Advanced Modality: Probability, Obligation and Distancing

What is advanced modality? Modality expresses a speaker's or writer's attitude toward a proposition. It can show how likely something is, whether an action is necessary, how strongly a conclusion is supported, or how personally committed the speaker is to a claim. At C2 level, modality extends well beyond may, must and should. Skilled users combine modal verbs, lexical verbs, adverbs, passive reporting structures and hedging devices to express highly specific shades of meaning. Probability exists on a scale English does not divide probability into only possible and impossible. Might and could can keep several interpretations open. May often expresses a relatively neutral possibility. Be likely to indicates a stronger probability, while epistemic must expresses a powerful inference based on evidence. Adverbs and phrases such as apparently, presumably, conceivably, in all likelihood and there is every reason to believe allow even finer distinctions. Epistemic and deontic modality Epistemic modality concerns knowledge, probability and inference, as in She must be at work. Deontic modality concerns obligation, permission and rules, as in You must submit the form today. The same modal verb may therefore perform different functions depending on context. At C2 level, understanding the intended function is more important than simply identifying the grammatical form. Obligation, necessity and expectation Must, have to, need to, be required to, be obliged to and be expected to are not interchangeable. Must often expresses strong or speaker-imposed obligation. Have to frequently refers to external circumstances or rules. Be required to sounds institutional and formal. Be obliged to can express formal, legal or moral obligation. Be expected to usually presents something as a professional, social or organisational expectation rather than an absolute command. Speaker commitment Speaker commitment refers to how strongly a person presents a proposition as true. The plan will fail expresses strong commitment. The plan may fail is weaker. The plan appears likely to fail creates even more distance. Advanced users choose these forms strategically so that the force of a claim matches the evidence and the communicative situation. Hedging: reducing the force of a claim Hedging limits the strength or scope of a statement. Modal verbs such as may and might, verbs such as seem, appear, tend and suggest, adverbs such as apparently and arguably, and phrases such as to some extent or in certain respects can all perform this function. In academic writing, appropriate hedging is often a sign of precision because it prevents a claim from sounding stronger than the evidence allows. Boosting: increasing commitment Boosting strengthens a claim. Words such as clearly, certainly, undoubtedly and evidently, as well as phrases such as there can be little doubt that, signal strong commitment. At C2 level, the challenge is not simply knowing these expressions but judging when they are justified. Excessive boosting can make a text sound dogmatic or poorly calibrated. Distancing from a claim Distancing allows speakers and writers to report information without fully adopting it as their own position. Structures such as It is believed that, X is said to, X is understood to, reportedly and allegedly are common in journalism, academic prose and professional reporting. They help separate the source of information from the person currently presenting it. Modality in the past To evaluate past events, English frequently uses modal + have + past participle. Must have done expresses a strong inference. Might have done presents a possibility. Can't have done expresses a strong negative inference. Should have done often conveys criticism or an unfulfilled expectation, while needn't have done indicates that an action was completed even though it was unnecessary.