We have considered hypothetical fruit, for our Modal phrases. Let us now try to attain theory “net weight”, by comparing real-time and Modal frames.
45. I can see a theory fruit.
The fruit is theory, but human ability to see by standard does not refer to the PRESENT only, and language will give the thought an open frame. The Modal ability is not only for the PRESENT — I CAN see.
46. I see a theory fruit.
The time reference is singular, ON our cognitive ground for the grammatical PRESENT.
47. I have seen a theory fruit.
The time reference embraces a span from another mark in time TO the grammatical PRESENT. The real-time frame is open.
If we compare the real-time and Modal frames, the Modal may not tell between the real-time variables {TO} and {ON}.
Aspect Perfect
48. Maybe we HAVE learned something good.
REAL-TIME VARIABLE {TO}
Aspect Simple
48a. Maybe we learned something good.
REAL-TIME VARIABLE {ON}
48b. We MAY HAVE / MIGHT HAVE learned something good.
THE MODAL FRAME CLOSED ON THE OBJECT OF THOUGHT
Modal phrases will keep the real-time value {IN}. Let us mind we made our real-time variable {AT} of merged variables {IN} & {TO}, in ■chapter 8.
Aspect Progressive
49. Maybe we ARE learning something good.
REAL-TIME VARIABLE {IN}
Aspect Perfect Progressive
49a. Maybe we HAVE BEEN learning something good.
REAL-TIME VARIABLE {AT}
49b. We MAY HAVE / MIGHT HAVE been learning something good.
The Modal frame does not keep the real-time spans of the variable (TO), the Aspect Perfect. Theory time is not the same as real time.
We can call this our Modal net. We net (nullify as non-essential) the variable {TO}. Our syntactic HAVE works only as a time anchor.
Modal structure will yet keep the variables {ON} and {IN} for figurative talk and theory generally.
Let us think about theory as compared with knowledge of what happens — in possible, ordinary talk.
50. You COULD HAVE been more careful with the handle.
50a. I was. Someone else MUST HAVE broken it off.
In examples 50 and 50a, auxiliary HAVE does not bring in any time span, as from one time to another. Let us compare,
50b. I HAVE been careful with this handle since the very first time I saw it.
A closed Modal frame happens to be interpreted for a suggestion that something did not happen.
51. We COULD HAVE gone for a walk yesterday, we had enough time, but Jim came in, and we stayed to study.
(We didn’t go.)
In fact, we people may close the frame along with the think or talk time:
51a. We COULD HAVE gone for the walk, so we took the opportunity.
(The Modal frame is closed on the time we talked for consensus.)
We mostly leave the frame open for ability.
51b. We had enough time yesterday, and we COULD go for a walk.
(The Modal itself does not tell if they went for the walk.)
51c. We had plenty of time yesterday, and we COULD go to the movies, we COULD go for a walk, or we COULD go see Jill. But Jim came in and brought those books we didn’t have so we stayed to study. Jill joined in.
(They didn’t go; we have more of the language context and this is how we know.)
We may like to associate the time frame and the grammatical article. If we COULD go for a walk or COULD HAVE gone for the walk, we may peek into ■Chapter 11 (work in progress).
Let us mind, generative grammars look to linguistic evidence, that is, language as spoken and written, and made available in corpora or other media. A grammar is generative when it works for people who want to create their speech and language on their own, rather than by following rules and definitions made by other people.
Generative grammars are not all the same. Noam Chomsky’s is a parametric generative grammar. The grammar here is a cognitive set. Feel welcome to ■Universal & Generative, FAQ.
Now and here, let us mind there is the Negative too.
50c. It COULDN’T HAVE been anyone else near the handle yesterday.
50d. I knew I COULDN’T repair it, and I left it alone.
Let us now think about Modality and main grammatical time. We need the Modal frames because Modal form may remain the same for all real time.
52. We have enough time; we COULD go for a walk today.
52a. We are going to have the time; we COULD go for a walk tomorrow.
52b. We had the time yesterday, so we COULD go for a walk.
Part 4 of the journey has Reported Speech.
53. There is time enough; we could go for a walk, the PRESENT.
53a. There was time enough; we could go for a walk, the PAST.
Please mind, our devices are linguistic tools. We do not follow the term of the “language acquisition device” for human brains. Human heads have human language faculties.
Our auxiliary HAVE is always green, whether it brings an open or closed frame. We mark only auxiliary and head verbs — grammar anyway requires thinking, and it would not be a good idea to get dependent on crayons.
Let us get to a few details on Modal structures:
■9.3. The detail of Modal structures.