Author: Lindita Ademi

Title of the paper

MODAL AUXILIARIES IN ENGLISH AND THEIR EQUIVALENCES IN

ALBANIAN

Table of Contents

Abstract

1. INTRODUCTION
2. VERBS
2.1 Type of verbs
2.1.1 Lexical verbs
2.1.2 Auxiliary verbs
2.1.3 Primary auxiliaries
3. MODAL AUXILIARIES IN ENGLISH
3.1 Grammatical features of modal auxiliaries
3.2 Meanings of modal auxiliaries
3.3 Marginal modal auxiliaries
3.4 The uses of modal auxiliaries The Use of Can\Could
3.5 The use of May and Might
3.6 The use of Shall and Should
3.7 The use of Will and Would
3.8 The modal auxiliary Must
3.9 The modal auxiliary ought to
3.10 The modal auxiliary Need
3.11 The use of Used to
4. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS IN ALBANIAN LANGUAGE
5. MODAL AUXILIARIES IN ALBANIAN
6. CONCLUSION
7. REFERENCE
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abstract

This is a topic about modal auxiliary verbs in English. The aim of this study is to identify the
characteristics of modal auxiliaries in English and Albanian, the differences and similarities
between these two languages. I have chosen to write about modal verbs because modal
auxiliaries are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. This study was conducted in
Tetova(Macedonia). I have made some research about modal verbs on the internet, I have found
some books from the other Universities in both languages: English and Albanian. Therefore, the
data for this research were collected from the internet and from Grammar Books mainly based on
morphological study books. This paper gives you knowledge about the division of verbs in
general and then the equivalences with Albanian verbs and is divided into two parts. The first
part explains the characteristics and uses for each modal verb in English with selected examples.
The second part is a short summary and a comparison of modal verbs with illustrated examples
in order to show the difference between English and Albanian. After reading it you will be able
to know what is a verb especially modal verb, how they are divided, explaining the meaning,
grammatical features and the use of particular modal verbs. The method I have used here are:
Comparative method and Data collection method. On the basic of the results of this research
paper, it is to be concluded that Albanian language as an Indo-European language differs from
English language and according to this study there are many grammatical things that English
language does not have.

Key words: English, Albanian, language, verbs, can, could, shall, should, will.

1. INTRODUCTION
Historically, English modal came from a special class of verbs in Germanic, the ancestor
of English and the other Germanic languages. Modals have always differed from ordinary

verbs, to the point where they now belong to a special category of their own. English
verbs appear in a number of distinct forms, whereas modals have a single invariant form.
In the English language, a modal auxiliary verb is an auxiliary verb(or helping verb) that
can modify the grammatical mood(or mode) of a verb. The key way to identify a modal
auxiliary is by its defectiveness; the modal auxiliaries do not have participles or
infinitives. Most modal verbs cannot be used in past/future tenses. When used in third
person present tense modal do not have s ending and we use not to make modals
negative.
Most linguist agree that there are 10 cores or central modals in English: can, could, may,
might, must, ought, shall, should, will and would. Other verbs including need, had better
and invariant be-may also function as modals or semi modals. They are used before
ordinary verbs and express meanings such as permission, possibility, certainty and
necessity. Need and dare can sometimes be used like modal verbs.

2.VERBS
A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word (part of speech) that in syntax
conveys an action(bring, read, walk, run), an occurrence(happen become), or state of
being(be, exist, stand)1. Verbs are inflected (modified) in form to encode tense, aspect,
mood and voice. A verb may also agree with the person, gender of number of some of its
1 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/verb

arguments, such as its subject or object. In many languages, verbs have a Present Tense,
to indicate that an action is being carried out; a Past Tense, to indicate that an action has
been done; and future Tense, to indicate that an action will be done.
General understanding of verb:
a) Meaning
We use the term situation for whatever is expressed in a clause, and the verb is
the chief determinant of what kind of situation it is: an action(I opened the door.),
some other event(The building collapsed), a state(They know the rules) and so
on2
b) Inflection
The most distinctive grammatical property of verbs is their inflection. In
particular they have an inflectional contrast of tense between past and present. A
past tense is marked by inflection is called a preterit3
c) Function
Verbs characteristically occur as head of VPs that themselves function as
Predicate in a clause. As head of the VPs, the verb largely determines that other
elements are permitted in the VP4 .Thus English allows: She left the airport. But
not *She arrived the airport.

