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Dastparvardeh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Modals in past form
Hi,
I have some questions
1 - in this sentence:
"Joshua had been intending to study medicine but he decided to enter law school."
is there any modal verbs used?
what kind and form of modal is it? and what tense form is it? I mean perfect or perfect continuous?
2 - in answer to this question:
"why didn't your roommate answer the phone?"
I know I can say: "He may have been sleeping."
but, can I say : "He may have slept." ? is this correct?
what is the difference between the two (in meaning) (if it is correct) (if any)
?
thanks
I have some questions
1 - in this sentence:
"Joshua had been intending to study medicine but he decided to enter law school."
is there any modal verbs used?
what kind and form of modal is it? and what tense form is it? I mean perfect or perfect continuous?
2 - in answer to this question:
"why didn't your roommate answer the phone?"
I know I can say: "He may have been sleeping."
but, can I say : "He may have slept." ? is this correct?
what is the difference between the two (in meaning) (if it is correct) (if any)
?thanks
Top answer
1. The modal/defective auxiliaries / auxiliary verbs are: can, could; shall, should; will, would; may, might; must and ought. None of them is used in your sentence.
- 1.
- The modal/defective auxiliaries / auxiliary verbs are: can, could; shall, should; will, would; may, might; must and ought.
- None of them is used in your sentence.
- 2.
- He may have slept is wrong here even though it is perfectly good English and can be used in many other contexts.
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4 Answers
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1. The modal/defective auxiliaries / auxiliary verbs are: can, could; shall, should; will, would; may, might; must and ought. None of them is used in your sentence.
2. He may have slept is wrong here even though it is perfectly good English and can be used in many other contexts.
CB
2. He may have slept is wrong here even though it is perfectly good English and can be used in many other contexts.
CB
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Thank you CB
1. i asked this because this sentece has appeared in "http://www.englishgrammardigest.com/Site_3/English_Grammar,_TOEFL_Preparation,_Advanced_ESL.html" book, under the heading "past time form of modals" and "past intentions".
so you belive modals aren't
1. i asked this because this sentece has appeared in "http://www.englishgrammardigest.com/Site_3/English_Grammar,_TOEFL_Preparation,_Advanced_ESL.html" book, under the heading "past time form of modals" and "past intentions".
so you belive modals aren't
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1. I have given you my reply.
2. He may have been sleeping at the very moment the hone rang. The continuous tense is preferred in cases like this. Another example: I was taking a bath when the phone rang. Taking a bath took a longer time than the phone rang. The phone rang while I
2. He may have been sleeping at the very moment the hone rang. The continuous tense is preferred in cases like this. Another example: I was taking a bath when the phone rang. Taking a bath took a longer time than the phone rang. The phone rang while I
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thanks for your reply. i was a little confused because in my language (farsi) we usually use past form for sleep.
thanks f
thanks f
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