The intent of this research is to see how non-native talkers of English usage average verbs: if they rely on the grammatical constructions of their female parent lingua or they learn how to utilize average verbs in English without the influence of their ain linguistic communication.
This paper is organized as follows: in subdivision 2, we deal with the theoretical histories of average verbs. This subdivision is subdivided into two: Section 2.1 focal points on analytic temper and formal belongingss of average aides, and subdivision 2.2 trades with the different points of position on modal verbs harmonizing to some grammar books and other beginnings such as the thought of what a average verb is that non-native talkers of English have. In subdivision 3, we explain the importance of the theoretical histories of average verbs for non-native talkers of English in order to utilize them right. In subdivision 4, we analyze the trials done by non-native talkers of English. This subdivision is subdivided into five different parts: the first portion trades with the profile of my participants, the 2nd 1 with the evocation method, the 3rd 1 with my hypothesis, and the last 1 with the analysis of the information. Finally, in subdivision 4, we offer some decision we have reached after the whole survey.
Theoretical histories of average verbs:
In this subdivision of my undertaking, I expound the theoretical histories refering the modal verbs in English which I am covering with. On the one manus, I focus on analytic temper. On the other manus, I treat of cardinal modal verbs, semi-modal verbs, their belongingss, and their significance harmonizing to several syntacticians and the sentiment of non-native talkers of English.
Analytic temper: Formal Properties of Modal Auxiliaries. Ilse Depraetere and Susan Reed ( 2006 ) .
In English, a differentiation between cardinal modals ( can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, mush ) and peripheral modals ( ought ) is made.
Cardinal modals have what is called ‘NICE ‘ belongingss ( negation, inversion, codification, and accent ) . This means that they have a negative signifier which consists on the subsidiary followed by non ; in subject-verb inversion they can predate the topic ; they can happen in ‘code ‘ , i.e. they can replace a lexical verb which has been used before in the context ; and they are able of stressing avowals. That means that they can stress by themselves. In add-on, they are non marked for individual or figure, and they are ever finite.
Central modal verbs and semi-modals: Their belongingss and their significance harmonizing to several syntacticians and the sentiment of non-native talkers of English:
Harmonizing to Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, and Svatvik ( 1985 ) aides and average aides have several belongingss. The subsidiary belongingss are the undermentioned: [ A ] primary verb negation, [ B ] subject-auxiliary inversion, [ C ] emphasized mutual opposition, [ D ] stranding, [ E ] exclusion of bash in codification, [ F ] precede adverb or quantifier, [ G ] negative signifiers, and [ H ] reduced signifiers. The belongingss of average aides are: [ I ] merely primary signifiers, [ J ] no individual or figure understanding, [ K ] merely bare infinitival complement, [ L ] can happen in distant apodosis, and [ M ] modally remote preterit in chief clause.
Can and will hold all the belongingss listed above, therefore they are the most simple average verbs. Must applies all the belongingss from [ A ] to [ K ] . However, it has no preterit signifier [ M ] . For some talkers, it can happen in distant apodosis, although such constructions are non common because they prefer a preterit modal. May has all belongingss except [ H ] and, for some talkers, [ G ] because it is unusual to hold may n’t, though it exists, the common negative signifier is may non. There is a debatable relationship between the present and preterit tenses of may, they are no longer inflectional signifiers of the same lexeme, but they come from different lexemes, and each of them lacks a preterit signifier. Shall applies the belongingss from [ A ] to [ M ] , yet its preterit signifier, should, can be found functioning as its existent preterit signifier or holding an idiomatic significance. Ought differs from cardinal average aides in that it takes a to-infinitival complement. However, in non-affirmative contexts we normally find a bare infinitival complement.
Harmonizing to Thomson and Marinet ( 1986 ) , can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, and would are average aides. To show permission, we can utilize may, might, can, and could. May is used in the present and future, and might is used in the conditional and after verbs in the past tense. Both of them are followed by a bare infinitive. Can, as may, is used in the present and future, could is used in the past and conditional. Both of them are besides followed by bare infinitive.
May and can are the signifiers used in the present or future to show permission. Can is more usual than may, and, in conversational address, it is much more frequent the usage of can/could than may/might. May is normally used when permission is given, can is a less formal option to may in this instance. However, can show the thought of being allowed to make something.
Relation between the theoretical histories and the aim of this research:
We can give some grounds why it is of import to hold in head several theoretical histories about average verbs. First, non-native talkers of English need to cognize the basic features of average verbs in order to separate them from other type of verbs, for case lexical verbs. Another ground to take into history these theoretical histories is that non-native talkers of English do non talk this linguistic communication by intuition but by cognition. Thus we must cognize some regulations, and we must hold some basic impressions about average verbs so as to utilize them in an equal manner. Finally, it is of import for us to cognize the significance that each modal verb contributes to the vocalization we want to state because average verbs have of import niceties.
Analysis of the informations:
I obtained the information for my analysis from 140 participants from which I have selected 32 which I consider more outstanding. These 32 trials have been selected harmonizing to the age of the participants and their consequences.
Profile of the participants:
The sum of participants I have worked with was of 140 people all of them between the age of 14 and 35. All of them are native talkers of Spanish, except a 17-year-old miss whose L1 is Bulgaria, L2 Spanish, L3 French, and L4 English. From these 140 trials, I have selected 32 which are the 1s that I consider more singular both for their consequences and the age of their participants. The people who have participated in the research are pupils of English at Condesa Eylo Alfonso high school from 2nd twelvemonth secondary instruction up to first twelvemonth of vocational preparation focused on commercialism.
Method of evocation of informations:
The information was elicited through a trial which was divided into two subdivisions. The first subdivision, inquiries from 1 to 10, the participants had to make full in the spreads with one of the modal verbs they were give. The 2nd subdivision has to make with the cognition that the participants have about modal verbs, i.e. in this subdivision they had to state what a average verb is, and what it expresses.
Hypothesis:
Before get downing with the analysis of the undertakings that the participants did, I had three hypotheses.
First, the older participants should utilize the English modal verbs in a better manner than the younger. The older participants have been analyzing English and its grammar for longer, therefore they should break appreciate the niceties that modal verbs contribute to the significance of a sentence. Second, younger participants are supposed to be more influenced by the usage of average verbs in their ain linguistic communication because they have non had enough contact with English in order to utilize it fluently. Finally, both adolescents and grownups are supposed to utilize better the modal verbs which have the same usage in their female parent lingua because it is easier for anybody to larn how to utilize a construction that we have in our ain linguistic communication.
Analysis of informations:
Part.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Q6
Q7
Q8
Q9
Q10
14
Ten
14
Ten
Ten
Ten
15
Ten
Ten
Ten
15
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
15
Ten
Ten
Ten
15
15
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
16
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
16
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
16
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
16
16
Ten
Ten
17
Ten
17
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
18
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
18
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
19
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
19
19
Ten
Ten
19
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
20
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
20
21
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
21
22
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
22
Ten
Ten
23
Ten
Ten
24
26
Ten
Ten
Ten
Ten
30
Ten
Ten
Ten
33
Ten
Ten
Ten
35
Ten
Ten
Ten
