Modal verbs in Pakistani English: Case study of Can and Could A corpus-based Comparative analysis

Abstract

This study explores the use of modal verbs Can & Could in Pakistani English variety. It is a corpus based exploration that compares the use of Can & Could in Pakistani English Fiction (PEF) and British English Fiction. (BEF). It is a quantitative as well as qualitative research. The study investigates how on the semantic level these two modals verbs work in Pakistani English variety. This study helps us to locate the tendencies of the use of Can & Could in Pakistani English variety. The comparison of these tendencies on semantic level with BEF provides a proof to establish Pakistani English as a separate variety.