A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AND GERMAN

Abstract

Modal verbs occupy a central position in the grammatical systems of both English and German, which belong to the Germanic language family, as they express the speaker’s attitude. The aim of this study is to identify the semantic and syntactic similarities and differences of modal verbs in these two languages by using a comparative-typological analysis method. The results of the research show that although modal verbs in both languages share a common origin, in German the level of inflection and the use of subjunctive forms are significantly more complex and functionally broader than their equivalents in English. In conclusion, it can be stated that the comparative analysis of modal verbs is important not only for theoretical linguistics but also has significant practical value in improving translation theory and language teaching methodology