Bělíková Zuzana The Modal Verb Could and its Equivalents in Translation

2.2.6
 
No Contracted Forms 
Modals do not create contracted forms except for WILL and WOULD. This characteristic 
is the same for DO but not for BE and HAVE (Alexander 1988, 210). 
2.3
 
Functions of Modal Verbs 
Alexander (1988, 207) says that modals have
primary and secondary functions. “In primary 
function, modal verbs closely reflect the meanings often given first in most dictionaries, so 
that: 
- can/could relate mainly to ability: I can lift 25 kg/ I can type. 
- may/might relate mainly to permission: You may leave early. 
- will/would relate mainly to prediction: It will rain soon. 
- shall after I/We relates mainly to prediction: Can we find our way home? – I’m sure we 
shall. 
- should/ought to relate mainly to inescapable obligation: You must be quiet. 
- needn’t relates to absence of obligation: You needn’t wait.” (Alexander 1988, 207) 
 
“In their secondary function, nine of the modal auxiliaries (not shall) can be used to 
express the degree of certainty/uncertainty a speaker feels about a possibility.” (Alexander 
1988, 208) Alexander (1988, 208) shows how modals can be arranged on a scale.
The order can vary according to a situation: 
Table 2 Secondary function of modals (Alexander 1988, 208) 
might 
May 
Could 
can° 
should 
ought to 
would 
Will 
You 
must 
be right. 
have been right. 
very uncertain 
| 
| 
| 
↓ 
almost certain 
You are right. 
° Can requires qualification to be used in this way: He can hardly be right. 

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Philosophical Faculty, Palacký University Olomouc 
21 
“English modal verbs constitute a problem for the student of English as a foreign language. 
The problem lies not in the surface positioning of the modals, since they are always
the first auxiliary in the verb phrase […]. The problem lies in the recognition and
the proper use of the meanings underlying the English modal verbs.” (Cook 1978) Imre 
(2012) also mentions: “Modal constructions (especially epistemic) involve some kind
of comment on the environment within which a particular act does or does not take place. 
Modal sentences cannot be understood at all apart from considerations of their being 
anchored in some social context which seems to leave no hope for computer-assisted 
translations (CAT), as no one can expect from software to take into consideration 
environment.”