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A Corpus-Based Study of Modal Verbs Use in English Writing by EFL Learners…
A Corpus-Based Study of Modal Verbs Use in English Writing by EFL Learners
learners prefer to use high and intermediate modals values than native speakers.
Reason
learners were not well informed of the pragmatic meaning of modal verbs.
learners were not well informed of the politeness degree of modal verbs
learners use low value modals than native speakers.
learners overused modal verbs in their writings
to express the possibility or necessity of certain propositions
Non-natives and natives used “can” most frequently
natives used “can” frequently to fit different types of contexts
:
learners did not understand the subtle differences, they used one to fit all contexts
Learners and natives preferred to use “can, will and should/would”, and used “might, ought to, shall’ as the least frequent ones.
“might” is called the mildest modal to show the highest degree of politeness
In writing and conversation, “Might” is used less frequently by both learners and natives.
“could” was used distinctively by learners and natives.
“could” was used less frequently by learners
natives used “could” more frequently
“Could” indicates not only past tense, but politeness or uncertainty.
“Could” goes between “might” and “can” when pragmaticconnotations are concerned.