2.1 Types of Verbs

There are various criteria which are used in classification of verbs into types. The first
distinction should be made between open class of lexical verbs(Alb. Foljet me kuptim t plot
2 Huddleston R . ,Pullum G., A students introduction to English grammar

3 Ibid,pg,17

4 Ibid,pg,18

leksikor) and the closed system set of auxiliary verbs(Alb. Foljet ndihmse), which are further
classified into Primary Auxiliaries and Modal Auxiliaries.5
Lexical: walk, talk, play, run, write, read, speak
Auxiliary: a) primary: be, do, have.
b)modal: Can, may , shall, will, could, might, should, would, must, ought to, used to, need,
dare.

2.1.1 Lexical Verbs

In linguistic a lexical verb or full verb is a member of an open class of verbs that includes
all verbs except auxiliary verbs. Lexical verbs typically express action, state or other predicate
meaning. In contrast, auxiliary verbs express grammatical meaning. The verb phrase of a
sentence is generally headed by a lexical verb6.

2.1.2 Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliaries are a group whose function is to assist the lexical(main) verb in a clause to
express several verbal distinctions relating to tense, aspect mood and voice. An important
property of the auxiliaries is their capacity to function as operators.7
Operators have a role in certain operations that result in various non-basic clause
constructions, such as negative contraction(Jane cant sleep), inversion(Can Jane sleep?),
emphatic polarity(Jane can swim) and ellipsis(Jane cannot swim but John can).

2.1.3 Primary Auxiliaries

5 Grmizaj,Sh A comprehensive Handbook of English grammar Prishtin 2004
6 www.wikipedia.org/wiki/lexical_verb
7 Stefanovski L English lexicology

Primary auxiliary is a verb used in forming the tenses, moods and voices of other verbs.
The primary auxiliary verbs in English are be, do and have8. Auxiliary verbs in general
are considered helping verbs for they helping forming complex tenses, such as present and past
progressive, present and past perfect, etc. However it is important to remember that they can also
be used as lexical verb9. E.g.
I am going home.(Auxiliary verb)
She did her homework. (Lexical verb)
She did not come yesterday.(Auxiliary verb)
She did her homework. (Lexical verb)
I have done my homework.(Auxiliary verb)
I have two sisters and two brothers. (Lexical verb)

There is a very important distinction between a small class of auxiliary verbs and lexical
verbs.The auxiliary verbs have a number of special properties. One is that they can sometimes
precede the subject. This occurs in interrogatives:
Aux. V. a)Can you speak French?
Lex.V. b)*Speak you French?
Although <b> is ungrammatical, there is a way of forming an interrogative corresponding
to the clause. You speak French: the auxiliary verb do is added, so the interrogative clause has an
extra word: Do you speak French?
Auxiliaries are usually followed(perhaps not immediately) by another verb10, as can
and do in the foredoing wxamples are followed by speak.
8 www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/auxiliary-verb

9 Grmizaj,Sh A comprehensive Handbook of English grammar Prishtin 2004

10 www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/auxiliary-verb

3.MODAL AUXILIARIES IN ENGLISH

Modal verbs, unlike other verbs, do not denote actions or states, but only show the
speakers attitude toward the action expressed by the main verb. Thus a modal verb is never used
alone, but is always combined with other verbs whose meaning they modify in some way. The
full verb expresses the main idea of the complex verbal phrase, while the modal verb only
indicates that the action denoted by the word is possible, probable, obligatory, prohibited,
necessary certain, uncertain etc11. For instance, modals can express that the speaker feels
something is necessary, advisable, permissible, possible or probable and in addition, they can
convey the strength of these attitudes.
In order to understand the degree of certainty or uncertainty expressed by modal
auxiliary, it is useful to study the diagram below which shows the arrangement of modal
according to percentage of certainty or uncertainty. Let us take some examples that show the
degree of certainty expressed by particular modal auxiliary in context.
UncertainThat might be George
That may be George
That could be George
That can be George
That should be George
That ought be George
That would be George
That will be George
Certain

