[Grammar] Modal verb question...

[Zancan]

I just had this class and did not understand the answer that was given by the teacher. The other students all seemed to understand so I did not want to ask so I came here. Here is the text:


"They spent the whole dinner talking about the most unexpected and fascinating things. One could not really tell what they were talking about. Subjects would change in a strange flow of energy - in a secret way one (can - ought to - should) say - constantly spinning over all subjects, diving into one, drowning into one another."


Teacher said answer was *should* but I really can't understand why. My first choice would have been *would* or *might/could* but since they're not available I would select *can* even though it sounds a bit weird but I really can't see *should* in there. Can someone explain it to me? And also then explain why *should* is good but not *ought to*?


Thanks in advance.

 

[5jj]

Welcome to the forum, Zancan. :hi:

It seems to me that you could use most of the modals there. I'd go for 'might' or 'could' first' - after that, heaven knows.'Should' would not be very high on my list. It seems rather a pointless exercise to me.

Next time this happens, be bold: ask the teacher to explain why s/he thinks one is correct and the others aren't

 

[Zancan]

Thank you 5jj (for the welcome and the answer).

I changed classes so I don't know the students nor the teacher yet so I felt shy, next time I'll ask her, yes. Especially since I kept thinking about it for two days (class was yesterday morning) until I decided to come here to see if I can get it out of my mind (next class will be another topic so I won't have the chance to get back to it but as you said, the exercise was a bit pointless in the end so I just shouldn't care :lol::lol.

 

[Tdol]

As a way of specifying or correcting a phrase, we do use I should say, but it's not the only possible way of doing this.