By Modals, Conversations

Hi Sabyakgp, As Nona rightly points out, in your first example the modal verb "would" is used to express how the described conditions are related to a previous decision taken by his minders. But while Nona interprets the would as expressing uncertainty about what actually happened, I am more...

Hi, Then what modal perfect tense is? Can you explain it more? Actually the whole sentence is in a conversation, "The Duchess! The Duchess!" he muttered, "oh! my dear paws! Oh, my fur and whiskers! She's going to get me executed! Where could I have dropped these things?" Thanks. Mag

CalifJim wrote:". It is as if there is a whole body of "cross-cultural English" that I don't know about. Yes, I know about elevator and lift, truck and lorry, but I think you're talking about something bigger -- but what? Can you give more examples?CJ You may need to start a new thread up if...

Milky wrote:<If you hear "may" or "might" from a native speaker, on the other hand, there is no guarantee that the speaker intends to indicate more likelihood by using "may", or less likelihood by using "might". > What a sad state of affairs. Hardly anyone knows how to use modals...

Milky wrote:<<How do you interpret that "internal drive", in the context of "have to"? Are internal drives included in your definition of "objective" or "external" obligation?>> Mr P, please understand that there, it is the children, and not the speaker who are driven internally....

<My children are required to eat an apple after their mealsorMy children are obligated to eat an apple after their meals. Sounds rather formal. I'm talking about an everyday conversation. Do you use modal auxiliaries in your day-to-day interactions?

<(As for analyzing what thought you wish to express in terms of subjectivity and objectivity, note that there is little agreement on what to call subjective and what to call objective. Consequently, in my opinion, the net result of such analysis while in the act of trying to speak in a real...

I've been told that must/have to are used interchangeably. However, my English text books say that the difference is some context considerable. What is your view on this? I don't know of any context in which the difference might be described as considerable. Perhaps you should post some...

<I have to say (or I must say!), I am astonished at this conversation. I do not, for one moment, stop to consider whether there are external or internal factors involved before I say "I must do X" or "I have to do X." And I certainly do not do this kind of analysis if someone says it to...

I have to say (or I must say!), I am astonished at this conversation. I do not, for one moment, stop to consider whether there are external or internal factors involved before I say "I must do X" or "I have to do X." And I certainly do not do this kind of analysis if someone says it to me. I...