That must be George.(100% certain)

11 Grmizaj,Sh A comprehensive Handbook of English grammar Prishtin 2004

Auxiliary verbs are also called defective verbs because most of them have either
one or two forms12, e.g. Can(present) could(past), would(past) and these very
forms are used for all persons. On the other, the modal verb must has only this
form. Therefore in order to be able to express the idea of ability, possibility, or
necessity in all tenses, similar expressions are used. Thus, can is equalized with
be able to , will with be going to, must with have to, whereas the opposite of
must is expressed by a marginal member of modal auxiliary need not.
The central Modal Auxiliaries are:
Can/Could
Will/Would

May/Might
Must

Shall/Should
Ought to

Need, dare and used to, on the other hand, are marginal members of the class,
because in some way they can function both as modals and as full verbs without
changing in meaning.
Modal Auxiliaries are divided into two categories pure modals and semi-modals,
although in most cases the distinction is merely formal and their meanings are not
affected by the division13 .
Pure modals are: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would.
Semi-modals are: ought to, has, have (got) to, need, dare.
The forms of semi-modals
This type of modal is made up of two or more separate words, the last one
invariably being to. They are all modal in meaning but not in form as they behave
differently in a sentence from the pure modals.

12 Grmizaj,Sh A comprehensive Handbook of English grammar Prishtin 2004

13 www.tesol-direct.com/guide-to-english-grammar/modal-auxiliary-verbs

3.1 GRAMATICAL FEATURES OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

The five criteria we have used to define auxiliaries are negation, inversion, avoidance of
repetition, emphatic affirmation and questions tags. However, modal auxiliaries as distinct from
primary auxiliaries BE, HAVE and DO, have some additional morphological and syntactic
characteristics:

They generally have no-s form, and occur only with the bare infinitive.

Compare : works to work But not: musts- to must

They are followed (except for ought to and used to) by a bare infinitive , that is by the
infinitive without article to.

Compare : He wants to see you. But not: He must see you.

They have neither passive nor progressive forms.

Compare : Works-working-worked. But not: must- musting - musted.

They come before the negative not e.g.

He could see the film.

He could not (couldnt) see the film.

From the above mentioned characteristics we understand that modals have no non-finite forms
and modals have no inflected forms in the present tense.
The fact that modals have no non-finite form limits the possibility to combine them with other
auxiliaries. For example , they do not occur as the second verb in the perfect, in contrast with
other auxiliaries, like be:
Bill has never could drive a car.
Bill has never been kissed.

In cases where a modal auxiliary is impossible due to the lack of appropriate forms, English uses
alternative expressions, as in the following examples:
Be able instead of can:
We hope to be able to solve this problem in the future.
Be allowed to instead of can/may(expressing permission):
Mary has never been allowed to listen to jazz music.

The facts that modals have no inflected forms in the present tense make them useful for nonnative speakers who often experience difficulties with Subject-Verb agreement

