Modality

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Necessity

Tha+feum+aig+subject+air+N or V

(1)

Tha feum aig Calum air biadh
be.pres need at Calum on food
Calum needs food

(2)

Tha feum aig Calum air dol
be.pres need at Calum on go.vn
Calum needs to go

(3)

Feumaidh Daidhidh am balach a bhualadh.
must David the boy Tran strike.vn
'David must strike the boy.'

(4)

Is còir do Iain an leabhar a cheannach.
cop.pres right to John.dat the.sm book.sm Tran buy.vn
'John should buy the book.' (MacAulay 1992)

Possibility

(1)

Faodaidh Daidhidh Iain a bhualadh.
may David John Tran strike.vn
'David may hit Ian.'

(2)

Dh'fhaodinn ithe.
might.1s eat.vn
'I might eat.'

(3)

Dh'fhaodadh tu ithe.
might you(sg) eat.vn
'You might eat.'

(4)

Is dòcha nach do cheannaich Iain an leabhar.
cop.pres possible Neg.Comp to buy.pst John the.sm book.sm
'It is possible that John didn't buy the book.' (MacAulay 1992)

Ability

(1)

'S urrainn dhomh ithe.
cop.pres ability for.1s eat.vn
'I can eat.'

(2)

'S urrainn do Bhob ithe.
cop.pres ability for Bob eat.vn
'Bob can eat.'


External Links

Modal verb from Wikipedia