o EXERCISE 23. Degrees of certainty; ability.

(Charts 10-1 -> 10-6)

Directions: Discuss the following in groups or as a class.

A researcher into human behavior conducted an experiment. First she talked to a

group of four-year-olds.
"How many of you can dance?" All of the children raised their hands.
"How many of you can sing?" All of the hands shot up.
"And finally, how many of you can draw?" Every child's hand was raised.
Next the researcher went to a college class of twenty-five students in their late
teens and early twenties.
"How many of you can dance?" she asked. About a third of the students raised
their hands.
"How many of you can sing?" Some hands were raised, but fewer than were raised
for the "first question.
"How many of you can draw?" Only two hands went up.
Discussion question:
What do you think accounts for the different responses in the two groups, and what
conclusions might you make if you were the researcher?

10-7 USING WOULD TO EXPRESS A REPEATED ACTION

IN THE PAST
(a) When I was a child, my father would read me a Would can be used to express an action that was
story at night before bedtime. repeated regularly in the past. When would is used to
(b) When I was a child, my father used to read me a express this idea, it has the same meaning as used to
story at night before bedtime. (habitual past).
(a) and (b) have the same meaning.

(c) I used to live in California. Used to expresses an habitual situation that existed in
He used to be a Boy Scout. the past, as in (c). In this case, would may not be used
They used to have a Ford. as an alternative. Would is used only for regularly
repeated actions in the past.

o EXERCISE 24. Using WOULD and USED TO. (Chart 10-7)

Directions: In these sentences, use would whenever possible to express a repeated action in
the past. Otherwise, use used to.
1. I (be) lA~se==-J..,--,-+-=o--,bt::...e=--- __ very shy. Whenever a stranger came to our house, I

(hide) WOlA1J.. v..iJ..e in a closet.

2. I remember my Aunt Susan very well. Every time she came to our house, she (give)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ me a big kiss and pinch my cheek.

3. Illiteracy is still a problem in my country, but it (be) _ much

worse.

Modals, Part 2 195

 4. I (be) afraid of flying. My heart (start) _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ pounding every time I stepped on a plane. But now I'm used to
flying and enjoy it.

5. I (be) an anthropology major. Once I was a member of an

archaeological expedition. Every morning, we (get) up
before dawn. After breakfast, we (spend) our entire day in
the field. Sometimes one of us (find) a particularly
interesting item, perhaps an arrowhead or a piece of pottery. When that happened,
other members of the group (gather) around to see what
had been unearthed.

6. I got a new bicycle when I was ten. My friends (ask) to

ride it, but for a long time I (let, never) anyone else
use it.

7. When my grandfather was a boy and had a cold, his mother (make) _
_ _ _ _ _ _ him go to bed. Then she (put) goose fat
on his chest.

8. Last summer, my sister and I took a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains. It was a
wonderful experience. Every morning, we (wake) up to the
sound of singing birds. During the day, we (hike) through
woods and along mountain streams. Often we (see) deer.
On one occasion we saw a bear and quickly ran in the opposite direction.

9. When I was a child, I (take) a flashlight to bed with me so

that I could read comic books without my parents' knowing about it.

196 CHAPTER 10
 10. I remember Mrs. Sawyer's fifth grade class well. When we arrived each morning, she
(sit) at her desk. She (smile, always) _
_________ hello to each student as he or she entered. When the bell rang,
she (stand) up and (clear) her
throat. That was our signal to be quiet. Class was abo'ut to begin.

10-8 EXPRESSING PREFERENCE: WOULD RATHER

(a) I would rather go to a movie tonight than study
grammar.
(b) I'd rather study history than (study) biology.
Would rather expresses preference.
In (a): Notice that the simple form of a verb follows
both would rather and than.
In (b): If the verb is the same, it usually is not
repeated after than.

-How much do you weigh? Contraction: I would = I'd

(c) I'd rather not tell you. Negative form: would rather + not

(d) The movie was okay, but I would rather have The past form: would rather have + past participle
gone to the concert last night. Usual pronunciation: "I'd rather-av"

(e) I'd rather be lying on a beach in India than (be) Progressive form: would rather + be + -ing
sitting in class right now.

o EXERCISE 25. Expressing preference: WOULD RATHER. (Chart 10-8)

Directions: Use would rather to complete the sentences.

1. A: Do you want to go to the concert tonight?

B: Not really. I ....
2. A: Did you go to the concert last night?
B: Yes, but I ....
3. A: What are you doing right now?
B: I'm studying grammar, but I ....
4. A: Do you want to come with us to the museum tomorrow?
B: Thanks, but I ....
5. A: I ... than .
B: Not me. I than ....

o EXERCISE 26. Expressing preference: WOULD RATHER. (Chart 10-8)

Directions: Answer in complete sentences.

1. You are in (name ofplace) right now. Where would you rather be?
2. What would you rather do than go to class?
3. What did you do last night? What would you have rather done?*
4. What are you doing right now? What would you rather be doing?

"Also possible: What would you rather have done?

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