3.2 THE MEANING OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

Modal Auxiliaries carry two main types of meaning. The first is knowledge-related (the
technical term epistemic is often used for this type. Typical meanings in this category include
possibility, likelihood, probability and logical necessity.
The second main type of meaning of the modals is related to different kinds of control of events,
states, etc. That someone or something may have. Typical meanings in this category include
obligation and permission.
The problem with each modal verb is that it can have more than one meaning and interpretation
of a particular modal will depend heavily on the context in which it is being used.
Tense Distinctions-Past time with modals
All the modals except must come in pairs of present and past tense forms, e.g. can-could.
Sometimes this distinction is used to differentiate between present and past possibility,
likelihood, etc, just as with any other verb. Very frequently , however, the past tense form is used
to refer to present time, in which it encodes meaning that is not related to time.
Pure modals do not change to show tense. Most of these modals do in fact have either present of
future reference, but sometimes we need to refer back to the past.
With the semi-modals there is little problem, one way to do this is to insert have immediately
after the pure modal. But this is not the case since can has its own past tense could when it refers
to general ability. E.g.

I can speak German. I could speak German when I was six years old.
You should see this film. You should have seen this film.
Indonesia must be hot. Indonesia must have been hot.

3.3 MARGINAL MODAL AUXILIARIES

Marginal modal auxiliaries are: dare, need, used to and ought to.
There are two properties that unite this narrow class of marginal auxiliaries. First, in terms of
meaning, they resemble modal auxiliaries line can, must. Second, they can be constructed either
as pure auxiliaries or as main verbs without a difference in meaning.
Dare and need
Dare and need provide some difficulties because they can be used either as main verbs (with toinfinitive and with inflected s, ing, and past forms), or as modal auxiliaries (with bare
infinitive and without inflected forms).
Dare I speak to the Dean about this? I dare not speak to the Dean about this.
Need we tell the Dean about this?

We need not tell the Dean about this.

Used to and ought to

Used to and ought to are very marginal member of primary auxiliaries. Used to always takes the
to infinitive and occurs only in past tense. There is no present form *used(s) to. The behave both
as an auxiliary and as main verb do:
He used to act like that.
We used to play there.
We ought not to tell the Dean about this.
With used to the interrogative form is with do-insertion. Other forms are possible but they are
rather awkward.
Did he use to drink?
Didnt he use to play?
He used not to be a singer.

3.4 THE USES OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

The modal auxiliary can is used to express ability, permission, theoretical possibility

To express ability (in the sense of being able to do something or knowing how to do
something):

He can speak Spanish but he cant write it very well.

To express permission (in the sense of being allowed or permitted to do something):

Can I talk to my friends in the library waiting room?

Note that can is less formal than may .Also, some writers will object to the use of can in this
context.

To express theoretical possibility:

American automobile makers can make better cars if they think there is a profit in it.

The modal auxiliary could is used to express possibility or ability in contingent circumstances,
to express past or future permission, to express present possibility and to express an ability in the
past.

To express an ability in the past:

I could always beat you at tennis when we were kids.

To express past or future permission:

Could I bury my cat in your back yard?

To express present possibility:

We could always spend the afternoon just sitting around talking.

To express possibility or ability in contingent circumstances:

If he studied harder, he could pass this course.

In expressing ability, can and could frequently also imply willingness:

Can you help me with your homework?

3.5 THE USE OF MAY AND MIGHT

Two of the more troublesome modal auxiliaries are May and Might. When used in the context of
granting or seeking permission, might is the past tense of may. Might is considerably more
tentative than may.
The modal auxiliary may is used for expressing permission and possibility.

To express permission ( be allowed to), in this sense may is more formal than can. Instead
of may not or rare maynt is often used in the negative express prohibition.

You may borrow my car if you like.

You mustnt/are not allowed/may not/ borrow my car.

To express possibility (usually factual):

The road may be blocked (It is possible that the road is blocked; less probably)

In the context of expressing possibility, may and might are interchangeable present and
future forms and might + have + past participle is the past form:

She might be my advisor next semester.

She may be my advisor next semester.
She might have advised me not to take biology.
The modal auxiliary might is used also for expressing permission and possibility.

To express permission (rare)

Might I smoke in here?

To express possibility (theoretical or factual)

What you say might be true.

