In the sentence "He should have finished the assignment by now", identify the modal verb and explain its meaning. Rewrite the sentence using a different modal verb that conveys a similar sense of obligation but with less certainty.
Answer
He ought to have finished the assignment by now.
The correct answer is He ought to have finished the assignment by now. — Rewrite the sentence replacing "should" with "ought to" while keeping the rest of the structure unchanged.
Step-by-step solution
- Identify the modal verb "should" in the sentence.
- Explain that "should" expresses a past obligation or recommendation that is expected but not mandatory.
- Choose a modal verb with a similar meaning but weaker certainty: "ought to".
- Rewrite the sentence replacing "should" with "ought to" while keeping the rest of the structure unchanged.
Common mistake: Replacing with "must" which adds higher certainty
Concept tested: Modal "should" for past obligation
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