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Modals Related To Verbs..seminar Paper 2
Modals Related To Verbs..seminar Paper 2
SEMINAR PAPER
STUDENT: PROF.DOC.
Learta Mustafa Lindita Ademi
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I. ABSTRACT
In this seminar paper, l have analyzed the usage of modals related to verbs in Albanian and
English language. This study aims to explain how non-modal verbs are used in different
contexts, and most importantly how we’re supposed to understand and also explain to others,
their equivalences into the Albanian language.
Thus, the difficulties that students have to deal every day while conversing with others. After
reading this you’ll be able to tell their differences into the different contexts, and you’ll be able
to understand the mistakes we make and the wrong equivalences we use in the Albanian
language in our spoken skills as well as written form.
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II. INTRODUCTION
Background
Academic writers experience numerous difficulties and troubles. One of these troubles is
utilizing the modal verbs and the equivalences between different languages to have a precise
significance in detecting the variation of semi-modals verbs and their usage. In English, the
substitutes of modal verbs are: Have to, Supposed to, Be bound to, Manage to, Allowed to, Be
able to.
The reason why we need to substitute the modal verbs is that we can’t always use them in every
context for example we can’t use ‘can’ and ‘could’ in every sentence instead we’re supposed to
use ‘be able to’ when we write about a specific ability. Also, this paper will take you through a
variety of equivalences in the Albanian language and English language as well, among local and
non-local speakers of English and Albanian in the scholarly composing composition.
It is crucial to make further examination when it comes to the equivalences in Albanian because
there is a difficulty when it comes finding the right equivalence for example ‘bound to’ the only
equivalence that we can use in Albanian is ‘ e percaktuar/destinuar’, and when it comes to
certainty in a context ‘e sigurt’. However, you’ll be able to read furthermore in this study where
l’ve tried to write as concisely as possible therefore to be easier to understand for the readers.
II. BE ABLE TO
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There are many situations where you can’t use ‘’can’’ or ‘’could’’ to talk about ability.
Therefore we need to use a different verb. One of the verbs ‘’be able to’’. Generally, ‘can’ and
‘be able to’ have the same meaning.
Can and Could are modal auxiliary verbs. Be able to is NOT an auxiliary verb (it uses the
verb be as a main verb). We include ‘be able to’ here for convenience. ( we can’t always use
‘can and ‘could to talk about ability therefore we need to use another verbs such as ‘’be able to’’.
For example:
‘’He’s been able to swim since he was two years old.’’ ( there’s no way to use can and could in
this sentence and keep the same meaning) whereas in Albanian:
Generally if you have a choice it’s better to use ‘can and ‘could because it makes your sentence
simpler and shorter, we sometimes chose to use ‘be able to’ because it sounds more formal
‘could vs. ‘able to’. ‘’the traffic was really bad, but we could catch our train’’.
Not correct, because we can’t use ‘can and ‘could’ when we talk about specific abilities in the
past ‘’the traffic was really bad, but we were able to catch our train.’’ or
‘’the traffic was really bad, but we managed to catch our train.’’
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In Albanian:
‘’Our car broke down on the way, but luckily I was able to fix it’’.
‘’Vetura jone u prish pergjate rruges, por fatmirsisht une isha ne gjendje/I afte ta rregulloja’’.
Now this difference between general and specific situations only applies to positive sentences,
not in negatives.
If your sentence is negative, there’s no difference between ‘could’ and ‘be able to’.
It’s like most other cases: you can choose which verb to use and it doesn’t matter.
• ‘’It was hard work and we weren’t able to finish everything in time.’’
If the sentence is negative, it doesn’t matter if the situation is general or specific: you can use
both forms.
‘’Ishte pune e veshtire dhe ne nuk mundem/ishim te afte te kryejme cdo gje ne kohe.’’
III.1 BE ABOUT TO
Be about to is used to talk about things which are going to happen very soon and it often used
with just :
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‘’I’m about to eat. Can I phone you back?’’
‘’We’re just about to set off for a walk. Do you want to come?’’
