Assignment -2 (Semhal Redihun)

Activity 2.3.4: Find and analyze at least four modal verbs from the passage. Explain their
function in expressing possibility, necessity, or obligation. Then, replace each modal verb
with an alternative that slightly changes the meaning.
1. Original:
"I should save some of my allowance for emergencies."
 Function: Expresses obligation or strong advice.
 Alternative:
"I ought to save some of my allowance for emergencies."
→ This replacement keeps the obligation but adds a slightly more formal or old-
fashioned tone.
2. Original:
"I must talk to my parents before making a decision."
 Function: Expresses strong necessity or obligation.
 Alternative:
"I need to talk to my parents before making a decision."
→ “Need to” softens the modal slightly, making it sound less forceful, more of a
practical requirement.

3. Original:
"I can ask my brother for advice."
 Function: Expresses ability or possibility.
 Alternative:
"I may ask my brother for advice."
→ “May” shifts the meaning from ability to permission or a weaker possibility.

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 4. Original:
"I might use the money for something more important later."
 Function: Expresses weak possibility.
 Alternative:
"I could use the money for something more important later."
→ “Could” indicates a possibility, slightly stronger or more open than “might.”

Activity 2.3.5: Convert the following sentences into different types of conditional sentences
(zero, first, second, and third conditionals).
1. Original: “If the tables were turned, what would your father do?”
 First conditional: “If the tables are turned, what will your father do?”
 Second conditional: (Rewrite it using an unreal or hypothetical condition)
 Third conditional: (Rewrite it as a past hypothetical)
2. Original: “If Maria spends her money on the concert, she won’t be able to buy the drill
set.”
 Rewrite this using unless instead of "if."

✔Unless Maria saves her money, she won’t be able to buy the drill set.

(or)

✔Maria won’t be able to buy the drill set unless she saves her money.

 Rewrite using in case instead of it.

✔Maria should avoid spending her money on the concert in case she wants to buy the

drill set.
(or)

✔Maria should save her money in case she decides to buy the drill set.

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Activity 2.3.6: Identify and categorize the linking words in the passage under these types:
 Addition (e.g., moreover, furthermore)
 Contrast (e.g., however, on the other hand)
 Cause and effect (e.g., therefore, as a result)
 Time sequence (e.g., then, after that)

Addition: Additionally, also

Contrast: yet

Cause and effect: therefore, as a result, so

Time sequence: finally, in conclusion

Then, rewrite two sentences from the passage, replacing the linking words with synonyms
that maintain the meaning.
1, Original:
Additionally, maintaining capital punishment ensures that justice is served for victims of serious
crimes and their families.
✔ Rewritten:
Moreover, maintaining capital punishment ensures that justice is served for victims of serious
crimes and their families.
2, Original:
In conclusion, the death penalty should be maintained as an appropriate punishment for certain
crimes...
✔ Rewritten:
To sum up, the death penalty should be maintained as an appropriate punishment for certain
crimes...

Activity 2.3.8: Identifying Modal Verbs and Their Functions

Find and analyze the remaining modal verbs in the passage and explain their function

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✔ "... should be maintained as a viable option..." → Expresses strong recommendation /
obligation
✔ "... can be argued that executing criminals is a more affordable option..." → Expresses
possibility or opinion
✔ "... can be no greater sense of closure..." → Expresses certainty (strong assertion)
✔ "... should be maintained as an appropriate punishment..." → Expresses strong
recommendation

Activity 2.3.9: Passive vs. Active Voice Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences in either active or passive voice, as required.
1. "The death penalty serves as a deterrent for those who are considering committing
similar crimes." (Active)
➡ Passive:
The death penalty is served as a deterrent for those who are considering committing
similar crimes.

2. "Keeping inmates in jail requires costly resources." (Active)

➡ Passive:
Costly resources are required to keep inmates in jail.

3. "Justice is served for victims of serious crimes and their families through capital
punishment."(Passive)

➡ Active:
Capital punishment serves justice for victims of serious crimes and their families.

