The syntax of modality: A comparative study of epistemic and root modal verbs in Spanish and English

This dissertation investigates the syntax of modality in Spanish and English as expressed via modal verbs. Specifically, by looking at the syntactic properties of Spanish deber and poder and of those English modals which display the epistemic/root interpretative distinction, it is argued that both languages have two Modal projections--ModP1 and ModP2--in which epistemic and root modal meaning, respectively, obtain. The most relevant characteristics of the modal verbs under consideration are (i) their marginal status in nonfinite contexts, especially under the epistemic interpretation, vs. their general grammaticality in finite environment, and (ii) their ability to place semantic restrictions on the subject under their root reading only. In accounting for the former, I suggest that Spanish and English have two TPs, the higher of which houses finite Tense features and the lower nonfinite ones. My postulation that epistemic modals are generated in Mod1{dollar}spcirc{dollar}--which is structurally higher than TP2--provides a structural explanation for why they rarely occur in nonfinite contexts. With regard to adjunct theta-role assignment, I offer a definition that is based on the close structural proximity of ModP2 to the VP and on the postulation of semantic features in (SPEC, ModP2) which attract the subject in (SPEC, VP).; In comparing the syntax of deber and poder with that of the analogous English modals, the generalization which emerges is that Spanish licenses both ModPs within the monoclausal domain while English permits only one. Further, in the presence of TP2, the instantiation of ModP2 is postulated to be precluded. Evidence for the latter fact is found by looking at English double modal constructions and at the diachronic syntax of 'modal + VP constructions.'; The conclusions drawn from this work are shown to have some bearing on three additional constructions in Spanish. In particular, I examine the impact that the presence of two ModPs has on deber and poder in the past participial construction, in conjunction with future morphology, and in relation to the subjunctive mood.