A SENSE OF ENGLISH

Learning English poses different problems for different nationalities. Pronunciation, word order, sentence structure, tenses – these are just a few examples of potential problems for the student of English.

The particular difficulties will relate directly to the way that English differs from whatever your mother tongue is. Learning fourteen different tenses in English will, for example, cause significant problems to Hungarian students but be relatively straightforward to those whose first language is a Latin-based one, like Italian, Spanish or French.

Hungarian, although considered a grammatically complex and difficult language to learn, uses only three tenses - past, present and future. One vital aspect of English that students from China, Korea and Japan in particular have to contend with is the use of Modal Verbs. These refer to a set of special words which support a main verb in a sentence, lending extra meaning and often (crucially) conveying the spirit in which something is said. The key Modals are Can, Could, Should, Would, Must and Might.
Modal Verbs are never used in isolation. They are always connected to another verb and convey varying degrees of possibility, probability and necessity of events or situations.

Although even intermediate students of English are familiar with Modal Verbs and have some idea about these concepts they are used to express, being able to use them in real life communication - and in a way that sounds natural - represents a real challenge.

Comparison is one key way for non-native English speakers to enhance their understanding of the nuance of meaning that using different Modals implies. Take for example the following two sentences:

A If I finish my work at the office before 9pm, I’ll join you for a drink at the pub.
B If I finish my work at the office before 9pm, I might join you for a drink at the pub.

The first sentence uses a future tense indicating that the speaker’s mind is made up. He is deciding on a course of action now, and is effectively promising to go the pub (as long as he finishes his work).

In the second sentence the speaker is refusing to commit himself to going to the pub. Instead, he is informing the person he is talking to that – although there is some possibility of him going to the pub - he will decide later, and not now. Maybe after finishing his work he will feel too tired and will want to go straight home. Using might leaves his options open.

It is very important to emphasize that in both cases the result (i.e. going to the pub or not) depends on whether the speaker finishes his work before 9pm. If he doesn’t, he won’t go. The condition is clear.

The use of will in sentence A does not therefore relate to the certainty of him going, but to the certainty of his intention. And in sentence B, going to the pub or not after work depends not only on whether he finishes his work before 9pm, but also on what his feeling or situation is after finishing. Confused? Don’t worry if your answer is yes. Developing a sense of the nuance of meaning that Modal Verbs carry is essential to effective and high-level communication in English. But it’s usually not achieved without a prolonged period of time being spent in an English-speaking country.

The more you can increase your exposure to English through the media, and your own contacts, the more your personal sense of English will develop.