Similarities and differences between the French and Russian verb systems: category of modality

Aim. To establish differences in the category of modality in the Russian and French languages in comparative terms, to identify similarities and discrepancies in the use of linguistic means express­ing this category.

Methodology. The main method of research is a comparative method that allows to identify similari­ties and differences in the linguistic means of this category in the French and Russian languages. The following methods were also used: continuous sampling method in the formation of the corpus of factual material, description and interpretation of the comparison results; analysis and synthesis of various points of view on the nature of the grammatical category of modality, and semantic analysis in the interpretation of factual material.

Results. The discrepancies and coincidences of the compared languages in the grammatical cat­egory of modality, as well as the means of linguistic expression of this category have been identified and established. Modality as a linguistic and philosophical category inherent in human speech exists in all languages, including French and Russian. In French, the question of modality is controversial, defined by subjonctif forms / conditionnel forms. In Russian, modality is expressed by conditional­subjunctive sentences.

Research implications. The analysis is significant for the comparative study of the two languages in the controversial issue of the grammatical category of modality and its linguistic expression. In French, there is a category of mood expressed by the paradigm of conditionnel forms / subjonctif forms. At the same time, strong arguments are given in favor of one or another point of view. The re­sults of the research of the article support the point of view on the grammatical category of modality in the French language expressed by subjonctif forms. The obtained research results are useful for students studying French and the program discipline “Comparative typology of French and Russian languages”.

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