Modalno

Modalno is a linguistic term used to describe modality in language, and in Slovene the adverb modalno means “modally.” It is used to describe statements, sentences, or constructions that express modal meaning—attitudes toward the proposition such as possibility, necessity, obligation, or permission.

In linguistics, modality covers the speaker’s stance toward the truth of a proposition. It is commonly encoded with modal verbs (for example, can, may, must in English) or with periphrastic constructions and adverbials. In Slovenian, modal verbs such as morati (must), smeti (to be allowed), and hoteti (to want) convey modal meaning, and non-finite clauses may be used with modal marks. The adverbial form modalno is used when describing a sentence as expressing modality rather than its propositional content. Some languages differentiate epistemic modality (possibility, likelihood) from deontic modality (obligation, permission) and mark them through distinct forms or particles. The term modalno thus functions as a descriptive label rather than a prescriptive rule in grammar, and it appears in grammars, linguistic studies, and language-learning materials as a way to refer to modal wording or modal effects.

See also modality, modal verb, mood, epistemic modality, deontic modality.