When used in the past, be about to can refer to things that were going to happen but didn’t. E.g
Albanian: ‘’Isha gati per t’u ankuar por ai erdh dhe me kerkoj falje.’’
III. 2 BE DUE TO
Be due to is used to talk about things that are expected or planned to happen at a certain time. We
often use it with a time expression:
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‘’Are you due to hand in homework today?’’
Albanian:
Be likely to
Albanian: ‘’A jane prinderit e pasur me te prirur t’i llastojne femijet e tyre?’’
I think men are more likely to spend a lot of money on food than women are.
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lV BE BOUND TO
Be bound + to-infinitive is used to refer to future events which are certain or very likely to
happen :
Bound to be=Means to Be certain or destined to (it has the same meaning as destined for.)
Use for (not TO) when BOUND is followed by a noun, particularly a destination.
E.G ‘’She's bound for Thailand.’’ Albanian: ‘’Ajo eshte e percaktuar per ne Thailand.’’
‘’This flight is bound for Bohol.’’ ‘’Ky fluturim eshte I percaktuar per ne Bohol.’’
Thus, ‘be bound to’ and ‘be bound for’ are used to express an unavoidable action.
‘’She's bound to fail.’’(She's certain to fail. It's very probable that she will fail.)
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Albanian: ‘’Ajo sigurt do te deshtoj.’’
‘’She is bound for stardom.’’ (She is destined to be a star. It's very likely that she will be
famous.)
‘’ Music binds all of us together.’’
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‘’Mother’s boundless love.’’
Rebound
Rebound (verb)
Rebound(n.)
Bounded
The past tense of bound is bounded.
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V. HAVE TO
Have to is NOT an auxiliary verb (it uses the verb have as a main verb). We include have to here
for convenience.
Use of have to
In general, have to expresses impersonal obligation. The subject of have to is obliged or forced to
act by a separate, external power (for example, the Law or school rules). Have to is objective.
‘’In France, you have to drive on the right.’’
Albanian: ‘’Ne France ti duhet te vozitesh ne te djathte.’’
‘’In England, most schoolchildren have to wear a uniform.’’
Albanian: ‘’Ne Angli shumica femijeve duhet te/patjeter te veshin uniforma.’’
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‘’ Une duhet te shkoj me shoket e mi.’’
‘’Duhet të vish edhe ti me ne. Duhet të shkoj me shokët e mi. Këtu, megjithëse përemrat janë të
vetës së dytë dhe të parë, përsëri folja duhet është vendosur në vetën e tretë njëjës, pasi aty
nënkuptohe veprimi që duhet kryer dhe jo kush e kryen veprimin e caktuar vij; shkoj. Pra nuk
mund të themi: Duhesh të vish dhe as Duhem të shkoj’’ (Tom Gjokhilaj, 2018)
Both are correct, but they are used for different situations.
For example, we could say 'If I decide to take this course, I will have to pass an exam next year'.
If the speaker has already been on the course for some time, he would be more likely to say, 'I
have to pass an exam next year'.
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Must and have to are both used for obligation and are often quite similar. They are both followed
by the infinitive.
We often use must for more personal opinions about what it is necessary to do, and have to for
what somebody in authority has said it is necessary to do. E.g
Albanian: ‘’Une duhet te kujtohem per t’ja marre nje dhurate Deizit.’’
‘’You have to look after their hair regularly.’’ (dog experts say so)
‘’Ti duhet te kujdesesh per floket e tyre rregullisht.’’
Have to is more frequent in conversation; must is used more in formal writing, for example in
written notices. E.g
Another E.g
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‘’Foljet që marrin rolin modal në gjuhën shqipe. Këto folje ndryshe janë quajtur edhe folje
gjysëmndihmëse. Të tilla janë foljet: duhet dhe mund të cilat vihen në rolin e foljeve
gjysëmndihmëse duke e humbur përgjithësisht kuptimin parësor të tyre dhe duke plotësuar
kuptimet dhe vlerat gramatikore të foljeve që shoqërojnë. Edhe foljet: dihet; mendohet; shihet;
supozohet; parashikohet; flitet; duket; etj. vihen në rolin e foljeve modale’’
VI. ALLOWED TO
When the auxiliary can is not grammatically possible. We often use to be able to or to be
allowed to instead of can. We can only form the Past of can (could).
