Mixed modals.

[pretty girl5]

Dear teachers,
Could you please correct these uses of modals?

1. I can remember (remember ) Mrs. Sawyer's fifth grade class well. When we arrived each morning, she would always smile (always, smile) and say hello to each student as he or she entered. She used to stand (stand) and clean her throat. That was our signal: we had to be (be ) quite.

2. A: " What's all that noise upstairs? It sounds like a herd of elephants."
B: "The children must be playing (play) some kind of games."

3. Try as she could, she did not manage to open the safe.

4. The movie was not entirely a success. The music couldn't be (not,be) right for the theme of the film. The actress couldn't be (not, be) quite right for her role as a queen. The director can't have organized (not, organized) the plot carefully enough. The producer can't have had (not, have) enough money to make a truly successful film. But it was still a fine movie.

Thanks a lot.

 

[5jj]

1. I can remember Mrs. Sawyer's fifth grade class well. When we arrived each morning, she would always smile and say hello to each student as he or she entered. She used to stand ('used to' is not wrong, but why not stick with 'would'?) and clean (clear?) her throat. That was our signal: we had to be (be ) [STRIKE]quite[/STRIKE] quiet.

2. A: " What's all that noise upstairs? It sounds like a herd of elephants."
B: "The children must be playing (play) some kind of games." :tick:

3. Try as she could, she did not manage to open the safe.:cross: might

I need time to think about #4

 

[SoothingDave]

"...some kind of game," not "...games."

 

[pretty girl5]

Thanks a lot.


3. Try as she could, she did not manage to open the safe. might

I used could because it shows ability in the past and that what the verb "manage" above means.

What do you think?

I'm waiting for you.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Try as she might" is correct.