The modal verbs (can, could, should, must, might, will) form a system that expresses the speaker's attitude toward the action. This system is not about time or action itself, but about judgment.
Pedagogical Implication: Teaching modals requires context. You cannot explain must without contrasting it with should or have to. The meaning lies in the system of "degrees of force." The modal verbs ( can, could, should, must,
Since this is an academic textbook published by the University of Michigan Press, legitimate digital access usually requires purchase or a university library login. Pedagogical Implication: Teaching modals requires context
If you were to open an ideal introductory PDF on this topic, it would likely be divided into five major grammatical systems. Here is a summary of those systems, complete with pedagogical implications. Systemic insight: The choice between "She was tired,
The title is significant. Unlike traditional grammar books that treat rules as isolated lists (e.g., "The Rule for Past Tense"), Master approaches grammar as a system of choices.
At a higher level, English grammar is a system of clause combining. Choices include:
Systemic insight: The choice between "She was tired, so she left" (coordinated) and "Because she was tired, she left" (subordinated) is not about correctness – it’s about information prominence. A teacher’s PDF should include task-based grammar activities where students manipulate clauses to change focus.