To put can into other tenses we need the phrases to be able to or to be allowed to. The use
of may and to be allowed to.
We substitute may with ‘to be allowed to’. The modal may can only be used with the Simple
Present.
iSimple Presentmple
I may play football. I am allowed to play football.
Present
Simple PastSimple
not possible I was allowed to play football.
Past
E.g
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lej/ój folje kalimtare; -óva, -úar 1. e lë dikë të bëjë diçka, i jap leje; i jap pëlqimin dikujt për një
punë, miratoj; antonim; ndaloj: e lejoi të shkonte; më lejoni të hyj? 2. e bëj të mundshme diçka;
krijoj kushte, pajtohem me një gjendje: s’e lejojnë kushtet; këto na lejojnë të pohojmë se...; nuk e
lejon koha (libr.) s’ka kohë. 3. përdoret për mirësjellje kur i drejtohemi dikujt: më lejoni t’ju
njoh me shokun tim.
Other examples:
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Modal Substitute Tense
I am not allowed
I may not play football. Simple Tense
to play football.
I was not allowed
not possible Simple Past
to play football.
I will not be allowed
not possible Will-future
to play football.
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VII. SUPPOSED TO, WHEN TO USE IT AND HOW
‘To be supposed to’ is a common phrase that functions the same way a modal verb does. Modal
verbs, also called auxiliary or helping verbs, add meaning to the main verb in a sentence by
expressing possibility, ability, permission, or obligation. Supposed to, like have to, can fall into
the “obligation” category
Whenever it is used in either of these senses, supposed to will be preceded by a form of to be and
followed by a verb. E.g
On the other hand, the verb to suppose means to presume, in theory, that something is the case
without certain evidence. E.g
Albanian: ‘’Maxi nuk eshte akoma ketu, por mendoj treni I tij eshte vonuar.’’
‘’Suppose my coach really does turn into a pumpkin. What will I do then?’’
Albanian: ‘’Mendoje sikur trajneri im kthehet ne te vertete ne nje kungull. Cfare do bej une
atehere?’’
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VII.I SUPPOSE VS ASSUME
E.g ‘’Suppose that you have a coffee shop. How will you manage it.’’
‘’Assume that you have a coffee shop. How will you manage it.’’
Assume/suppose:
(folje)
✦ marr
✦ pranoj si të vërtetë
✦ supozoj
✦ pretendoj
✦ pandeh
✦ pranoj
Still, in these examples the best equivalence in Albanian is to use ‘’Mendoj’’. Rather than
‘Supozoj’ or ‘Pretendoj’ (words taken by English language.) ‘Pandeh’ is used more in written
form rather than Spoken form.
However, let’s consider this
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‘’I assumed that you have our apartment keys. ( there is no evidence, the statement is based on
my personal guess)
In Albanian:
Hamendës/ój folje kalimtare; -óva, -úar marr me mend, supozoj; bëj një vlerësim me hamendje. /
trajta pësore; hamendësóhet veta; III
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Thus, the equivalence of Assume and Think in Albanian is ‘Mendoj dhe Hamendesoj’.
Hamendesoj is more used in written form, whereas, Mendoj is used more in spoken form.
VIII. MANAGED TO
We use the verbs manage to and manage a great deal in current English when we want to say that
we are able to cope with a difficult situation or find time for a particular task. Compare the
following:
‘’It was very icy, but I managed to keep the car on the road.’’
‘’Veronica was very upset when Ben left her, but she managed to smile nevertheless.’’
‘’She didn't really want to go to Mexico, but Tony managed to persuade her somehow.’’
‘’ Veronika ishte shume e merzitur kur Beni la ate, por ajo ja doli te buzqeshte
perseri.’
‘’ Ajo ne te vertete nuk donte te shkonte ne Meksike, por Toni ja doli ta bind ate disi.’’
