could and would

1. FATIMA GUL
&
SUMAIRA BIBI
USE OF MODAL AUXILIARIES IN
PAKISTANI LITERATURE AND
BRITISH LITERATURE
TOPIC

5. Review of English Primary Auxiliary
Verbs by Some Grammarians
Paul and Arthur (1969) describe the English primary
auxiliary verbs as words that occur with verbs to
form verbal groups or verbal phrases. Instead
of classifying the English primary auxiliary verbs as
other authors have done, they decided to subgroup
them according to the form of verb with which it
occurs. Through this method of classification,
they reveal the English primary auxiliary verbs
and their various uses.

7. The element unique in my research
is that I have selected the novel of
Pakistani writer, by Mohammed
Hanif, A Case of Exploding
Mangoes .On the contrary I have
picked a novel of William Goldings,
Lord of the flies by British writer .My
research work will solely focus not
only on the language but in
particular the attitudes generated by
the usage of model auxiliaries .
Comparing this will help me as a
researcher to analyze the attitude of
writers of contrastive regions, proving
that whose language is more declarative
and authoritative by the use of these
models.

8. Research questions
1. Do Pakistani writers use
modals differently?
2. Does the frequency of
the use of these models
also differ and in what
ways

13. PRIMARY
MODAL
CAN
MAY
WILL
SHALL
SECONDARY
MODAL
COULD, MIGHT,
OUGHT TO,
WOULD AND
SHOULD

15. A METHODOLOGY IS DEVELOPED BEFORE
CARRYING OUT THE RESEARCH, PRAGMATICALLY.
A RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, WHICH COMES
THIRD IN SEQUENCE OF THE COMPONENTS OF A
RESEARCH STUDY, IS CONSIDERED THE BACKBONE
OF ANY RESEARCH.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

17. Method
THE METHOD I WILL CHOSE FOR MY WORK IS DISCOURSE
ANALYSIS. THE STUDY OF THE WAYS IN WHICH LANGUAGE IS
USED IN TEXTS AND CONTEXTS. DEVELOPED IN THE 1970S,
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS "CONCERNS ITSELF WITH THE USE OF
LANGUAGE IN A RUNNING DISCOURSE, CONTINUED OVER A
NUMBER OF SENTENCES, AND INVOLVING THE INTERACTION
OF SPEAKER (OR WRITER) AND AUDITOR (OR READER) IN A
SPECIFIC SITUATIONAL CONTEXT, AND WITHIN A
FRAMEWORK OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONVENTIONS"

18. would

19. Variable
• VARIABLES OF MY RESEARCH ARE
SPECIFICALLY LANGUAGE. WOULD AND
COULD ARE THE TWO VARIABLES THAT
WOULD BE ANALYZED THROUGHOUT THE
TEXTS AND THAN THEIR VARIABILITY WILL BE
ASSED.

21. Novel the lord of flies comprises of
61059 words in total and according to
the data analyzed by Antconc software
would is used 111 times and could is
used161 times which gives the
percentage of 0.18% and 0.26%.

22. “These breezes reached the platform the palm
fronds would whisper, so that spots of blurred
sunlight slid …”
In this line it can be observed that the situation
is not clear and beauty of nature is highlighted.
As we know that phenomena of nature cannot
be predicted so an element of uncertainty is
always found discussing about nature. It can be
said that the writer has used the modal
auxiliary to hint upon the uncertainty of
nature, yet emphasizing the beauty of nature.

23. He used to blow it and then his mum would
come is another quoted text that hints upon
the nostalgic feelings of one of character
made by writer. Here the use of would throws
light on the fact that the character is home
sick and more especially misses his mum.
Status of would in this suggested line is
depicting the strong past embedded with
alluring memories which keep on flashing in
his mind and never leave him alone .

24. He paused for a moment, not sure if Ralph would take
him seriously is another example alluding to
different usage of would in the specific context.
Expressing the conditional mood of character
that will the other person be able to take him
seriously or not. This shows the complexity of
mind in character implying through the use of
would. Would also indicate the hidden desire in
character to be taken as seriously and
importantly.

25. “.
• Three were playing at the other boy had gone home
in an aircraft, he would have accepted the statement
without fuss or… his natural state and this imperfect
covering would soon go, like the velvet on a young
stag's antler know what the time was."
These couple of lines draws our attention to the idea
of acceptance. The narrator used would to emphasize
the idea of acceptance. The writer used would
specifically to tell his reader’s that he wants his ideas
to be naturally accepted without any fuss. Although
would also tells about the improbability lingering in
the mind of writer about his idea of acceptance but
still he is hopeful and compassionate towards his idea
by using a simple word would .

