(1) A: How do you get to work?
B: I walk to work.
This has a habitual reading. It is usually the case that I walk to work. On most days I walk to work. Something like this. There is some regularity involved.
It feels like in the case below there is an additional modal component involved, expressing a kind of ability:
(2) A: Wow this store-bought cheese cake is really delicious.
B: Man, you should try mine, I make a delicious cheese cake.
What does this mean? It seems to permit a modal paraphrase: I am able to make a delicious cheese cake. However, I am not sure that the sentence necessarily means that I make cheesecakes often or habitually.
I might have been a world champion cheese cake maker 25 years ago, but still posses the necessary skills. (Is the sentence good in this context?)
The sentence would sound odd if I had never made a cheesecake before, even if I were for reason very confident in my skills. For example: I read every book on cheese cakes, watch every youtube video about how to make cheese cakes and possess all the necessary tools in my kitchen. It would not be licit to say (2B) in this case.
This ability meaning is not present in (1). I am able to walk to work is a necessary condition for me to walk to work, but it seems this is not what is expressed.
It seems also that the predicate delicious is necessary for this to work, as (3) without the adjective is off.
(3) ??I make a cheese cake.
Why does (2) become bad if it's about interesting books instead of delicious cheese cakes?
(4) A: Wow, this book by that author is good.
B: Man, you should read mine, #I write an interesting book.
Because books are always different by default and cheesecakes are kind of the same thing? Because books are written less frequently then cheesecakes are made?
(5) A: This table seems a bit wobbly. (talking to a carpenter)
B: Man, you should try mine, ?#I craft a solid table.
What is going on?
More examples
This restaurant makes the best falafel sandwich in town.
This restaurant makes a good falafel sandwich.
This restaurant makes a falafel sandwich. (Does this have the relevant reading?)
This guy writes an interesting book. (By default, this does not have the relevant reading?)
My uncle grills a mean burger.
She makes delicious Pfannkuchen.
She paints a beautiful painting. (?)
This contractor builds a solid house (?)
Photo: Sasha's 27th bday birthday cheese cake with its corresponding Schablone