modality
modality — noun
- modalitysingular
- modalitiesplural
1. A distinct system or procedure for doing something, or for experiencing a situat
A distinct system or procedure for doing something, or for experiencing a situation — for example, the teaching style a school adopts, or the channel a company uses to contact its customers.
The school uses group discussions and hands-on projects as its main teaching modality.
teaching modality — collocation with education
For chronic back pain, Dr. Okafor recommended a combination of exercise and massage as the treatment modality.
treatment modality — collocation with healthcare
Online classes became a common learning modality after schools closed during the pandemic.
The study compared two communication modalities: in-person meetings and video calls.
The engineer used a test modality to see if the Meishan bridge could hold heavy trucks.
- method
more general and everyday; 'method' is used for any procedure, while 'modality' is more formal and often used in specialized fields
- approach
focuses on the overall strategy rather than the specific procedure
- mode
very similar in meaning but slightly less formal; 'mode' is common in technology (e.g., airplane mode)
- manner
emphasizes the style or way something is done rather than the system behind it
文法句型
modality of [something]
[adjective] modality
用法筆記
Common in academic and professional writing about education, communication, healthcare, and technology. For everyday situations, use 'method' or 'way' instead.
常見錯誤
2. The grammatical meaning shown by modal verbs like 'can,' 'must,' and 'should' —
The grammatical meaning shown by modal verbs like 'can,' 'must,' and 'should' — expressing ideas such as possibility, necessity, permission, or obligation in a sentence.
Mr. Hernandez's ESL students saw how modality changes when 'must' marks obligation versus certainty.
expressed through [modal verbs] — common pattern
Ms. Chen's grammar class analyzed a job advertisement to identify modality expressing possibility versus necessity.
types of modality — classification pattern
Wei wrote a paper on how modality changes the tone of a request in Japanese compared to English.
Fatima's English tutor explained that 'might' suggests lower certainty than 'may' when expressing modality.
On a Paris internship, Olusola struggled with French subjunctive verbs expressing modality after 'il faut que.'
- modal meaning
a simpler and more direct term, often used in teaching materials instead of 'modality'
- mood (grammatical)
related concept that includes modality but also covers indicative, imperative, and subjunctive forms
文法句型
express modality
modality of [verb]
用法筆記
The subject of the sentence is often a language (English, French, Japanese) or the word 'modality' itself. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is specifically about language and verbs, not about methods in general.
常見錯誤
3. A specific type of medical treatment or therapy used to address a disease, injur
A specific type of medical treatment or therapy used to address a disease, injury, or health condition — for example, radiation, surgery, massage, or medication.
Radiation therapy is a common modality for treating certain types of cancer.
modality for treating [condition] — common preposition pattern
The hospital added acupuncture as a new modality for pain relief.
Dr. Okafor recommended a less invasive modality to treat Hana's knee injury.
Mei-Lin's physical therapy modality for her strained hamstring included daily stretching and light resistance exercises.
The clinic offers several modalities, including medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.
- therapy
more common in everyday medical language; 'modality' is more technical and is often used when comparing or classifying different treatments
- treatment
the most general term; 'modality' specifies a distinct type within a broader treatment plan
- procedure
focuses on the specific steps involved rather than the category of treatment
文法句型
[adjective] modality
modality for [condition]
用法筆記
Often preceded by a specific treatment name or an adjective describing the treatment (e.g., 'radiation modality,' 'therapeutic modality'). Commonly used in healthcare settings, medical research, and hospital administration.
常見錯誤
4. One of the specific channels through which the body receives information from th
One of the specific channels through which the body receives information from the environment — such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, or smell.
Vision is the sensory modality that most people use to read street signs and find their way.
sensory modality — set phrase in psychology
In the psychology lab, participants tested their tactile modality by identifying objects by touch alone.
tactile modality — specific sensory type
Owls rely mainly on the auditory modality of hearing to locate mice in the dark.
The therapist asked the child to close their eyes and name objects using only the tactile modality.
When driving at night, the visual modality is less reliable and drivers must pay more attention to sounds.
- sense
the everyday word for the same concept; 'modality' is more technical and used in scientific writing
- channel
used in information-processing models of perception; broader than just the five traditional senses
- avenue of sensation
a more descriptive phrase used in older textbooks; less common now
文法句型
[adjective] modality
modality of [sense]
用法筆記
Frequently appears with sensory adjectives: visual modality, auditory modality, tactile modality, olfactory modality. Common in psychology, neuroscience, and sensory research. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is specifically about biological senses, not general methods.