Other examples:
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‘’This is an ideal job for those who can only manage a few hours each week.’’
‘’Can I give you a hand with that? ~ No, it's all right. I'll manage./ I can manage.’’
Albanian: ‘’ Kjo eshte nje pune ideale per ata qe munde te ja dalin me vetem pak ore ne cdo
jave.’’
Both "can" and "be able to" are used to express ability. In a spoken exchange, “can” is far more
common while “be able to” sounds less natural. However, when we are talking about the past,
the rules change a bit.
Now how to express past abilities with “could” “was (or) were able to” and another phrase you
may have heard before — "managed to.”
The first thing to know is that, in the past tense, we express general abilities and abilities
at specific times in different ways.
General abilities
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Albanian: ‘’Kur isha me e re une munde te imitoja zerin e zogjve.’’
We are talking about general skills or talents – not about a specific occasion.
Note that, in any of these examples, “was (or) were able to” is also possible but used less often.
You could say, for example,
‘’In high school, she was able to beat anyone in a running race.’’ And it would be fine. It also
might sound a little formal in spoken English.
Specific occasions :
Now, let’s talk about specific occasions. Here is where the rules change a bit.
When we are talking about a specific situation or when noting a specific achievement, we must
use “was (or) were able to” or “managed to.” Their meanings are very close.
Albanian:
Now let’s talk more about the meanings. “Was (or) were able to” and “managed to” both suggest
effort. They mean someone succeeded in doing something that was a challenge or took a special
effort. However, the phrase “managed to” puts a little more emphasis on how hard the challenge
was or how much effort it took.Note that “managed to” is fairly common in spoken English. You
will hear it used almost everywhere.
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we can use “couldn’t,” “wasn’t (or) weren’t able to,” or “didn’t manage to” to express the same
thing – inability on a specific occasion in the past. Listen to how these are used for the same
statement.
E.g.
In Albanian:
All three sentences mean that a person was not capable of doing something on a specific
occasion.
Note also that sometimes, for the negative form of “managed to,” we say, “couldn’t manage to”
instead of “didn’t manage to.” They mean the same thing:
‘’He studied for months but couldn’t manage to pass the bar exam.’’
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IX. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I’ve understood that is important to understand and use the non-modal verbs
properly especially when it comes to our native language, to make sense whenever you speak.
Verbs in Albanian differ from the English language perhaps from other languages too, thus
above the pages I’ve tried to distinguish the use of non-modal verbs between Albanian and
English through different examples that how non-Albanian modal verbs are used differently in
different situations. Usually, when you begin to learn a language you often get frustrated while
conversing with friends because you lack the vocabulary and you start feeling insecure about
your language speaking skills.
X. REFERENCES
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1. https://fol-shqip.com/2018/04/26/foljet-modale-ne-gjuhen-shqipe/
2. https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals-can-could-able.htm
3. https://www.gymglish.com/en/gymglish/english-grammar/be-bound-to-and-be-bound-for
4. https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals-have-to-must-not.htm
5. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/past-ability-could-was-able-to-managed-to/
5139503.html
6. https://www.google.com/search?
q=allowed+to+how+to+use+it+pdf&oq=allowed&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l2j69i57j0i433j69i
59j69i60j69i61l2.4030j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I. ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................2
II. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................3
III. BE ABLE TO.......................................................................................................................4
III.1 BE ABOUT TO...................................................................................................................6
III. 2 BE DUE TO........................................................................................................................7
lV. BE BOUND TO.................................................................................................................8
lV.1 BOUND TO AND BOUND FOR.....................................................................................8
lV. 2 BIND VS BOUND VS BOUNDED..................................................................................9
V. HAVE TO........................................................................................................................11
V.I MUST AND HAVE TO..................................................................................................13
VI. ALLOWED TO...............................................................................................................14
VII. SUPPOSED TO, WHEN TO USE IT AND HOW.........................................................17
VII.I SUPPOSE VS ASSUME................................................................................................18
VII.2 THINK VS ASSUME.....................................................................................................19
VIII. MANAGED TO...............................................................................................................20
IX. CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................24
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