英语情态动词的语义特征分析及其对教学的启示

Analysis of the Semantic Features of Modal Verbs and Their Implications for English Teaching

英语情态动词语义交错、用法多变。明晰情态动词的语义特征可以加深对情态动词语义的理解和提高语用能力。英语情态动词有功能性、主观性、即时性、多义性四大语义特征,上述四个特征对英语教师可以有以下四个方面的启示,即了解情态动词的功能性有助于拓展情态意义的表达方式,了解情态动词的主观性有助于对含有情态动词话语和不含情态动词话语差异的理解,了解情态动词的即时性有助于对情态动词中语气婉转或不确定性语义的把握,了解情态动词的多义性有助于对特定语境中情态动词的解读。

English modal verbs are complicated in semantics and changeable in application.But it is believed that a discussion of their semantic features can deepen our understanding and improve our pragmatic competence.This article aims to analyze the semantic features of English modal verbs and draw implications for improving English teaching.