[austechwriter] Re: Must, will, etc. - modals

  • From: "Petra Liverani" <petsky@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 12:17:54 +1000

Thank you, Peter, you're right. Imperative mood as opposed to indicative
mood not as opposed to simple present.

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter G. Martin <peter.martin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 11:26 AM
Subject: [austechwriter] Re: Must, will, etc. - modals


> Petra Liverani:
>
> On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 10:41:40 +1000, you are alleged to have=
>  written:
> [snip]...
>
>
> >What I'd like to see is an example of simple present tense used=
>  for
> >instructions. You don't say, for example:
> >
> >You put the disk into the machine.
> >You press the start button
> >You blah blah
> >
> >You say:
> >Put the disk into the machine
> >Press the start button
> >
> >Imperative, Steve, not simple present.
> >
>
> Hey, wait a bit, you two!    Let's get this straight:
>
> They're not alternatives, or simple vs complex variations.
>
> Both sets above represent "simple" present.
>
> One set is in present tense, indicative mode, active voice.
>
> The other set is in present tense, imperative mode, active=
>  voice.
>
> English verbs can have:
>
> 1. tense
> 2. mode
> 3. voice
>
> And I don't see that using a present tense imperative mode works=
>  in all cases
> where there is a need for an absolute or strongly emphasised=
>  requirement for a
> procedure to be carried out.
>
> For example, in safety issues:
>
> Turn off the gas.
>
> doesn't quite work the same way as
>
> You must turn off the gas.
>
> And
>
> You shall turn off the gas
>
> sounds like something out of the North Shore, Berkshire, or Tom=
>  Brown's
> Schooldays.    Quaint, but inadequate as communication when most=
>  of the
> population turns "will" and "shall" into "'ll", even if they do=
>  see a
> difference.
>
>
> -Peter G. Martin,
> Technical writer, Proxima Technology
>
>
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