1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Introducing Modal verbs
1.2. Using research and based on corpus data analysis, point out the purpose of this study about
1.3. point out the purpose of this study about : " exploring the use of modal verbs in English writing by EFL learners based on the corpus data comparison"
2. MODAL VERBS
2.1. Modal verbs - simple forms but variety of semantic connotation and communiacative functions
2.1.1. simple forms: may, might, can, could, will, would, shall and should
2.1.2. semantic connotation and communicative functions
2.1.2.1. the perspective of speakers ( Lyons,1977)
2.1.2.1.1. epistemic modality
2.1.2.1.2. deontic modality
2.1.2.1.3. dynamic modality (Palmer,1990)
2.1.2.1.4. root modals (express the possibility based on certain conditions and necessity)
2.1.2.2. the pragmatic perspective ( Halliday and Hasan, 1989)
2.1.2.2.1. reperent the variability in modality
2.1.2.2.2. high value modals: must, ought to, need, and have to
2.1.2.2.3. intermediate value modals: will, would, shall, should
2.1.2.2.4. low value modals: may, might, can, could
2.1.2.2.5. =>> in essay writing, modal verbs of high value is used to show a violation of politeness principles
2.1.2.2.6. =>> learners used modals verbs more than native speakers
3. THE PRESENT STUDY
3.1. sourses: - a Chinese University Students Writing Corpus (105,178 words) - the British University Students Writing Part of LOCNESS (110,829 words) (Granger, 1995)
3.1.1. Research question 1 in Table 1.
3.1.1.1. Do EFL learners prefer to use modal verbs of high value?
3.1.1.2. Modals with high value : learners use "need" and "have to" TWICE , "must" 1.5 times than native speakers
3.1.1.3. Modals with intermediate and low value: - learners used "should" 3 TIMES than native speakers -Native speakers used"would" and" could" MUCH MORE frequently than learners
3.1.2. Reseach question 2 and 3 in table 2
3.1.2.1. research question 2
3.1.2.1.1. Do English learners use more modal verbs than the native speakers?
3.1.2.1.2. Learners used modals 1.5 TIMES than native speakers ( in general)
3.1.2.2. research question 3
3.1.2.2.1. Are there any different or similar tendencies in terms of modal verbs use between English learners and native speakers?
3.1.2.2.2. first: the similar tendency - both Learners and native speakers used "can" and "will" most frequent modals - both of them used " might" "ought to" and "shall" less frequently
3.1.2.2.3. second: the difference between learners and native speakers: - Native speakers used " could" frequently - Learners used" could" seldomly
3.1.2.2.4. third: learners used more modal verbs than their British counterparts did