The syntactic and semantic use of modal auxiliaries

Abstract EN

Modal auxiliaries are part of the verb phrases in different kinds of sentences.

From the syntactic point of view, modal auxiliaries, like all other auxiliaries in English, are important to form negatives, questions, reported speech, etc.

Since the syntactic rules to form the above mentioned forms can be easily learned and applied, most students face little problems in using the modals, under study.

On the other hand, the semantics of modal auxiliaries causes difficulties to those students.

First, most modals have more than one meaning.

Second, the form of a modal auxiliary does not necessarily indicate the time of the sentence in which it is used.

Third, verb phrases with negated modals do not always express the opposite of affirmative ones.

Finally questions with one modal sometimes require answers with another.

As far as the study is concerned, the second- year students/ Department of English / AL- Mustansiriya University could improve their performance by using modal auxiliaries in the teaching course.

Moreover, the researchers have carried out a two- part test on the students, before and after the teaching course.

The aim is to measure the amount of the improvement the students gain through the intensive lectures of the teaching course.

It is evident that the percentage of correct answers has risen from 38% to 60% which proves that the students’ performance has been improved.