Predicates of Coercion as a Means of Categorical Expression of Will in the Semantic-Syntactic Structure of the English Sentence

Abstract

The article highlights the semantics of coercion predicates as one of the main means of expressing debitive modality (along with the modality of expediency, obligation, necessity, compulsion and inevitability). Predicates of coercion, in our opinion, contain in their structure the modal component of ‘will’, as one of the main modal meanings. Coercion is analyzed as a predetermined need to act contrary to smb’s own will or desire. The main means of expressing coercion semantics is the predicate to force. All coercion predicates denote the forced action of different intensity, that is, there is a semantic differentiation of coercion predicates. They are characterized by a negative connotation, since the action is undesirable, forced for the subject, contrary to their interests, will. The negative component is a constituent part of the semantics of coercion predicates. The predicates of coercion are closely related to predicates of compulsion. Thus, the predicates of coercion to constrain, to compel and to oblige can denote both the situations of coercion and compulsion. In addition, in sentences with causative verbs of coercion like to force, the positional structure differs from the one where the predicate is the modal verbs to have to, to be to. This is due to the fact that in constructions with the objective infinitive, more than one situation is explicated.