Saying What Might Be: Mood and Modality · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Saying what might be

Languages · Grammar Across Languages · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Sam says: if it rains, we will cancel. The day stays dry. What did Sam commit to?

    • Nothing about the real day, only what follows if rain comes
    • That rain would come
    • That the outing was cancelled

  2. Which sentence talks about what might happen instead of what is the case?

    • It rains.
    • If it rained, we would stay home.
    • She is here.

  3. Which helper expresses duty?

    • Might
    • Can
    • Must

  4. Where does Spanish force a verb switch that English skips?

    • After verbs of wanting, doubting, or feeling
    • After naming a place
    • After counting objects

  5. Which version softens the order Open the window?

    • Could you open the window
    • Open the window at once
    • You will open the window

  6. I wish she were here talks about what?

    • A reported fact
    • A wish about something unreal
    • A polite command

  7. Lea claims a conditional describes the real world, so the speaker is at fault if rain never comes. What is wrong?

    • It commits the speaker to rain coming
    • It only sketches a possible world, committing to very little
    • It is always about the past

  8. A learner copies I want you to come word for word into Spanish with plain forms. What is the likely mistake?

    • The sentence needs the subjunctive form after wanting
    • The sentence needs a future tense
    • The sentence needs a louder voice
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_IIgSDzD2a9-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Saying what might be W1-mt_IIgSDzD2a9-s1

  1. Nothing about the real day, only what follows if rain comes · A conditional binds the speaker only inside its possible world.
  2. If it rained, we would stay home. · The conditional sketches a possible world, while the others report facts.
  3. Must · Must carries duty, can carries ability, and might carries possibility.
  4. After verbs of wanting, doubting, or feeling · Spanish demands its subjunctive endings exactly in those spots.
  5. Could you open the window · The modal question gives room to refuse, so it sounds polite.
  6. A wish about something unreal · The subjunctive handles wishes, doubts, and unreal cases.
  7. It only sketches a possible world, committing to very little · A conditional cannot be blamed for a world that never arrives.
  8. The sentence needs the subjunctive form after wanting · Spanish switches the verb form itself after wanting, so the plain copy misses the required form.
Worksheet · LightMySky