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Question
Study the different use of ‘could’. Identify what it indicate.
Abhi could perform well in his school days.
Options
suggestion
past ability
Solution
Abhi could perform well in his school days. - past ability
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I must tell the truth.
(Pick out the modal auxiliary verb and state its function)
Do as directed.
Lata will sing tonight. (Make it less certain)
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You should wear your uniform. (Show ability)
Do as directed.
Sandeep may study to clear the examination. (Make it obligatory/compulsory)
Primary Auxiliary Verbs are ‘be’, ‘have’, and ‘do’ which occur most commonly and can also be used as a main verb in a clause.
Go through the sentences given below and say whether the verbs are the main verbs or primary auxiliary verbs.
I had learnt from my childhood that money did not mean everything in life.___
Read the given sentences:
- Does Sam write all his own reports?
- The secretaries haven’t written all the letters yet.
- Terry is writing an e-mail to a client at the moment.
The verbs in bold are broadly used to express tense. ‘Do’ can also be used for adding emphasis, as in “I do know the answer.” The verbs “be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’ are called Primary Auxiliaries. When helping verbs are used to express the mode or action, they are called Modals.
- You shall have a holiday tomorrow. (Simple Future)
- We should obey our elders. (Obligation)
- I can play the piano. (Ability)
- Could you open the window, please? (Request).
In the above examples, the modals indicate the expressions given in brackets. There are other modals that are used for expressions.
Study the given table carefully and do the activities that follow.
| Modals less definite to more definite | Expressions |
| can, could | ability |
| should | advise, obligation |
| shall, will | futurity, determination |
| would | habitual past, request |
| may, might | permission, possibility |
| must, have to | compulsion |
| used to | habitual past |
| ought to | obligation |
| need to | necessity |
| dare to | courage |
(a) Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals according to the situations given in the following sentences.
- Take an umbrella. It _______ rain later.
- People _______ walk on the grass.
- _______ I ask you a question?
- The signal has turned red. You _______ wait.
- I was a sportsperson in my school days. I ________ play badminton.
- I am going to the library. I _______ find my friend there.
(b) Find from the text, the sentences that show past habit.
Write the shortened form of the following.
It is _________________.
Study the different uses of ‘could’. Identify what it indicate.
Instead of playing computer games you could play real games with friends.
Study the different use of ‘could’. Identify what it indicate.
Could I use your computer for surfing net?
Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).
Isn’t it a dandy?
