The use of English epistemic modality among ESL learners

Abstract

The acquisition of expressions of epistemic modality or the probability system
seems to be a problem to second language leamers of English. While expressing
basic propositions is not too difficult, second language leamers of English
appear to have trouble in suggesting or giving personal opinions as to the expected
probability of an event. This is not to be totally unexpected since even
very advanced learners of English send mixed signals by using inappropriate
modals (Altman, 1982).