Publisher's Synopsis
This comprehensive, corpus-driven introduction to modality is the first textbook of its kind. Complete with exercises, end of chapter summaries and a glossary, this will be an ideal introduction to the complex topic of modality.
Modality refers to words and phrases that are used, not to express facts, but rather to express events or actions which only exist in the mind and which may or may not happen in the future. Modality refers to the concepts of possibility, probability, necessity, certainty, etc., for example, "It may be cold outside", "We must get down to business", "I will make dinner", "You could travel by train".
This book is a comprehensive, corpus-driven, up-to-date introduction to modality expressions and stance, with a focus on national varieties of English and with reference to other languages. The book will be an ideal resource for students: it offers clear explanations with plenty of examples and incorporates essential pedagogical features.
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