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Originally Posted by hela
Dear teachers,
1) If you were to turn the following text into an exercise for students would you give only the verb between parentheses or (modal + verb) in cases 10, 12, 15, 16 and 17?
I have see it done both ways, but I think you have to be consistent or at least be very clear in the instructions.
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2) How do you justify the use of “will” in case 1 ?
TDOL who speaks BE seems to find acceptable. As an AE speaker, I do not. I would not use "will" there.
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3) How do you justify the use of “could, should and would” instead of “can, shall and will” in cases 9, 12, 15, 16 and 17?
9. I would use "could" because of the "perhaps". It is a hypothetical.
12. This is connected to the prior ones. If one starts with "could" in 9, then 10 should be "would starve". If 9 is "can", then 10 should be "will starve". It depends on whether the action is seen as hypothetical or real.
15, 16, 17 can be non-modal, hypothetical, or future, but the statements should be consistent.
non-modal:
Ellen: (be) 15 Is it a good idea to take vitamin tablets? (I don't like the "do you think" as a tag question with any of them.)
Peter: No, that (not + be) 16 is not necessary if you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Ellen: And what else (do) 17 shall/should/can I do?
hypothetical:
Ellen: (be) 15 Would it be a good idea to take vitamin tablets?
Peter: No, that (not + be) 16 should/would not be necessary if you ate plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Ellen: And what else (do) 17 should/could I do?
future:
Ellen: (be) 15 Will it be a good idea to take vitamin tablets?
Peter: No, that (not + be) 16 will not be necessary if you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Ellen: And what else (do) 17 shall/can I do?
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4) Do you agree with the different possibilities I have proposed in cases 2, 3, 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18?
2, 3: I agree with all of them.
4: I would add should, ought.
7: I agree.
9. I prefer "could".
12: see above
13: I prefer could or might.
18: May or can is OK.
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Peter: Well, if you (modal + eat) 1 will eat chocolate, you are making things difficult for yourself. You (modal + give up) 2 should / ought to / have to / must / need to give up all sweets and chocolate for a start, and you (modal + cut down) 3 must / should / ought to / have to / need to cut down on sugar. And you (modal + eat) 4 must not eat between meals.
Ellen: Surely I (modal + cut down) 5 need not cut down all sweets, (modal) 6 need I ?
Peter: Well, I think you (modal + know) 7 ought to / should, you know.
Ellen: But I get so hungry. (modal + eat) 8 Can’t I eat anything between meals ?
Peter: Well, perhaps you (modal + eat) 9 could / can eat an apple if you are desperate.
Ellen: An apple! I (starve) 10 will starve! You are saying that I (modal + starve) 11 have to starve.
Peter: No rubbish! You (not + starve) 12 would / will not starve if you eat sensibly. But you (modal + try) 13 may / might / can / could try eating less. That (modal + get) 14 should get your weight down.
Ellen: (be) 15 Would it be a good idea to take vitamin tablets, do you think?
Peter: No, that (not + be) 16 should / would / will not be necessary if you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Ellen: And what else (do) 17 shall I do? (or can I do?)
Peter: (modal + tell) 18 May / Can I tell you something to give up? Stop thinking so much about food.
Thank you very much for your help.
Best regards,
Héla
You're welcome. I hope that helps. :wink:
