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Mengxin2009
Member
Posts: 71
Posted   Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
I'll answer the door. It_______for me.
A. can be
B. may be
C. would be
D. ought be

I think A is wrong in that it is a specific occasion. What about B and C?

Many thanks in advance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rachel, Moderator,
Abu Hassan
Member
Posts: 542
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"may be" is the correct choice.


Mido
Rachel, Moderator
Member
Posts: 15200
Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
quote:
I'll answer the door. It_______for me.
A. can be
B. may be
C. would be
D. ought be

Yes, it may be for me is the correct choice. It indicates possibility. To mean the same thing, you could use could be or might be too. These, of course, are not choices.

But, 'would be' is not incorrect. 'Would' + the simple form of the verb is occasionally used to express presumption or expectation, as in this entry from the American Heritage*:

  • Used to express presumption or expectation: That would be Steve at the door.

    and in this entry from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged:

  • used in auxiliary function to express probability or presumption in past or present time
    _______

    If this is a test item, Mengxin, I would not include 'would' in the list of choices. It is possible to have this sentence with 'would.'
    		•
    Mengxin2009
    Member
    Posts: 71
    Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
    Thank you.
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