User:Gwalla/modality (linguistics)

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In linguistics, a grammatical category that expresses the status of a proposition. Certainty, probability, desirability, and obligation are all examples of modality. In most languages it is shown through auxiliary verbs (called modal verbs), grammatical particles, or by inflection of the verb (see grammatical mood).

Realis and Irrealis[edit]

Realis & Irrealis grammatical categories
realis & irrealis mood inflections
indicative & subjunctive

Propositional modality[edit]

Epistemic modality[edit]

Evidential modality[edit]

Mixed propositional systems[edit]

Event modality[edit]

Imperative, jussive, and hortative[edit]

Deontic modality[edit]

Dynamic modality[edit]

Wishes and fears[edit]

Modality and Tense[edit]

Future tense as irrealis
Modal-past, "would"  as modal-past, Greek optative as past-tense subjunctive