about to

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:55 am

I know what you mean Juan, but also, what's an adjective? I cling to the belief that it is a word which describes a noun, as it seems to me that we need these basic notional ideas if we are going to use these words referring to more than one language. In the sentence "The lesson is about to start" it seems so much to be in a lump with the verb "start" rather than a word directly describing a noun.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:46 pm

So, there are modals (the Naughty Nine), and there are semi-, pseudo- and quasimodomodals etc etc. But 'modals' isn't 'modality', and I don't think it helps students to brush structurally dissimilar items under the carpet when there are semantic overlaps (that being said, I am not a fan of too much semantico-"pragmatic" knicker-wringing either - there has to be a limit to the number of bones we throw and then make into contentions ( only?

) to students).

BTW JTT, I can see how 'I'm happy to see you tomorrow' has a bit of 'those aspects of meaning centring on possibility, probability, certainty, impossibility, permission, obligation and prohibition' (Trask - did he miss any aspects?), but how does 'I'm happy to see you' by itself (meaning "always, including at this very moment of speaking" ('I'm happy/glad you're here' would be another, yet simpler, paraphrase)) have much if any bearing on 'about to' as a semi-modal?

I'll leave it to others to savage (Tear? Nibble?) the rest of your examples following your first post to shreds.