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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

modal auxiliaries?

No one can/could decide how long a day or a year should be.
In the sentence, which modal auxiliary should be used, can or could? 0r should both
modal auxiliaries be used? Please explain to me. Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Both are possible. We'd need more context to tell you if one was more appropriate.

— Fivejedjon

  • Both are possible.
  • We'd need more context to tell you if one was more appropriate.
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3 Answers
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Both are possible. We'd need more context to tell you if one was more appropriate.
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fivejedjonBoth are possible. We'd need more context to tell you if one was more appropriate.
Here is the complete passage.
It does not matter how many days are in a week, or in a month; any number can be used. No one, however, can decide how long a day or a year should be. ××× The Egyptians did not think about these scientific facts.
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As the first two sentences are about a present/general-time situation, 'can' is the appropriate modal.
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