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Angel girl1 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Mixed modals.
Dear professors,
Could you please correct these uses of modals?
I'm trying to fill in the blanks with the appropriate modals.
It is possible that the development of record-breaking and display athleticism may approach (approach ) its maximum now, or that in America it may even pass (even, pass) its maximum. All the rational feats of bodily strength and kill should presently try out (presently, try out) to the limit. People will cease (cease) to beat records and only aspire to touch them. If the world's prosperity goes on in the stadium, there will be (be) changes in the economic and industrial ordering of the world that can diminish (diminish) the present supply of honourable amateurs for public games. Prosperous people will find (find) some better method of launching their sons and daughters upon life than in offering them up to athletic uses. Public shows of games should become (become) mainly professional displays of an exemplary sort. But this shouldn't affect (affect) the wide diffusion of open-air recreation. That can be a permanent gain.
Thanks a lot.
Could you please correct these uses of modals?
I'm trying to fill in the blanks with the appropriate modals.
It is possible that the development of record-breaking and display athleticism may approach (approach ) its maximum now, or that in America it may even pass (even, pass) its maximum. All the rational feats of bodily strength and kill should presently try out (presently, try out) to the limit. People will cease (cease) to beat records and only aspire to touch them. If the world's prosperity goes on in the stadium, there will be (be) changes in the economic and industrial ordering of the world that can diminish (diminish) the present supply of honourable amateurs for public games. Prosperous people will find (find) some better method of launching their sons and daughters upon life than in offering them up to athletic uses. Public shows of games should become (become) mainly professional displays of an exemplary sort. But this shouldn't affect (affect) the wide diffusion of open-air recreation. That can be a permanent gain.
Thanks a lot.
Top answer
Hi, Where did you find this article? It doesn't sound like textbook material. I am not a teacher but I find many problems in semantics and fluency.
- Hi, Where did you find this article?
- It doesn't sound like textbook material.
- I am not a teacher but I find many problems in semantics and fluency.
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6 Answers
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Hi,
Where did you find this article? It doesn't sound like textbook material. I am not a teacher but I find many problems in semantics and fluency.
Where did you find this article? It doesn't sound like textbook material. I am not a teacher but I find many problems in semantics and fluency.
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Thanks a lot.
Unfortunately, this is taken from a former university exams. Just the modals, which are in bold, are mine.
What do you think?
Unfortunately, this is taken from a former university exams. Just the modals, which are in bold, are mine.
What do you think?
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I think that it is very difficult to judge, but there seems no reason why you should be bouncing around among different modals in a single passage: it sends a confused message of probabilities and makes the reader's head spin. The first sentence, at least, should have none, since probability is already assigned by the phrase 'it is possible that': It is possible that...the development is ap
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angel girl1All the rational feats of bodily strength and skill should presently try out (presently, try out) to the limitThis needs to be a passive construction. I don't think a modal is necessary - 'are presently being tried out...' would be sufficient. This still seems to be rather unnatural; you 'test' or perhaps
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