THE USE OF MODAL VERBS AS MEANS OF EXPRESSION OF IRREGULARITY IN THE MODERN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English is rich in various constructions, with the help of which the speaker can express his attitude to the action as to the unreal. The concept of unreality in this case directly comes into contact with the notions of desirability-undesirability and evidence-doubt. We carried out a comprehensive analysis and systematization of the entire variety of means of expressing unreality in the English language. At the same time, both grammatical and lexical means were considered, the main patterns of using free and traditional forms of unreality in simple and complex sentences were identified. We considered the results of the study as a fragmentary part of a comprehensive study of the means of expressing unreality in the English language. This largely determines the scope of practical application of research work, the materials of which can be used in the course of modern English, in special courses on the problems of unreality.