Thread: Modal Verbs
View Single Post
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 15-May-2008, 02:24
Manas Ranjan Mallick Manas Ranjan Mallick is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Country: India
Posts: 413
Current Location: Bhubaneswar
First Language: Oriya
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 7
Thanked 182 Times in 178 Posts
Manas Ranjan Mallick has a spectacular aura aboutManas Ranjan Mallick has a spectacular aura about
Exclamation Modal Verbs

Some schools of thought treat 'could' as a remote form of 'can' and not as as its past form. The remote form is explained in the following examples:
I couldn't do it. (remoteness of time)
It could happen. (remoteness of possibility)
Could you do me a favor? (remoteness of relationship)
How far this interpretation is correct? In the openion of this forum what is correct?
Another thing which puzzles me is ragarding use of 'should' and 'must'. Here are two sentences.
You must see a doctor.
You should see a doctor.
What is the difference? Are they interchangeable?
Reply With Quote