modal subordination

A term used in SEMANTIC and PRAGMATIC theory for a pattern of interpretation in which a SENTENCE containing a MODAL AUXILIARY is interpreted as though it were CONJOINED to the CONSEQUENT CLAUSE of a CONDITIONAL sentence present implicitly or explicitly in the preceding DISCOURSE. An example is If John bought a book, he’ll be home reading it by now. It’ll be a murder mystery. Modal subordination poses a challenge for certain theories of ANAPHORA.