Philosophical Faculty, Palacký University Olomouc
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books. I use the terminology stated by Quirk et al. (1985, 127 – 128) and I compare modal
verbs with the lexical ones in examples. These criteria are specific to modal verbs and they
differ from a rest of verbs. “Modals are sometimes called defective verbs because they lack
forms ordinary full verbs have.” (Alexander 1988, 209)
2.2.1
Construction with the Bare Infinitive
Modal verbs are
always followed by a bare
infinitive of other verbs (Quirk et al. 1985,
127).
24) I must water the flowers.
* I must to water the flowers. (Swan 2005, 326)
25) * I want water the flowers
I want to water the flowers.
(ibid.)
Ought and
used are exceptions of this rule and it makes them marginal to modals (Quirk et
al. 1985, 127).
26) You ought to comb your hair.
(Quirk et al. 1985, 127)
27) He used to read for hours.
(ibid.)
2.2.2
Finite Functions Only
Modals must function only as operators in sentences and they must be placed as the first
element in the verb phrase (Quirk et al. 1985, 128).
28)* to may *(is) maying
*(has) mayed
(Quirk et al. 1985, 128)
29) to eat
(is) eating
(has) eaten
(ibid.)
Because modals are reciprocally exclusive, they can be linked by
and if we want to use two
modals in one sentence (Lewis 1986, 100)
30) You could and should have checked first. (Lewis 1986, 100)
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