Does English have modal particles?

Abstract

Modal particles are functionally closely related to discourse markers. This raises the issue of whether modal particles have a common ‘class-identifying’ function which distinguishes them from discourse markers (and adverbs) as well as questions about what we mean by modality. Of course has been treated as a discourse marker as well as a modal adverb. However it does not seem to have been discussed as a modal particle. It is argued that we should distinguish between its uses as a discourse marker and modal particle on the basis of its formal properties and its functions.