Modal remoteness and pragmatic nuance
Objective: Express advice, criticism and requests with an appropriate degree of interpersonal distance.
Explanation
Past-looking modal forms can soften statements without necessarily referring to past time.
Examples
- You might want to reconsider the conclusion.
- I would have thought that more evidence was necessary.
Practice
Choose the correct answer.
Choose the most diplomatic advice.
Practice
Choose the correct answer.
I ___ the figures should be checked before publication.
Practice
Choose the correct answer.
___ send me the revised version by noon?