A contrastive analysis of the meanings expressed via the modal verbs can, may, must in english and

Certificate of originality

I, Nguyen Minh Hue, hereby claim the originality of my study. Unless

otherwise indicated, this is my own piece of academic accomplishment.

Signature

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Acknowledgements

I am sincerely grateful to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Dai Quang, my supervisor, for his wisdom,

critical comments and precious advice spared for me. Without his guidance,

encouragement and critical comments the work would have never been completed.

I owe a debt of gratitude to all my lecturers at the University of Languages and

International Studies - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, for their enthusiastic teaching

and tremendous knowledge that have directly or indirectly enlightened my research paper.

I would like to express my gratitude to all of my colleagues at the ESP Department, ULIS

-VNU, Hanoi for their constant encouragement and the favourable conditions spared for

my study.

Finally, my warmest thanks go to my parents, my husband for their love, support and share

of housework and childcare. Without their help this thesis could not have gained the

current status.

Hanoi, December - 2006

Nguyen Minh Hue

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certificate of originality........................................................................................i

Acknowledgements..............................................................................................ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................iii

Part A. Introduction..............................................................................................1

1. Rationale of the study......................................................................................1

2. Aims of the study.............................................................................................3

3. Scope of the study............................................................................................3

4. Methodology....................................................................................................3

5. Design of the study...........................................................................................4

Part B: Development.............................................................................................5

Chapter 1: Theoretical background......................................................................5

Chapter 2: Investigation.....................................................................................13

Chapter 3: Implications......................................................................................29

Part C: Conclusion..............................................................................................33

References..........................................................................................................35

Sources of example.............................................................................................36

1. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre. Vol 1. (Translated by NguyÔn Anh Kim). 1996.

Vietnam: Literature Publishing House..............................................................36

2. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre. Vol 2. (Translated by NguyÔn Anh Kim). 1996.

Vietnam: Literature Publishing House..............................................................36

3. website: http://www.online_literature.com/brontec/janeeyre/......................36

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