Avoid confusing the sense of possibility in may with the implication of might, that a hypothetical
situation has not in fact occurred. For instance, lets say theres been a helicopter crash at the
airport. In this initial report, before all the facts are gathered, a newscaster could say that the pilot
may have been injured. After we discover that the pilot is in fact all right, the newscaster can
now say that the pilot might have been injured because it is hypothetical situation that has not
occurred. Another example: a body had been identified after much work by a detective. It was

reported that without this painstaking work, the body may have remained unidentified. Since
the body was in fact identified, might is clearly called for.

3.6 THE USE OF SHALL AND SHOULD

Shall has four meanings:
1. Promise or intention:
In this meaning shall implies an obligation on the part of the speaker. In this sense it is used
with the 2nd or 3rd person with a weak stress:
You shall have the money as soon as I can get it.
He should stay with us as long as he likes.
2. Insistence or Warning (in the 2nd and 3rd person)
You shall obey my orders ( I insist that you obey my orders).
The child shall be punished for it. I wont allow it.
3. Offer or Suggestion

Shall we go for a walk ? Yes, OK.

Shall we carry those bags for you?-Please do.
4. Formal instruction
Shall is used also in highly formal written English for formal instruction, and written rules
and regulations:
All students should attend classes regularly.
Each competitor shall wear a number.
Should has also four meanings: obligation and logical necessity, putative use after certain
expressions, contingent use and formal real conditions.
1. Obligation and logical necessity (-ought to)

You should do as he says.

They should be home by now.
2. Putative use after certain expressions
I am sorry that this should have happened.
It is odd that you should say this to me.
3. Contingent use (1st person only especially BrE) in the main clause (=would)
We should/would love to go abroad (if we had the chance).
4. In the rather formal real conditions
If you should change your mind, please let us know.

3.7 THE USE OF WILL AND WOULD

In certain contexts, will and would are virtually interchangeable, but there are differences.
Notice that the contracted form ll is very frequently used for will, mainly 1st person.
Will can be used to express willingness, intention and prediction.

To express willingness, used in polite request:

Ill wash the dishes if you dry.

Will you have another cup of tea?

It can also express intention (especially in the first person):

Ill write as soon as I can.

We wont stay longer than two hours.

And prediction:

Specific prediction: The meeting will be over soon.

Timeless prediction: Humidity will ruin my hairdo.

Habitual prediction: The River will overflow its banks every spring.
Would can be used to express willingness, insistence, an activity in the past, a hypothetical
meaning and would can express a sense of probability.

To express willingness:

Would you excuse me?

Would you please take off your hat?

It can also express insistence:

Its your own fault; you would take the baby with you.
Now youve ruined everything. You would act that way.

Characteristics activity in the past:

Customary: Every morning he would go for a walk.

Typical (casual): She would cause the whole family to be late, every time.

In main clause, would can express a hypothetical meaning:

My cocker spaniel would weigh a ton if I let her eat what she wants.

Finally, would can express a sense of probability:

I hear a whistle. That would be the five oclock train.

That would be his monster.

3.8 THE MODAL AUXILIARY MUST

The two chief meaning of must are obligation and logical necessity.
1. Obligation (be obliged to, have to, it is essential or important).
You must tell me the truth.
You must be back at 5 oclock.
You must finish this by the end of this week.

As the above examples show, must expressing obligation or compulsion refers to the present
or the future.
A usual implication of must, as of may (permission) is that the speaker is the person in
authority, he is the one who gives the orders. In the following examples, however,
compulsion and obligation may come from different sources:
This is a hospital. You must be quiet. (Regulations require it)
I must help my parents because they are cold. (Its a more obligation).
I must solve this problem even if it takes a month. (personal matter).
Must or Have to?
Must is generally felt as stronger than have to. Must is used when obligation is inside the
speaker and have to when necessity is outside the speaker, when in comes from the situation:
You must finish today (Im telling you)
You must be quiet. (Im telling you)
You have to finish this today. (The boss says so)
You have to be quiet. (Thats the rule)
As must is limited to the present time, instead of it a form of have to is often used, especially
for the past time and future time, or for other patterns:

Clark had to go to work yesterday.

