auxiliary verbs

[Taka]

( ) it be true that they got a letter from President Obama.


1. Need 2. Must 3. Can 4. May


How would you explain to your ESL students that 1. 2. 4. are wrong when all those auxiliary verbs can imply possibility?
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[bhaisahab]

( ) it be true that they got a letter from President Obama.


1. Need 2. Must 3. Can 4. May


How would you explain to your ESL students that 1. 2. 4. are wrong when all those auxiliary verbs can imply possibility?
​

I wouldn't. 1, 2 and 3 are all possible, 4 is not natural and "can" is the most likely.

 

[Taka]

So 1 and 2 are also possible. Good.

The workbook I have says 3 is THE answer, and I wonder if it was really so.

Thanks!

 

[5jj]

So 1 and 2 are also possible. Good.

The workbook I have says 3 is THE answer, and I wonder if it was really so.

As bhai said. #3 is the most lkely.

In most contexts that I can thnk of, #1 and #2 are pretty unlikely. They are, however grammatically possible. I dislike exercises that say that possible answers are incorrect. If the compilers wish to eliminate unlikely answers, then they should provide more context.

 

[Taka]

I dislike exercises that say that possible answers are incorrect.

Ditto.