Question

Choose suitable modal auxiliaries to complete the sentence:

Mrinali: Please help me.

Aisha: I'm sorry. I ______ if I _______ but I _______.

• A. will... can... can't
• B. may... can... couldn't
• C. would... could... can't
• D. shall... will... can't

Answer 1

The correct option is C would... could... can't

Option C: 'Would' expresses condition. It presents the hypothetical situation 'I would if I could'.

'Could' is the past tense of 'can'. Both refer to possibility.

The sentence contains three clauses:

'I would', 'if I could', 'but I can't'

The first is the probable result, based on the condition 'if I could'.

The sentence means: I would if I was able to help, but at present I do not possess the ability to help you.

The meaning is complete and hence option C is correct.

Option A: 'I will if I can' does not present any condition. 'Will' presents a future, real action and does not express condition.

Option B: 'May' expresses 'permission' and 'can' expresses 'possibility'. 'But I couldn't' is in past tense, stating an action that has already happened. The meaning hence formed is ambiguous.

Option D: 'Shall' refers to a future action. 'Will' also refers to a future action. None of these words express the condition, put forth by the word 'if'.

Hence options A, B and D are wrong.