THE SEMANTIC AND LEXICO-GRAMMATIC PROPERTIES OF THE MODAL VERB

Abstract

肯 (kěn) IN CHINESE. The article is dedicated to a comprehensive study of the semantic and lexical-grammatical properties of the modal verb 肯 (kěn) in the Chinese language. The study of this issue is an urgent problem, since an unmistakable understanding of the shading meanings of a particular modal verb is the key to understanding the modality system in the Chinese language. The article describes the specific features identified during the research that are characteristic of the lexeme 肯 (kěn). The article reveals in detail the grammatical properties of the modal verb 肯 (kěn), set out in a contrastive-contrasting key in relation to other modal verbs expressing desire, specifies the distinctive features that made it possible to consider this word as an atypical modal verb, the distinctive features of its use in modern Chinese. The practical significance of the research presented in the article lies in the possibility of using the obtained materials in the process of teaching Chinese as a foreign language. The authors conclude that an integrated approach to the study of the modal verb 肯 (kěn) is necessary, which will best reveal its features.