Constructions on the rise

Abstract Motivated by research into multimodality and the discussion on constructionhood gradience, this paper offers insights from Modern Greek ( MG ) that corroborate the need for Multimodal Construction Grammar (MCxG). Specifically, we examine the pattern as éstelne(s) in monomodal and multimodal X (formerly Twitter) data over a seven-year period. The pattern instantiates the verb stélno in receding compositionality, licensed by the well-entrenched AS + IMPERFECTIVE PAST ; a template prototypically associated with ας πρόσεχε ( ς )/ as pr ό sexe(s) carrying the semantics-pragmatics of reprimand, related to the semantics of προσέχω ‘be careful’. Supported by empirical evidence, we argue that ας έστελνε ( ς )/ as éstelne(s) is motivated by the polysemy of the modal particle ας which in its pairing with (the unboundedness of) the Imperfective Past motivates (latent) conditionality, wish, counterfactuality, and ultimately a reprimand for the unfulfillable. We further maintain that the pattern presents its own properties, which are modality-sensitive and amenable to creative exploitation.