the translation of modals.docx

7/27/2019 The translation of modals.docx

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Translation of Modal VerbsModal verbs are common auxiliary verbs in Germanic languagesincluding English that indicate modality. Modality is the grammaticalized

expression of the subjective attitudes and opinions of the speakerincluding possibility, probability, necessity, obligation, permissibility,

ability, desire, and contingency.

MayIt is a modal verb used for saying that something is possible, as in,

27- I may be going to China next year.

.The verb May in sentence (27) above has the meaning ofpossibilityand needs two Arabic words as its counterpart inArabic, In some contexts, it may need more than two words, as in,

28- May I help you?

Might is used as the past form of May and it is often used indirectly. It isalso used to ask for something politely.29- Might I say something? Asking for doing or saying something in Arabic can have morethan oneEnglish counterpart, as in ; 30-May I open the window, please?

31-Can I open the window, please?32-Would you mind opening the window, please?

Shall:

It is a modal verb used with I and we in future tense, meaning inArabic , as in;33- I shall be very happy to see him again.

().It is also used for suggestion that you do something with theperson youare talking to.34-shall we go out for a walk?


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In law shall is used to mean must, obligation, but not futurewhich is aspecial use of shall.e.g.

35- The defendant shall appear before the court at once.

;.It is used to make offer, as inShall I drive? {would you like me to drive?) ShouldIt is a modal verb used for saying that it is right for somebody to dosomething or something that one must do, as in;36-You should try that new restaurant. .It is usually used to express the sense of obligation.

37- I suggested that he should cancel the meeting. .

This shows that should is always translated into ( ) justlike must.It is used to indicate what is right or wrong, as in;38-You shouldnt drink and drive. .

Must have and should have

Students may understand these two constructions as having the samemeaning of obligation in the past. In fact they are not so, but they areopposites.

Must have is used to express an action that took place, whereas, the

action which should have, refers to, as in (40}below did not take place.So students should take care of these verbs at translation. Thus theyshould distinguish between must have which implies action andshould have which implies noaction, as in,39- The students must have gone. . 40-The students should have gone.

()


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The word ( ) labudda meaning maybe is used toexpress, the doing,or the expectation of doing something; whereas )( has the meaningof the wish to have something done, butit didnt happen.WillAs a modal verb it is used in forming the future tense, as in,41- He will be here soon. .

It also shows that somebody is willing to do something, as in;42- I need some more paper, Ok, I will get it. ,,.

It is used for asking somebody to do something, e.g.

43- Will you open the door please? or offer something to somebody.44- Will you have a cup of tea?

It is used for saying that you think something is probably true.45- That will be the postman at the door. .In indirect speech will is changed into would as a pasttense, as in;

46- He said they would go home. .As a noun;

It can be used as a noun, as in;

47- My father seems to have lost the will to live. .48-Have you made a will? Therefore, students learning translation should be aware of averb that can

be used as a verb and a noun as well.


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WouldIt is the past tense of will used to express polite requests, withthe second

person.49- Would you mind opening the window, please? It is also used to express desire and preference, as in;

50-would you rather have tea or coffee? 51- He would prefer to have coffee. .CanIt is a modal verb used to express the meaning of capacity(know how), asin,52- I can swim.

"Can" also has the meaning of permission, as in,

53- You can go as soon you like. . . .It is used to ask somebody to do something, as in;54- Can you help me carry these books?

Can is used to express the continuity of an action whichcannot be usedwith verbs like, feel, hear, see, smell, taste, as in;

55-I can smell something burning. (Not I am smelling)

.

Like will, can is used as a verb and as a noun as well. As a noun it meansa metal or plastic container that is used for holdingor carrying liquid; anoil can=a can of oil- It is used for drinks. InBritish English it is a tin,asin;

56-I want to get two cans of sardines.


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Can as a main verb canning, canned; means to put food,drink etc. into acan to keep it fresh for a long time. Example;

57-The factory canned the whole product of the fruit.

Can be+adj

This construction can be+adj has the meaning of capacitywhich is onlyshown on some occasions, as in;58-He can be nervous.

Can bein sentence 58 above means, sometimes he may benervous.

Can has no infinitive or participle to refer to future or to perfect tensewhen an Arabic word ( ) which means canoccurs in a sentencethat is supposed to be translated into English. Can is not used as asynonym to the Arabic word ( ) becausethe Arabic sentence whichis used to refer to future use this phrase be able, instead, as in;

59-One day people will be able to travel to Mars. .To keep the meaning of the text more acceptable, we use a well-formed

English sentence

Another example:

.60-Surely, Selma cannot be hungry; she has only just had lunch.

Here can is used in negative for saying that they are sure that

something is not true.

CouldAs a modal verb means possessed the ability but it does not achieve

something by means of this ability. It is not used with the meaning of

achievement of something in the face of difficulties.

Have a look at these two sentences translated into Arabic;

61- The mechanic couldnt repair our car. ().


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62-She couldnt finish her book last night. .

Could is also used to express permission, as in;

63- I could do anything I wanted when I stayed with my uncle. .

In sentence (63) above could expresses permission ingeneral, but whenwe are talking about the permission of particular occasion, we dont use

could, instead, we use beallowed to as in;

64- We were allowed to visit Tom in hospital yesterday. .

The two sentences above show the importance of understanding themeaning of a text you want to translate.Could only means possessed theability, but it does not meanachieved something by means of this ability.Consider these sentences;

65-The mechanic couldnt repair our car.

66-The mechanic was able to repair our car.(no difficulty)67-The mechanic managed to mend our car. (with difficulty)

the translation of modals.docx

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