MODAL PERIPHRASIS IN SPANISH LANGUAGE

The article is dedicated to the study of modal periphrasis in analytical Spanish. They are represented by a number of verb constructions and they are very common and preferred by many of native Spanish speakers due to their ability to convey the nuances of modal meanings most accurately. Those who are learning Spanish as a foreign language have the opportunity to emphasize their high level of proficiency in it by using modal periphrasis. Nevertheless, among scientists we find many differences in understanding the nature and mechanisms of interaction of the components of periphrasis. Thus, the criterion of the necessity of losing of the initial semantics of the verb that changes as a condition for including a syntactic construction in the group of periphrases does not stand the test for constructions denoting the beginning and end of an action comenzar a + infinitivo, terminar de + infinitivo, where there is no loss of semantic meaning in the verbs comenzar, terminar and their synonyms, as well as in the verb deber in deber + infinitivo, if according to the recommendation of the Grammar of the Royal Academy of Spain, it were used only to express obligation or necessity. As a result, the very belonging of some syntactic verb constructions to the group of periphrasis is called into question, and the concept of verb periphrasis becomes unclear. The term verbal construction, which is used in the domestic tradition, seems more appropriate, as it implies syntactic combinations with varying degrees of merging of components. For the objects under study, this factor is important, since the change in the modal meanings of these syntactic constructions depends on the change in the degree of adhesion of their components: a less free construction implies a change in its modal meaning, and vice versa, in a relatively free construction, the primary semantic meanings of both verbs are preserved. Another problem in teaching verb periphrasis is neglecting the meaning of the second impersonal component, and presenting the paraphrasis as a fixed mathematical formula.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Writings in Romance-Germanic Philology
Published
2026-11-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18524/2307-4604.2026.1(56).370584
Primary Topic
Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

MODAL PERIPHRASIS IN SPANISH LANGUAGE

L. V. Grynko
Writings in Romance-Germanic Philology
Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies
article

MODAL PERIPHRASIS IN SPANISH LANGUAGE

L. V. Grynko
article en

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the study of modal periphrasis in analytical Spanish. They are represented by a number of verb constructions and they are very common and preferred by many of native Spanish speakers due to their ability to convey the nuances of modal meanings most accurately. Those who are learning Spanish as a foreign language have the opportunity to emphasize their high level of proficiency in it by using modal periphrasis. Nevertheless, among scientists we find many differences in understanding the nature and mechanisms of interaction of the components of periphrasis. Thus, the criterion of the necessity of losing of the initial semantics of the verb that changes as a condition for including a syntactic construction in the group of periphrases does not stand the test for constructions denoting the beginning and end of an action comenzar a + infinitivo, terminar de + infinitivo, where there is no loss of semantic meaning in the verbs comenzar, terminar and their synonyms, as well as in the verb deber in deber + infinitivo, if according to the recommendation of the Grammar of the Royal Academy of Spain, it were used only to express obligation or necessity. As a result, the very belonging of some syntactic verb constructions to the group of periphrasis is called into question, and the concept of verb periphrasis becomes unclear. The term verbal construction, which is used in the domestic tradition, seems more appropriate, as it implies syntactic combinations with varying degrees of merging of components. For the objects under study, this factor is important, since the change in the modal meanings of these syntactic constructions depends on the change in the degree of adhesion of their components: a less free construction implies a change in its modal meaning, and vice versa, in a relatively free construction, the primary semantic meanings of both verbs are preserved. Another problem in teaching verb periphrasis is neglecting the meaning of the second impersonal component, and presenting the paraphrasis as a fixed mathematical formula.

Writings in Romance-Germanic Philology(1(56))
Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University (UA)
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon
MODAL PERIPHRASIS IN SPANISH LANGUAGE — L. V. Grynko · Writings in Romance-Germanic Philology (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS