Modality (how certain we are about something) Modality is the selection of words used to express how de�nite we are about something. It can express from being uncertain (low (l ow modality) to very certain (high modality). It is used when we are discussing a point of view. Examples giving a point of view: Regular exercise may improve the health of your heart. (low modality) Regular exercise will improve the health of your heart. (high modality)
low modality might go
high modality could possibly go
It could be hot outside.
should go
will go
will de�nitely go
It is probably hot outside.
It is hot outside.
Modality can be expressed through various language features: verbs
can, could, have to, must, might, should, would, ought to, couldn’t, might not, had better, may, shall, seem, believe, think, appear
adverbs
impossibly, positively, possibly, scarcely, certainly, de�nitely, most certainly, surely, unquestionably,, seriously, apparently, obviously, rarely, occasionally unquestionably
nouns
chance, opportunity, possibility, necessity, capacity, certainty
adjectives
potential, possible, certain, cert ain, de�nite, clear, probable, likely, unlikely, unlikely, total, essential, absolute, complete
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