I dont have to do it until tomorrow.
Where have you been? Ive been to the post office- I had to post this letter.
Mustnt or Neednt?
Must, have to, have got to; generally mean the same in the affirmative. But must not (mustnt)
NEVER means the same as dont have to, havent got to. Mustnt expresses Prohibition (a
negative obligation); something that is forbidden or its important not to do it. Mustnt conveys
the strongest possible opinion of the speaker:
You mustnt open my letter.

You mustnt drink the water from the river.

There are different ways of making must negative: dont have to, dont need to, neednt (GB),
havent got to, not be obliged to in a place of each other to mean it is not important/necessary to
do something:
Must I go? No, you neednt, if you dont want to.
2. Necessity or Probability
Must is not used in sentences with negative or interrogative meanings, can being is used
instead.
There must be a mistake. But: There cannot be a mistake.
Must can occur in superficially interrogative but answer assuming sentences.
Mustnt there be another reason for this behavior.

3.9 THE MODAL AUXILIARY OUGHT TO

Ought to have only one form and is used only as a modal verb. It is not changed in reported
speech. Unlike other modal auxiliaries, ought to have an infinitive marker to. Ought to and
should are highly synonymous, except that ought to is more formal and less frequent than should
which is particularly common in the negation and interrogative.

Ought to expresses:

Obligation (or duty which is not always fulfilled)

The floor ought to be washed at least once a week.

You ought to clean your teeth before you to bed.

Logical necessity

Cherries ought to grow well there.(Thats quite certain)

You ought to be very hungry by now. (They probably are but I am not certain).

Advisability (or desirability)

You ought to see a doctor.

Coffee ought to be drunk while is hot.
Note that ought to has almost the same basic meaning as must and have to, except that it not
expresses not confidence, rather lack of full confidence in the fulfillment of the happening
described by the main verb. Ought to be less categorical and absolute than must both it its sense
of obligation and its sense of logical necessity. Compare:
Obligation by the speaker
He must pay for the broken window (and he will, because I say so)
He ought to pay for the broken window (but he probably wont)
Logical necessity
Our guest must be home by now. (Im certain)
Our guest ought to be home by now. (They probably are but Im not certain).

3.10 THE MODAL AUXILIARY NEED

As modal auxiliary need has only one form and expresses Necessity. It is mainly restricted to
negative and interrogative sentences, whereas as a main verb it can be used in all types if
sentences and is therefore more common. In reported speech it remains unchanged. In questions
and negatives, the auxiliary need is replacement for must, otherwise forms of have (got) to or
need to can be used:
Need you work so hard? (Do you need / have to work so hard?)

It is useful to note that the auxiliary verb need and the main verb needs to scarcely differ in
meaning on many occasions:
Need you wake him up?
Do you need to wake him up?

In questions need is used when there is a strong element of negation or doubt or when the
speaker accepts a negative answer:
Need she go there? (Hoping for negative answer)

I wonder if I need to go there.(Statement of doubt).

Need is used as past tense in reported speech: I assure him that he need no worry.

In negative statements need followed by perfect infinitive (have + past participle) indicates that
the action expressed by the infinitive was performed but not necessary:
I neednt have done it.
You neednt have asked her.

With the same meaning need may be used as a main verb in the past tense followed by to
infinitive:
You did not need to ask him.
He did not need to awaken us so early.

3.11 USES OF USED TO

The auxiliary verb construction used to is used to express an action that took place in the past ,
perhaps customarily , but now that action no longer customarily takes place.
We used to take long vacation trips with the whole family.
The spelling of this verb is a problem for some people because the ed ending quite naturally
disappears in speaking, but it ought not to disappear in writing. There are exceptions, though.
When the auxiliary is combined with another auxiliary, did, the past tense is carried by the new
auxiliary and the ed ending is dropped. This will often happen in the interrogative:
It didnt use to be that way.

