The Functions of Modal Verbs in French
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69760/portuni.0110020Keywords:
modality, modal verbs, epistemic and deontic functions, modal interpretationAbstract
Modal verbs occupy a central place in the grammatical system of contemporary French, as they make it possible to express the speaker’s attitude toward the propositional content of an utterance. In particular, they serve to mark possibility, necessity, obligation, probability, as well as volition. This article aims to analyze the main functions of modal verbs in simple sentences in French, drawing on well-established theoretical frameworks in linguistics, notably the works of Lyons, Palmer, Le Querler, and Sweetser.
The analysis is based on a corpus of authentic examples that highlights the epistemic, deontic, dynamic, and discursive uses of the verbs pouvoir, devoir, vouloir, and savoir. The study demonstrates that the polysemy of these verbs and the diversity of their contextual values play a fundamental role in the interpretation of utterances. Finally, the article emphasizes the didactic implications of modal verb analysis, particularly in the teaching of French as a foreign language, where mastery of modal values represents a major challenge for learners’ communicative competence.
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