26. “Was it better to fetch Piggy's glasses, or
would the ship have gone? Or if they
climbed on,…His voice was vicious with
humiliation.”
Would used here in the center of line indicates the
psychic division of writer created in his characters to
show that modern man is always uncertain about his
action . In this we can analyze that the characters are
not sure to perform an action. They are in the middle
of situation and their mind is not composed to act
properly. Would underscore the significance of divided
state of mind where the character is unable to perform
the required function. Would also bring to light the
irresponsible behavior and dwindling of decision
among the characters. It not only delays their action
but also publicize the negligent nature of characters.

27. COULD

28. You could see now that he might make a
boxer, as far as wid…
In this sentence we can distinguish that the use
of modal auxiliary is quite significant. Could
here denote that the person is capable of
doing something but dint do it. It can be
considered that he might hints on the adept
nature of character but we can examine that
has not made a boxer yet. Duplicity in the
nature and ambitions of characters is
represented through the use of word could.

29. Then he lifted his chin and spoke. I could
swim when I was five. We can use could to
speculate about what has happened. Or
sometimes to talk about that has not
happened. In these lines it can be
speculated that either the character was
able to swim back at five or this gesture
only remain confined to the dreams. This
vague idea is picked out because of the
use of cold by character.

30. None of the boys could have found good reason
for this; what intelligence.
Could use in the above line underscore the idea
of criticism on boys. Writer has used word
could in order to censure the intelligence of
boys which has been certainly of no use
because they have not find any good reason.
The use of could emphasize the scorning
attitude of writer towards its knitted
characters.

31. • THE LORD OF FLIES
• TOTAL WORDS 61059
• MODAL AUXILIARY
• FREQUENCY
• PERCENTAGE
• WOULD
• 111
• 0.18%
• COULD
• 161
• 0.26%

32. 0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
would could
the lord of the flies
the case of exploding mangoes

33. The case of exploding mangoes
Total words 105929 case 0.27%
could
196
0.18%Modal auxiliary
Frequency Percentage
Would 296 0.27%
could 196 0.18%
The case of exploding mangoes
Total words 105929

34. • would

35. I assumed he would come straight to the parade
square.
Here in the above mentioned sentence "would" have
been used to show the possibility of the action, it can
be assumed that there are some other options as well
but the most preferred situation is that he would
come to the parade square. But in this sentence
Hanif has utilized it to ensure the possibility of
action. In this line writer has tried to highlight the
uncertainty in the minds of characters through the
use of would . would here not only suggest
uncertainty but also a symbol of positive hope
developed by the character that the other character
will come.

36. I hear the voice. I would recognise it from my coffin.
"Under Officer Ali?". . . that it's very painful for you.
Would can be used to demonstrate hope and
presumption. Here in the above mentioned sentence
Muhammad Hanif has used "would" to demonstrate the
presumption. but at the same time it can be said that
writer might used it to show some sort of hope. It also
shows the character is so over-powered by his conscious
and unconscious thoughts that if he is in the coffin, then
he will recognize it. The character has been in great grief
and anguish that he can identify that person who hurt
him.

37. if he started changing into his uniform he would
be late for his prayers. Not that it mattered,
because the imam would wait for him to turn up
before starting the prayer.
In this sentence the use of would indicates
the possibility. this line depicts that the character
tries to fulfil the rules of Islam, he didn't even
change the uniform. The use of would shows that
the character is so obsessed with the assumptions,
that he even not prefer to change his uniform. The
character is so paranoid that he didn't
acknowledge his value, that the imam would wait
for him, here in the next half of the sentence, the
use of would indicates that the imam is compelled
to wait for him before starting the prayer, because
that man might have been in some sort of
authoritative place, and if the imam ignored then
it may cause some harm to him.

38. • Could

39. Not that I could afford to miss. Not that I was
going to be given...and were two different
entities. I could make them work together
better.
'Could' is used to talk about theoretical
possibility and is often used for emphasis. the
writer has used "could" to illustrate the loss
that is unaffordable, or it can be said that it
has been used by the writer to highlight the
importance of the thing, that is unbearable
to lose.

40. They shifted in their seats and before he
could declare the meeting open, the
Naval Chief said, that the training had
prepared them for many tasks.
Could is used as the past tense of
the can, and in the above mentioned
sentence writer have used it to show
some sort of possibility and ability as
well. The character has the ability to
declare the meeting but navel chief
have interrupted and made a remark
that the training has prepared them to
confront any sort of danger and threat.

41. So unexpected was the attack that Obaid
could only whimper. His knees buckled and
he fell on the ground and breathe deeply. I
wish I could afford the luxury of passing out.
This is the another example that
demonstrates the certain possible situation
according to certain context. the writer has
made a different usage of could in certain
context. The use of "could" in the midst of the
sentence reveals the intensity of the attack,
and it also indicates that the attack was so
sudden and unanticipated, that the character
was unable to restore his energy to breathe
even. In this sentence the use of "could"
denotes the character's inner inability or
weakness.