Used to can also be used to convey the sense of being accustomed to or familiar with something:
I like these old sneakers: Im used to them.
Used to is the best reserved for colloquial usage; it has no place in formal or academic text.

CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS IN ALBANIAN LANGUAGE

In Albanian language like in English verbs are words that convey an action (bring, read, walk
,run) or a state of being(exist ,stand). A verb may agree with the person, gender, and/or number
of some of its arguments ,such as its subject or object.
According ton the meaning and function the Albanian language classifies verbs into three main
categories:
1. Auxiliary verbs (foljet ndihmse) -are called those verbs that serve to build analytical verb
forms. In this category of verbs are included verbs Kam and Jam.
2. Modal auxiliary verbs (foljet gjysmndihmse)-used with lexical meaning of waning ,thus
losing their independence as common verbs. Auxiliary verbs in Albanian are divided in
three groups:
a) Copula (alb.kupola)verb jam(be)
b) Modal verbs (fojet me vler modale)
c) Verbs used to express the way of action ( foljet q prdoren pr t shprehur
mnyren e veprimit)
3.Transitive and intransitive verbs(foljet kalimtare dhe jokalimtare):
Transitive verbs are action verbs that have an object to receive that action.
Intransitive verbs are action verbs that have an object to receive that action.
Intransitive verbs are action verbs ,but unlike transitive verbs they do not have to receive an
object receiving the action.

MODAL AUXILIARIES IN ALBANIAN

In Albanian language like in English modal verbs are called those verbs that serve to express
modality ,namely verbs that are used to show speakers attitude toward the action expressed by
the main verb. Modal verbs in Albanian are called also foljet gjysmndihmse, thus a modal verb
in Albanian is never used alone, but is always combined with other verbs (a main verb) whose
meaning they modify in some way. Modal verbs are followed by a full lexical meaning verb in
subjunctive mood. As in English the main verb expresses the main idea but modal verb only

indicates that the action denoted by the head word is probable or possible, obligatory or
necessary.
Modal verbs in Albanian are:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Mund, followed by a verb in subjunctive mood;

Duhet (or lipset), followed by a verb in participle or subjunctive mood;
Do, followed by a verb in participle
Kam and jam ( infinitive use), followed by an unmitigated (pashtjelluar)form of type pr
t lar.

The modal verbs duhet must and mund can and the present subjunctive

English modal verbs like will , can, must, and so on, are typically followed by the root
infinitive of a verb(I.e.the infinitive without the particle to), so we say I will eat, I can go,
she must go, and so on. Standard Albanian doesnt have infinities; therefore, it also lacks
root infinitives. Thus, a subjunctive fulfills the function of the root infinitive, as you can see in
the following examples:
Duhet t blej dhe 200 gram hudhra,

I must also buy 200 grams of garlic.

Mund t zgjidhni ktu.

You can choose here.

Just like in English, these modal verbs are not conjugated; that is, they keep the same form in all
different persons. Notice that in Albanian, the subjunctive verb, which obligatory follows the
modal, agree with the main subject:
Un duhet t zgjedh.

I must choose.

Ti duhet t zgjedhsh.

You must choose.

Ai,ajo duet t zgjedh.

He,she must choose.

Ne mund t zgjedhim.

We can choose.

Ju mund t zgjidhni.

You can choose

Ata, ato mund t zgjedhin.

They can choose.

To negate the sentences with a modal verb, simple add the word nuk(not) in front of the modal:
Un nuk mund t shkoj atje.

I cannot go there.

Ne nuk duhet t shkojm atje.

We must not go there.

The corresponding of Albanian and English modal verbs, examples:

The modal verb can, may (mund) expressing:
1. Ability
Can you swim 200 meteres in one minute?
A mund t notosh 200 metra pr nj minute?
She can learn a language in six months.
Ajo mund te msoj gjuhn p gjasht muaj.
2. Permission
Can I smoke in here? (am I allowed to?)
A mund t pi duhan ktu (a m lejohet?)
3. Posibility
The road can be blocked.
Rruga mund t jet e bllokuar.
In English when using a past tense the verb can changes to could whereas in Albanian in order to
indicate the past tense the main verb is changed but the modal verb mund remains:
1. Past ability
Lisa could play piano when she was five.

