICATION AGREEMENT DECLARATION
As a member of the (SWCU) Satya Wacana Christian University academic community,
I verify that:
Name
Student ID Number
Study Program
Faculty
Kind of Work
: Octavina Vidya Supramana
: 112007199
: English Department
: Language and Literature
: Undergraduate Thesis
In developing my knowledge, I agree to provide SWCU with a non-exclusive royalty free
right for my intellectual property and the contents therein entitled:
The Use of Modal Verbs in Research Articles
along with any pertinent equipment.
With this non-exclusive royalty free right, SWCU maintains the right to copy, reproduce,
print, publish, post, display, incorporate, store in or scan into a retrieval system or database,
transmit, broadcast, barter or sell my intellectual property, in whole or in part without my
express written permission, as long as my name is still included as the writer.
This declaration is made according to the best of my knowledge.
Made in
: Salatiga
Date
: ________________
Verified by signee,
Octavina Vidya Supramana
Approved by
Thesis Supervisor
Thesis Examiner
Prof. Dr. Gusti Astika, M. A.
Anita Kurniawati, M. Hum.
v
THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES
Octavina Vidya Supramana
Abstract
Modal verbs are a part of grammatical structures. Modal verbs play important role in
research articles. This study investigated the meanings of modal verbs used in research
articles. In this study, the data were collected from 10 research articles taken from 10
different journals. Those 10 research articles were published between 2006 to 2010. This
study only focused on the conclusion sections of each research articles which had sentences
with modal verbs. In the analysis, the sentences with modal verbs were identified in
accordance with their meaning based on the classifications of modal verbs proposed by Janet
and Ellen Lange (1999). The modal verb would, was analyzed based on Weissberg and Buker
(1990). The results showed that modal verbs often occurred in the conclusion indicating that
modal verbs were important in conclusion sections of research articles to deliver the
researchers’ intention. The modals can, should, may, could, might, would, must, and will were
found in conclusion sections’ sentences. The modal verbs were used to show ability,
possibility, advisability, expectation, past ability, degree of tentativeness, necessity, and
future time. This study can be very useful for teachers and language learners in understanding
research reports.
Keywords: Modal verbs, meaning of modal verbs, research articles
1