The lexico-grammatic expression of modality
This kind of modality is realized in both languages via modal verbs/their lexical equivalents plus the infinitive of the notional verb. These constructions perform the function of the compound modal verbal predicate and express different meanings predetermined by the modal verb in the main, which can be observed in many citations and their Ukrainian translations on the forthcoming pages.
1. Thus, the modal verb can/could expressing physical or mental ability is usually translated into Ukrainian with the help of the modal verbs могти, вміти or by means of their equivalents мати змогу/можливість, бути в змозі/мати силу:
a)l saw that he could hardly Я бачив, що він не може/не take his eys off her. (Maugham) має сили очей відірвати від неї.
| «Now, you pray, Harold,» she said. «I can't», said. Krebs. (Hemingway) «I haven't been able to do what I meant.» (E. Warton) |
«А тепер ти молись, Гарольде,» - сказала вона. «Я не вмію.» відповів Кребс.
«Я не мав змоги зробити те, що надумав зробити ...»
b) When expressing doubt, distrust, uncertainty, etc. (mainly in interrogative and negative sentences) the meaning of can/could is mostly enforced in Ukrainian with the help.of the particles невже, хіба or the adverb навряд:
| «Невже (хіба) ви мені не вірите, мамо?» «Навряд чи це той самий чоловік.» «Та невже/хіба то Волтер?»/ Навряд чи то Волтер. |
«Can't you believe me, mother?» (Hemingway)
«It can't be the same man -
«(Christie)
It can't possibly be Walter.» (Maugham)
с) When expressihg the meaning of reproach, surprise or permission the lexical equivalent of the modal verb can in Ukrainian is mostly the stative можна:
| Як можна таке обіцяти/ такого наобіцяти? «Можна прийти й подивитись ваші картини?» «Маючи все це, не можна залишати жінку без шеляга.» |
«How can one promise that?» (Greene)
«Can I come up and see your pictures?» (Hemingway)
«Having it all, one can't leave a woman without a bob.» (Maugham)
d) When the modal verb can expresses irrefutability of action or assuredness of statement, it may be conveyed in Ukrainian, where this kind of modal meaning is usually expressed implicitly, through a definite word-order and sentence stress (prosodic means):
«You can't teach an old dog «Старого вчити - тільки
new tricks.» (D. Lessing) час даром марнувати.»
There was nothing, the boy Хлопцеві нічого не could do but run. (J.K. Jerome) залишалось, як тікати.
Can the leopard change his Горбатого могила вип-
spots? (Saying) равить.
e) Some modal meanings of can/could are expressed in Ukrainian either lexico-grammatically or through phonological means. The choice of the means rests then exclusively with the translator. Thus, in the sentence below the meaning of the modal verb could is under logical (or emphatic) stress which may be marked (pointed out) accordingly in Ukrainian: / could know it without your telling me. (B.Shaw) Я міг довідатись про це і без тебе.
The same could in the isolated sentence may also be treated as a form of the subjunctive mood, marked by the participle б/би: Я довідався б/міг би довідатись про це і без твоєї допомоги.
«І can't recollect him.» «Я щось не пригадую/не
(Greene) можу його пригадати.»
«Why can't he go to a hospi- «Чому він не може лягти в
tal?» (Christie) шпиталь?/Чому він не лягає
до шпиталю?»
Note. Some English modal meanings of can have no corresponding equivalents in Ukrainian. Cf.: / can see in this picture. Я бачу на цій картині... І can hear you well. Я добре чую тебе. Сап you see me? Ти бачиш мене?
f) In some contextual environment the modal meaning of can may be expressed in Ukrainian through other modal verbs:
«How can you talk to me like «Як ти смієш зі мною так
that.» (Fitzgerald) розмовляти.»
«We had an awful time get- «Повинен тобі сказати. ting back, I can tell you.» (Ibid.) дорога назад була страшенно
важка.»
The modal verb can/could followed by the perfect infinitive
and expressing a probable, doubtful, uncertain, incredible, etc. action is usually translated into Ukrainian depending on its contextual meaning. The latter may be expressed: 1) through the past form of the corresponding verb (indicative mood) or 2) through its subjunctive mood form (умовний спосіб). For example:
| 1) «She can't have neglected all that.» (F.King) |
«Невже вона всім цим знехтувала?»
«Вона не могла всім цим знехтувати»
| 2) «How could she have been like that?» (Fitzgerald) Nobody could have saved him. (W.Trevor) But he could have lived, this boy. (Hailey) |
«Як вона могла так поводитись/бути такою?»
Ніхто його не врятував би/ Навряд чи хто врятував би його.
Проте хлопчина той міг би й жити/міг би й вижити.
Exercise I. Offer appropriate Ukrainian particles or modal adverbs (or both) to convey the phonologically expressed (through emphatic stress or intonation) modality in the English sentences below.
Model: «I did have ideas that way. For a time.» (Hailey) Таки закрадалися спершу такі думки/У мене й справді закралися були спершу такі думки, (modal particle таки', modal particle й plus the modal adverb справді).
1. «Wouldn't you like me to read?» she asked. 2. «Wouldn't you like some broth?» 3. «I wouldn't know what to do. Honestly.» 4. «Behave yourself.» «Why don't you try behaving?» (Hemingway) 5. «Oh, I am longing to see it,» Iris said. 6. «Sweety, I don't honestly like this very much.» (F.King)?. «I know you didn't mean to. but you did it (hurt).» (Fitzgerald) 8. «John, it was you who initiated the Joe Black Memorial Award.» (B. Glanville) 9. «I do apologise, Madam. I feel so... I would not have troubled.» (S.Hill) 10. «Now I caught you!» she said. «Now you can't get away!» 11. «It (music) seems to be right in them.» 12. «Wait till I tell him I met Walter Williams,» she said. 13. «Why don't you have another concert, some time?» 14. «Well, I'll be there. ГИ be there, if I possibly can. You can count on me.» 15. «I just caught myself in time.» (D.Parker) 16. «You think so?» «Why not.» I said. (Hemingway) 17. «I'm not hungry. Dave. I wouldn't lie to you.» (Caldwell)