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Activity 2.3.11: Transition Words and Cohesion
Identify the transition words in the text and categorize them as showing cause-effect,
contrast, addition, or conclusion. Then, suggest alternative transition words that could be
used in the same sentences.

Identified transition words and their categories:

 Cause-effect: therefore, as a result

 Contrast: yet
 Addition: additionally, also
 Conclusion: finally, in conclusion

Suggested alternatives:

 Original: Finally, capital punishment is arguably more cost-effective than life

imprisonment.
✔Category: Conclusion
✔Alternative: In summary, capital punishment may be more cost-effective than life
imprisonment.
 Original: Additionally, maintaining capital punishment ensures that justice is served for
victims...
✔Category: Addition
✔Alternative: Moreover, maintaining capital punishment ensures that justice is served
for victims...
 Original: As a result, it can be argued that executing criminals is a more affordable
option in the long term.
✔Category: Cause-effect
✔Alternative: Consequently, it can be argued that executing criminals is a more
affordable option in the long term.
 Original: Yet, it is a controversial component of any criminal justice system.
✔Category: Contrast
✔Alternative: However, it is a controversial component of any criminal justice system.

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Activity 2.3.18: Simple Reporting
Report the following statements from the text using a variety of reporting verbs (e.g., said,
stated, claimed, added, commented, reported, and boasted). Pay close attention to tense
changes and pronoun shifts.
1. Farr's team manager: "It was no surprise, either. With Ed out of the race, Crowe knew
he had won the championship."
The team manager claimed that it was no surprise and added that with Ed out of the
race, Crowe knew he had won the championship.

2. Ray Crowe to reporters: "I hope you are not all going to blame this on me."

Crowe told reporters that he hoped they were not all going to blame the incident on
him.

3. Ray Crowe: "It was all Ed’s fault. He could have killed us both."

Crowe said that it was all Ed’s fault and that Ed could have killed them both.

4. Ed Farr: "There was plenty of room to get past if Crowe had held his line."

Farr stated that there had been plenty of room to get past if Crowe had held his line.

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Activity 2.3.19: Reporting with Time and Place Shifts
Imagine you are reporting these events to someone a week later and in a different location.
Report the following statements, making all necessary changes, including time and place
references. Use a mix of reporting verbs.
1. Ed Farr: "There was plenty of room to get past if Crowe had held his line." * (Imagine
you are reporting this from your house now)
✔ I told my friend that Farr had said there had been plenty of room to get past if Crowe
had held his line.
2. Ray Crowe to reporters, "I just held my line, and that is completely within the rules." *
(Imagine you are reporting this in a pub with friends)

✔ I said to my friends that Crowe had told reporters that he had just held his line and
that that had been completely within the rules.

3. Waleed Akram: "Everyone was expecting something like this to happen." *(Imagine you
are reporting this to your partner over dinner)

✔ I told my partner that Akram had commented that everyone had been expecting
something like that to happen.

4. Farr's Team Manager: "It was no surprise, either. With Ed out of the race, Crowe knew
he had won the championship. Of course, he meant to do it." * (Imagine you are
reporting this to your parents at a family gathering)

✔I told my parents that Farr’s team manager had claimed that it had been no surprise

and that with Ed out of the race, Crowe had known he had won the championship and
that of course, he had meant to do it.

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Activity 2.3.20: Reporting Questions and Indirect Speech
Transform the following direct questions into reported questions. Pay attention to word
order and any changes needed in pronouns and tenses.
1. Reporters to Crowe: "Are you all going to blame this on me?"
The reporters asked Crowe whether they were all going to blame the incident on him.

2. Someone to Waleed Akram: "Did you see Crowe swerve?"

Someone asked Waleed Akram if he had seen Crowe swerve.

3. An official to the race team: "Was it an intentional crash?"

An official asked the race team whether it had been an intentional crash.

4. Someone to Ed Farr, "Will you be filing a complaint?"

Someone asked Ed Farr whether he would be filing a complaint.

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