Paraphrasing modal sentences.

Question

HiI'm trying to paraphrase the following sentences keeping the same meaning without using modals.Could you please correct them?Note: Please, you needn't correct the original sentences.1. Hadn't you better check that your boss is willing to contribute more than the minimum?= Isn't it advisable for you to check that your boss is willing to contribute more than the minimum?2. Milk must be kept in the fridge; otherwise, it spoils.= It is necessary for milk to be kept in thefridge; otherwise, it spoils.3.May our team win the football world cup.=I wish our team would win the football world cup.4.Your certificate ought to be sent before July 1st.= It is obligatory for your certificate to be sent before July 1st.5. This journal had better be read in the library.= It is advisable for this journal to be read in the library.6. He must have found the nature of the work slow and tedious. Only eighteen months later, he became a freelance reporter.= It is certain that he had found the nature of the work slow and tedious. Only eighteen months later, he became a freelance reporter.7. Wouldn't you rather stay for dinner tonight?= Isn't it preferable for you to stay for dinner tonight?8. Virginia thinks she might have a secret, only she can't quite remember.= Virginia thinks it is possible that she has a secret, only she is unable to remember.Thanks a lot.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

1. Hadn't you better check that your boss is willing to contribute more than the minimum?
= Isn't it advisable for you to check that your boss is willing to contribute more than the minimum? OK.

2. Milk must be kept in the fridge; otherwise, it spoils.
= It is necessary for milk to be kept in thefridge; otherwise, it spoils. OK.

3.May our team win the football world cup.
=I wish our team would win the football world cup. OK. Or I hope ... will win ...

4.Your certificate ought to be sent before July 1st.
= It is obligatory for your certificate to be sent before July 1st. Not quite. You've paraphrased 'must be sent'.
~ It is [advisable / a (very) good idea] to send your certificate ....

5. This journal had better be read in the library. Odd wording.
= It is advisable for this journal to be read in the library. No. I don't get that interpretation.
~ If you read this journal anywhere but in the library, you will be sorry because dire consequences will ensue.
To my ear this statement is much more severe than how you've paraphrased it.

6. He must have found the nature of the work slow and tedious. Only eighteen months later, he became a freelance reporter.
= It is certain that he had found the nature of the work slow and tedious. Only eighteen months later, he became a freelance reporter. To my ear, not quite.
~ The only reasonable/logical conclusion is that he found the nature of ....
~ One can only conclude that he found ....

7. Wouldn't you rather stay for dinner tonight?
= Isn't it preferable for you to stay for dinner tonight? OK. Very close. I'd say,

~ Don't you find it preferable to stay ...? (expecting a 'yes' answer)

8. Virginia thinks she might have a secret, only she can't quite remember.
= Virginia thinks it is possible that she has a secret, only she is unable to remember (exactly). OK.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I am curious why you would want to avoid modals, which are some of the most commonly used and useful words in the English language.

3.May our team win the football world cup.
=I wish our team would win the football world cup. (You have used a modal here.)
It is difficult to rephrase this without invoking the supernatural:
I pray that our team wins the football world cup.
*** willing, our team will win the football world cup.

4.Your certificate ought to be sent before July 1st.
= It is strongly advised that your certificate be sent before July 1st.

5. This journal had better be read in the library.
= There will be a penalty if you don't read the journal in the library.

7. Wouldn't you rather stay for dinner tonight?
= Don't you want to stay for dinner tonight?

CalifJim · Answer

AlpheccaStarsI wish our team would win the football world cup. (You have used a modal here.)

And will is also a modal, so we too have both violated the 'rules of paraphrase' in our own suggestions!

I have heard of whole novels written without using an "e" anywhere in the text, but I've never heard of writing one without modals. Now that would be a challenge!

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CalifJimAnd will is also a modal,

Oh, gosh, I forgot about "will!"

I was only thinking about may, should, could, might, ought to, would, can, etc.

The paraphrases without modals are mostly awkward, unnatural and stilted.

CalifJim · Answer

AlpheccaStarsI forgot about "will!"

So did I! HAH! Modals. We can't live without them.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AlpheccaStarsI am curious why you would want to avoid modals, which are some of the most commonly used and useful words in the English language.3.May our team win the football world cup.=I wish our team would win the football world cup. (You have used a modal here.)It is difficult to rephrase this without invoking the supernatural:I pray that our team wins the football world cup.*** willing, our team will win the football world cup.4.Your certificate ought to be sent before July 1st.= It is strongly advised that your certificate be sent before July 1st.5. This journal had better be read in the library.= There will be a penalty if you don't read the journal in the library.7. Wouldn't you rather stay for dinner tonight?= Don't you want to stay for dinner tonight?

3. I pray that our team wins the football world cup.
5. This journal had better be read in the library.
= There is a penalty if you don't read the journal in the library

Angel girl1 · Answer

Thanks a lot for both of you.

AlpheccaStarsI am curious why you would want to avoid modals, which are some of the most commonly used and useful words in the English language.

It is not my desire to rewrite those sentences without using modals, but this is a type of exercise on the use of modals in a former exam; to ensure that students understand modals. Because, if the student understand the original sentence, he/she will be able to paraphrase.

In fact, the instruction of the exercise doesn't say "without using modals", but I know the goal of the exercise is to use other expressions similar in meaning to modals.

Thanks again.

Regards · Answer

Hi,

angel girl15. This journal had better be read in the library.

To me, it almost sounds like a threat.

Regards

Angel girl1 · Answer

Thanks.

Paraphrasing modal sentences.

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