Abstract
This paper addresses the relation between the Chinese modal verb yīnggāi on one hand and tense and aspect on the other by providing illustrations of syntactial relations in Chinese sentences. It provides a detailed analysis of the different readings of yīnggāi in combination with various aspect particles and different time levels. It explains when the modal has a deontic, epistemic or ambiguous interpretation.
Keywords: aspect; modal verbs; tense; yinggai