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didnt
Who
did
Michael
did
Subject
Finite
Mood
wasnt
That
Subje
ct
Finite
Mood
Michael
Residue
The finite element is one of the small number of verbal operators expressing tense,
modality and polarity.
Finite verbal operators:
Temporal:
past
present
future
did,was
does,is
will,shall
had,used to has
would,should
Modal:
low
median
high
can,may
will,would
must,ought to
could,might is to,was to
need,
(dare)
has to,had to
Negative Counterparts:
didnt, wont, cant, wouldnt, mustnt
The finite element has function of locating an exchange with reference to the speaker and
making a proposition something that can be argued about. It does this in three ways:
Through primary tense, modality, and polarity.
1). Primary Tense
We can argue over when an event did or will or should occur.
That special order came yesterday.
Has it arrived already?
Or
We needed it last Friday.
2). Modality
Indicates judgment of the probabilities
The special order may come tomorrow.
It had better!
Or
But we placed the order only three days ago!
3). Polarity
Positive or negative responds toward exclamation or statement.
Theres a unicorn in the garden! No, there isnt.
Theres no lofe on Mars.
There might be.
Finiteness combines the specification of polarity with the specification of either temporal
or modal reference to the speech event.
You shouldnt be here
He wasnt well
The subject is that upon which the speaker rest his case in exchanges of information, and
the one responsible for insuring that the prescribed action is or not carried out in
exchanges of goods and services.
Pandas eat bamboo (dont they)
Ill make some toast (shall I)
Turn that radio down (will you)
Pandas, I, you are the ones on which validity of the information is made to rest in
each clause in turn. Note thet validity doesnt equal truth value; Turkeys eat bamboo.
Turkeys is Subject even though the statement is untrue.