MOOD and MODALITY

MODALITY → semantic category = speaker´s attitude to the content of the utterance → proposition: PROPOSITION = ARGUMENT + PREDICATION Categorial assertions: It snowed last night. They close the schools. Snow (is) everywhere. It (=snow) is waist deep. That is a relative measure. Prešov is a pretty town.

exp. means →Avs: Prešov is perhaps a pretty town.

Vs: lexical: I doubt that Prešov is a pretty town. modal: Prešov may be a pretty town. They´ll have to close the schools. The snow must be waist deep.

Ajs: It is possible that Prešov is a pretty town.

→ a system of verbal inflections (forms) → MOOD

MOOD → grammatical category (modus) = denotes speaker/writer´s attitude to the content of the proposition and is realized by the system of verb inflections/forms

e.g. Prešov would be prettier if it weren´t so filthy. – content true under certain condition It is vital that Prešov be pretty. - content is wished for Prešov, be prettier! - content is requested

Four semantic contrasts within Modality:

1. Speaker´s attitude to the FACTUALITY of an action/process/state denoted by the verb: a) Speaker sees the action/process/state as REAL or FACTUAL (= FACT),

Prešov is the 3rd largest Slovak town (=declarative sentence) → INDICATIVE mood

b) Speaker sees the action/process/state as NON-REAL or NON-FACTUAL (= NON- FACT), i.e. as:  requested/demanded: Prešov, be prettier. → IMPERATIVE mood  desired: I demand that Prešov be prettier. → SUBJUNCTIVE mood  dependent upon a condition: If Prešov had more facilities, it would be prettier. → CONDITIONAL mood

2. Speaker´s COMMUNICATIVE GOAL / INTENTION (=sentential modality);

Communicative types of sentences: FUNCTION: FORM: COMMUNICATIVE GOAL: SENTENCE TYPE:  S asserts/states something DECLARATIVE Prešov is a small town.  S requires information from H INTERROGATIVE Is Prešov a small town?  S requires H to perform an action IMPERATIVE Tell me whether P is a large town or not.  S expresses his/her feelings EXCLAMATORY What a lovely town Prešov is!

3.Speaker´s confidence in / commitment to the TRUTHFULNESS / VALIDITY of proposition = epistemic/extrinsic/objective (objektívna/istotná) modality

Scale:

Strongest confidence: Weaker confidence: Weakest confidence: (categorial assertion)

Prešov is the 3rd largest As it has nearly 70 thousand Prešov may/might/can/could town in Slovakia. residents, Prešov must be be one of the largest towns one of the largest towns in S. in Slovakia.

Realization of modality: mood (+modal verb): indicative indicative + modal v. indicative + modal v.

4. S´s attitude towards the REALIZABILITY of an action (=S wishes that H performs an action) = deontic/intrinsic (dispozičná, subjektívna/vôľová) modality

E.g. You may leave. (=indicative mood) Leave now. (= imperative mood)

Scale: Permission Advisability Necessity Command

You may leave now. You´d better leave. You must leave. Leave!

Realization of modality: mood +(semi)modal verb: Indicative + modal indic. + semi-modal indic. + modal imperative

Verbal inflections realizing Mood:

Indicative Imperative Conditional Subjunctive

V + + + + Vs + - - - Ved + - - + (BE) LET+Vi - + - - WILL/WOULD/ SHOULD + Vi - - + -

CONDITIONAL MOOD

expresses a HYPOTHETICAL action DEPENDENT on the fulfilment of some CONDITION:

MAIN clause + IF + DEPENDENT clause hypothetical action condition → type:

types: 1. V/Vs V/Vs Water boils if you heat it. Real: open

2. WILL + Vi V Water will boil if you heat it. Real: open

3. WOULD + Vi Ved Water would boil if you heated it. Real:possible

4. WOULD + HAVE + Ven HAVE + Ven Water would have boiled if you had heated it. Unreal

- a means of epistemic modality

- realized by the declarative sentence type: Prešov would be prettier if people threw away less garbage.

- two temporal forms: present - refers to Present and future (1 – 3) time past - refers to the past time (4)

- is formed by shall/will/should/would + Vi

- according of the type of condition, we distinguish between: - REAL conditional sentence (potenciál) - action is open to realization, potentially possible Prešov would be prettier if we threw away less garbage. - UNREAL conditional sentence (ireál) - action is in contradiction with the situation: Prešov would have been the seat of the Cabinet if it had been chosen for the Slovakia´s capital.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD expresses an action as desired, demanded, requested, wished for, etc. - is a means of the deontic modality It is requested that all residents abide by the rules of conduct.

- forms: present – realized by V (negative: not + V) It is necessary that she (not) be there on time.

past - realized by Ved of ´BE´ = WERE If I were you, I wouldn´t do it. represents actions in contradiction with reality (´irrealis´)

- types: formulaic subjunctive: So be it. Long live the Queen. … thy will be done … God save the Queen.

mandative subjunctive in that-clauses after:

 verbs of intention, necessity, requirement, demand, recommendation etc. It is required that we be there now. I´d suggest that you adopt some key planks to your platform.

 Adjectives of similar meaning: advisable, essential, desirable, fitting, imperative, necessary, vital etc. It is imperative that all of us congregate in the hall.

 Nouns: decision, demand, insistence, order, resolution: The decision was passed that all applicants take a written examination.

Uses are restricted to formal written style and mainly in AE, in BE subjunctive is replaced:

It´s necessary that every applicant take a test. ↓ should: should take V/Vs: takes infinitive: for every applicant to take