Modality in Persuasion

Skill Focus: Identifying and using modality

Modal verbs

• give the reader information about the degree of obligation or certainty involved in the action.

Low modality 

• shows less certainty.

Examples of Low Modality

• I might leave early today.

• You could try to do it again.

• She may want to check the results.

Commerical

• <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XjfH8wJ0zqM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Medium Modality

I guess I will share the cookies.

I should share the paper.

High modality 

• shows a high degree of certainty.

Examples of High Modality

I must leave early today.You will do it again.She has to check the results.

Commerical

• <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CNS0JaX9_X8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Levels of Modality

High modality

Medium modality

Low modality

must will mayought to should mightshall can couldhas to need to would

Modality can also be expressed through nouns, adjectives and adverbs

.

• Modal nouns: possibility, probability, certainty, obligation, necessity, requirement

• Modal adjectives: possible, probable, obligatory, necessary, required, determined, likely, certain

• Modal adverbs: possibly, probably, maybe, perhaps, sometimes, always, never, certainly, definitely