Lisa mund t luante piano kur kishte pes vjet.

2. Permission
Years ago you could park your car anywhere
Vite m pare mund t parkoje veturn kudo.
The modal verb must (duhet) meaning:
1. Obligation
You must tell me the truth(you are obliged te tell me the truth).
Ju duhet t m tregoni t vrtetn.je I obliguar)

You must give up smoking because its bad for your health.
Ti duhet ta lsh duhanin sepse t dmton shndetin.
2. Necessity or obligation
This meaning is rendered in Albanian by ka t ngjare, mundet andduhet:
You must have seen them.
Ju duhet (mund) tI keni pare ata.
She must be over sixty.
Ajo mund (duhet) ti ket mbi gjashtdhjet vjet.

The modal verb need corresponds to the Albanian jam I detyruar, duhet
You neednt do it now.
Nuk je I detyruar ta bsh kt tani.
Need a come again?
A duhet t vi prsri?

CONCLUSION
This is a brief analysis conducted about modal auxiliaries verbs in English and Albanian.
It shows the meaning and how the modal verbs are used in both languages. Characteristics of
modal auxiliaries are shown and illustrated by examples en English an Albanian language.
Some of the examples are taken from peoples quotes and also from some novels in order to
show the differences and similarities between English and Albanian.

I ensure that I wrote this thesis without the help of others and without the use of other sources
than mentioned. This thesis has never been submitted in the same or substantially similar version
to any other examinations office. All explanations that have been adopted literally or analogously
are marked as such.

REFERENCE
Huddleston R., Pullum G.,A students Introduction to English Grammar, Cambridge
University Press, 2005
Grmizaj,Sh. A Comprehensive Handbook of English Grammar, Prishtin,2004
Stefanovksi,L..,English Lexicology, University of Cyril and Methodious, 2006
Mniku L.,Campos H. Discovering Albaninan I; 2011
Agalliu f.,Angoni E.,Demiraj Sh., Dhrimo A.,Hysa E.,Lafe e.,Likaj E.,Gramatika e Gjuhes
shqipe-Morfologjia-Vllimi I, Tiran, 2002
Qurik and Greenbaum, A University Grammar of English,1973
www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/auxiliary-verb

www.tesol-direct.com/guide-to-english-grammar/modal-auxiliary-verbs
www.wn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexical_verb

www.grammer.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/auxiliary.htm

www.awelu.srv.lu.se/grammar-and-wirds/selective-mini-grammar/verb-phrases/meanings-ofmodal-auxiliaries/
www.welu.srv.lu.se/grammar=and-words/selective-mini-grammar/verb-phrases/modal-auxiliaryverbs/
www.mylanguages.org/albanian_verbs.php

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Huddleston R,.Pullum G.,A Students Introduction to English Grammar, Cambridge
University Press,2005
Grmizaj, Sh., A Comprehensive Handbook of English Grammar, Prishtin, 2004
Stefanovski,L., English Lexicology,University of Cyril and Methodius,2006
Mniku L., Campoos H.,Discovering Albanian I; 2011
Agalliu F.,Angoni E.,Demiraj Sh.,Dhrimo A.,Hysa E.,Lafe E.,Likaj E.,Gramatika e Gjuhs
Shqipe-Morfologjia-Vllimi I,Tiran, 2002
Qurik and Greenbaum,A University Grammar of English, 1973
Ibrahimi,S.,Iseni,A.,Modern English Grammar-First edition,Tetov,2008
Kabashi,J.,English Grammar Morphology-Prishtin,2000
Abazi,H.,Hyrje n shkrimin akademik,Prishtin, 2008