THE MODAL VERB ‘MIGHT’ AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSING THE CATEGORY OF APPROXIMATION

THE MODAL VERB ‘MIGHT’ AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSING THE CATEGORY OF APPROXIMATION

Author:  1- Alexey G. Minchenkov, 2 - Alexandr G. Minchenkov

Affiliation:  1 - St.-Petersburg State University, 2 - St.-Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation

Abstract:  Within the framework of cognitive-functional grammar, the article explores the capacity of the modal verb ‘might’ to express approximation. Different structures are considered in which the verb in question can express the given meaning, and a conclusion is drawn that the identification of the said meaning requires one to analyze the whole cognitive context.

Keywords:  modal verb  ◆  approximation  ◆  modal category  ◆  cognitive context  ◆  prototype  ◆  periphery

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Pages:  210-218