2.3.1.3. Order of modals with respect to the verb
In LSC the order of modals [LEXICON 3.3.3, MORPHOLOGY 3.4] with respect to the verb shows a freer distribution in comparison to lexical verbs. Below some examples of the deontic modal must-0 are shown. This modal can appear in any position in the clause except before the subject.
a) ix1 time eleven leave must-0.
‘I have to leave at eleven.’
b) ix1 time eleven must-0 leave.
‘I have to leave at eleven.’
c) ix1 must-0 time eleven leave.
‘I have to leave at eleven.’
d) ix1 must-0 leave time eleven.
‘I have to leave at eleven.’
The modal must-5 shows a more restricted distribution, appearing either in initial or final position in the clause, as shown in the examples below.
a) paper sign each_one++ must-5.
‘You must sign each one of the pages.’
b) must-5 paper sign each_one++.
‘You must sign each one of the pages.’
Both modals must-0 and must-5 can cooccur in a clause. In this case must-0 always precedes must-5, as illustrated in the examples below.
a) must-0 paper sign each_one++ must-5.
‘You must sign each one of the pages.’
b) *must-5 paper sign each_one++ must-0.
‘You must sign each one of the pages.’
The deontic modal can, when expressing possibility, shows a more restricted distribution, being placed always after the verb. The position of can at the end of the sentence is less common and it is usually substituted by the modal be_able.
a) ix1 sea dive can one minute.
‘I can hold a minute under water.’
b) ix1 sea dive one minute can.
‘I can hold a minute under water.’
c) ix1 sea dive one minute be_able.
‘I am able to hold a minute under water.’
Instead, when can expresses permission it seems to allow the position before the verb as shown in the example below.
children park can go_out.
‘The children can go out to the park.’
As for epistemic modals, the signs maybe, possibly/can, and possibly/can-2,show different distributions in the sentence, some of which may vary depending on the preceding contextual information. The modal maybe is commonly placed in final position in the sentence, as shown below.
tomorrow rain maybe.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
As shown in the examples below, the modals possibly/can and possibly/can-2 may be placed in initial, second and final position. The most neutral order though for possibly/can and possibly/can-2 is final position.
a) tomorrow rain possibly/can.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
b) tomorrow rain possibly/can-2.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
c) tomorrow possibly/can rain.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
d) tomorrow possibly/can-2 rain.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
e) possibly/can rain tomorrow. [VIDEO NEEDS TO BE RECORDED]
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
f) possibly/can tomorrow rain. [VIDEO NEEDS TO BE RECORDED]
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
g) possibly/can-2 rain tomorrow.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
h) possibly/can-2 tomorrow rain.
‘Maybe it will rain tomorrow.’
The modal seem can be placed in both initial and final position in the sentence; however, the most neutral order is in the initial position.
a) seem sun.
‘It seems that it will be sunny.’
b) sun seem.
‘It seems that it will be sunny.’
In the case of the modal expressions for_sure and want say, they are usually placed before the utterance it qualifies, as shown in the examples below.
a) come there_be_not for_sure sick.
‘(He/She) has not come, (he) must be sick.’
b) come there_be_not want say sick.
‘(He/She) has not come, means that (he) is sick.’
c) yesterday argue_rec, today there_be_not for_sure angry.
‘We argued yesterday, so today he/she didn’t come because he/she must be angry.’
d) yesterday argue_rec today there_be_not want say angry.
‘We argued yesterday, so that fact that today he/she didn’t come means that he/she must be angry.’