Modal Verb Function

Question

Hi there,I have been trying to work out 'Modal verb' in the sentences. Some sentencese were relatively straight forward, but that could be interpreted in more than one way. Thank you for all of your help. It is much appreciated. *My answers will be posted in bold and italicExerciseAvailable answers to questionsA past ability or skill A present ability or skill Speculation or deduction A future possibility Asking permission A prohibition A request Offer A refusal  Can I eat my lunch here?  - 5 (To me it sounds that the person is asking for permission. But this could also be no.7, as the person could be making a request. Is there anyway to tell?) 			Can you cook a Sunday Roast? I can’t! - 3 (This sounds like the person is speculating into the ability of the other person. But this question could also be about a present ability of skill no.2)Amy could be cooking my favourite dinner right now.- 3 (This to me sounds like the individual is speculating about their potential dinner. But this could also be a future possibility, as to what the future mean could be.) 			Can I ask you a   favour? - 7 (This sounds like the person is requesting a favour, but then again, this could also be no. 5 - asking permission)Could you help me please? - 4 (This sounds the person is asking for possible future help. But looking at it from another direction, it could be a request for help no. 7) 			That can’t be right. - 9 (Is this a person refusing the ideal? This could also be seen as no.3 speculation as to the turn of events.) The snow can get quite deep in winter. - 3 (Speculation as to the amount of snow that the winter could bring. or no. 4 - that the future possibility of the snow being quiet deep in the winter.)

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

* Can I eat my lunch here? - 5 (To me it sounds that the person is asking for permission.-- Yes. But this could also be no.7, as the person could be making a request. Is there anyway to tell?-- I see no difference in meaning between 5 and 7 here.)
* Can you cook a Sunday Roast? I can't! - 3 (This sounds like the person is speculating into the ability of the other person. But this question could also be about a present ability of skill no.2-- Again, I see no difference in meaning between 2 and 3 in the context given)
* Amy could be cooking my favourite dinner right now.- 3 (This to me sounds like the individual is speculating about their potential dinner. But this could also be a future possibility, as to what the future mean could be.-- No, there is no future involved; it says 'right now')
* Can I ask you a favour? - 7 (This sounds like the person is requesting a favour, but then again, this could also be no. 5 - asking permission- - As with your 'lunch' sentence, I see no difference between favour and permission)
* Could you help me please? - 4 (This sounds the person is asking for possible future help.-- No; she wants help right now. no. 7)
* That can't be right. - 9 (Is this a person refusing the ideal?-- No; that would be too rude. It is speculation. )
* The snow can get quite deep in winter. - 3 (Speculation as to the amount of snow that the winter could bring. or no. 4 - that the future possibility of the snow being quiet deep in the winter.-- Again, there is no future involved; this is timeless present. #2 is also a possibility-- more likely than 3, I think.)

Avangi · Answer

I'm unable to edit your page because of incompatibility problems.

In my opinion, two of your "first choices" are correct, and five of your second choices are correct. (I believe there's only one correct answer for each example.)

I believe your problem is that you're concentrating on what the sentence is about, rather than how the actual modal verb (can/could/can't) functions in the sentence.

For example, "Can I ask you a favor?" You say the person is asking a favor. Oh, really? What favor? Concentrate on the word "can." It asks permission.

In each example, ask yourself what the "can" word does. Don't get distracted by what may happen later if things play out a certain way.

Best of luck, - A.

Hmm - Since MrM has blown my cover, I'll give you my answers:

5

2

3

5

7

3

4

CalifJim · Answer

AvangiDon't get distracted by what may happen later if things play out a certain way.

AvangiI believe your problem is that you're concentrating on what the sentence is about, rather than how the actual modal verb (can/could/can't) functions in the sentence.

I couldn't agree more. The exercise is only about the modal verbs, not about the implications of entire sentences -- although I might have to hedge that opinion in a few cases where the implied context comes into it.

Further, the choices given are only a crude approximation of the function of the modals. You would need at least twenty more choices to represent the true subtlety of what modals can do. As a result, you may have to squeeze something into a category where it doesn't seem exactly to belong.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

A past ability or skill
A present ability or skill
Speculation or deduction
A future possibility
Asking permission
A prohibition
A request
Offer
A refusal

Can I eat my lunch here? 5
Can you cook a Sunday Roast? I can’t! 2
Amy could be cooking my favourite dinner right now. 3
Can I ask you a favour? 5
Could you help me please? 7
That can’t be right. 3
The snow can get quite deep in winter. 2

CJ

Avangi · Answer

I bow to MrM and Jim on the last example.

CalifJim · Answer

Bow? That's rather extravagant, don't you think?
Next thing you know it'll be "bow and scrape"!

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

with regards to snow falling and Mister Micawber's response. You wrote 2 is more likely than 3 but how ability and skill (which are human/animal characteristics) refer to snow??

Sunday roast. Look at the context. It is quite clear that someone is asking about sb's ability. Can you cook..?

Can I eat my lunch here? How can you not see the difference? Asking for permission is not really request. Request indicates that the person is in superior position (when at work) or in equal relationship be it friendship or partnership. From the context it is clear that the person is asking someone in the know (superior position/knowledge) whether they could eat there.

Avangi · Answer

Anonymous ability and skill (which are human/animal characteristics)

My Am. Htg. seems to share your view on "ability," but in this age of "artificial intelligence," new abilities seem to be cropping up.
And wouldn't it be okay to say "The ocean waves have the ability to alter the configuration of the shoreline." ??
BTW, since we're revisiting the last example, isn't "a future possibility" a bit ambiguous? Do we really need an "if" clause to distinguish between:
(a) It is now possible that it may rain tomorrow.
and (b) If the present conditions hold, it may be possible that it will rain tomorrow. ??

What would be a fair definition of "a future possibility"? Is there no such thing?

Must we say "It's possible that it will be possible?"

Must it be impossible in the present in order to be possible in the future?

It's possible that I'm wrong.

Modal Verb Function

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions