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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Modals
Modals
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asmaesperance
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Modals
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Hi dear colleagues
I have disagreed with one of my colleagues about the answers of the following activity, so I would be very grateful if you could help me and give me the answers
fill in the gaps with: may, can, can �t, might
whales are aquatic mammals. They _______ live in closed seas, but only in oceans. They _____ weigh more than a ton. In a few years, they _______ disappear because man is chasing them illegally.
mine were: can�t, can, may
hers were: can �t, may, might
which is correct
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22 Jan 2012
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Yolandaprieto
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In my opinion both of you are right because the use of modal verbs depends on the possible interpretation you give to the text. Both sound good to me. Yolanda |
22 Jan 2012
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sarrah mohammed
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Hi Asma, I think both of you are correct except in the second blank ; I think hers is correct because it expresses a possibility ! best regards |
22 Jan 2012
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yanogator
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In US English, "may" and "might" are essentially the same (except when "may" is used for permission), so I agree with all the answers. Bruce |
22 Jan 2012
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asmaesperance
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thank you ver much Yolanda for your answer
@sarrah thank you so much for answering my question but can expresses possibility also, doesn �t it? for the third blank "might" is used when we are less sure and here there is the sentence "because man is chasing them illegally" which makes us more sure
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22 Jan 2012
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asmaesperance
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thank you Bruce, but what about the second blank? is it can or may
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22 Jan 2012
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moravc
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IMHO the second blank: can or may, both are right...
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22 Jan 2012
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asmaesperance
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thank you dear friends for your precious help 
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23 Jan 2012
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