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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Modal verbs "would" and "should" in the past?

Hi. Please help me with these.

1. Do you think the modal verb "would" in the following sentence show the action done habitually? I don't seem to sense any sense of repetition in the sentence (if that is pertinent). For one thing, I think the use of the modal verb "would" gives the impresson of it being tentative (not sure, though).

When he got home, he saw a lot of clowns. They would make great noise and play around.

2. Here, does the modal verb "should" act as a past tense verb? If it is, what is a past tense of? (Not sure, I asked correctly to reflect what I wanted to ask, though.)

He said they should do it.
  

Top answer

1-- If it does not indicate past habit, then it is wrongly used; it is certainly not 'tentative'. After reading the two sentences, we must assume that he repeatedly went home and saw clowns. 2-- As it stands, no.

— Mister Micawber

  • 1-- If it does not indicate past habit, then it is wrongly used; it is certainly not 'tentative'.
  • After reading the two sentences, we must assume that he repeatedly went home and saw clowns.
  • 2-- As it stands, no.
  • We presume that should = ought to .
  • He said they should do it today/tomorrow.
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3 Answers
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1-- If it does not indicate past habit, then it is wrongly used; it is certainly not 'tentative'. After reading the two sentences, we must assume that he repeatedly went home and saw clowns.

2-- As it stands, no. We presume that should = ought to. He said they should do it today/tomorrow.
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Isn't should the past tense of shall?
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Only rarely. (How often do you see 'shall' used?)

Here it is:

'I shall be King!"
He said he should be King.
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