Yet (hey too achieve a measure of communicative proficiency, and certain of these learners become highly proficient as well. What we can infer from this is that humans arc amazingly versatile learners and that some people have a natural aptitude for acquiring languages and will succeed no matter what the circumstances. | 142 The Grammar Book working with the systems operating within both dimensions. In this chapter we consider the logical probability of modals to be meaning and the social function of modals to be use. Logical Probability Meanings of Modals The logical meanings of the modals typically deal with the speaker making an inference or prediction. For example Wilbur Someone s knocking at the door. Gertrude It may be Sydney. In fact we can establish a hierarchy for the logical meanings of modals. What increases is the degree of certainty regarding our inference Wilbur Someone s knocking. Gertrude That must be Sydney. High certainty That will be Sydney. A That should be Sydney. I That may be Sydney. That could might10 be Sydney. Low certainty Only the first two options have informal phrasal equivalents . It has to has got to be Sydney Il s gonna be Sydney since in general phrasal forms seem to be selected more readily to express social interaction than logical probability. Of the modals in the logical probability hierarchy will and should are the most limited in that they do not work well for all situations A I have flushed cheeks and a slight fever. B You could might may must will should be coming down with something. It appears that the speaker requires some special personal knowledge to make a present inference using will or should as opposed to the other more neutral modals of probability . could might may must . Present inference can also be stated in negative terms but this is much less frequent and the selection and order of forms is somewhat different Wilbur Someone s knocking at the door. I believe it s Sidney. Gertrude That might not be Sydney. Low possibility That may not be Sydney. A That won t wouldn t be Sydney. That can t couldn t be Sydney. Impossibility Should and must are absent from the negative inference scale since they are typically used for social functions in the negative to advise and order others on what not to do They shouldn t do that. You .
