The modal verb Could – Interrogative form

You will study the modal verb Could in the Interrogative form!

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The modal verb Could – Interrogative form

Elizabethan Era

Instructions: Read about the Elizabethan era. Look at the words in bold.

Imagen: Queen Elizabeth I, National Portrait Gallery, London, Source: Wikimedia.

Could you explain the Elizabethan era?

During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and then James I (1603-25), a London-centred culture that was both courtly and popular, produced great poetry and drama. The English playwrights were intrigued by Italian model: a conspicuous community of Italian actors had settled in London. The linguist and lexicographer John Florio (1553-1625), whose father was Italian, was a royal language tutor at the Court of James I, and a possible friend and influence on William Shakespeare had brought much of the Italian language and culture to England. He was also the translator of Montaigne into English. The earliest Elizabethan plays include Gorboduc (1561, by Sackville and Norton, and Thomas Kyd’s (1558-94) revenge tragedy the Spanish Tragedy (1592). Highly popular and influential in its time, The Spanish Tragedy established a new genre in English literature theatre, the revenge play or revenge tragedy. Jane Lumley (1537-1578) was the first person to translate Euripides into English. Her translation of Iphigeneia at Aulis is the first known dramatic work by a woman in English.

British Literature. Retrieved and adapted January 2017 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_literature

Getting started: William Shakespeare

Instructions: Read the following information.

William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) stands out in the Elizabethan period as a poet and playwright as yet unsurpassed. Shakespeare wrote plays in a variety of genres, including histories, tragedies, comedies and the late romances, or tragicomedies. Works written in the Elizabethan era include the comedy Twelfth Night, tragedy Hamlet, and history Henry IV.

British Literature. Retrieved and adapted January 2017 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_literature

A poet and playwright

Instructions: Choose T (true) or F (false) for the following statements:

StatementTF
Could William Shakespeare write his works in the XVIII century?

Could Shakespeare stand out in the Elizabethan period as a misunderstood poet and playwright?

Could Shakespeare write plays in just one genre?

Let’s find out about the modal verb Could in the Interrogative form

Instructions: Look at the following information about the modal verb Could in the Interrogative form.

We use the modal verb Could to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests.

Examples:

  • Possibility: The river could flood the city because of the rain.
  • Past ability: David could run very fast when he was young.
  • Suggestion: You could see a movie or go out to dinner.

 

Look at the word order in the interrogative form:

Auxiliary CouldSubjectVerb (Simple form)Complement?Short Answers
Couldyoutravelto London?Yes, I could. / No, I couldn’t.
CouldSusyworkmore to travel?Yes, she could. / No, she couldn’t.
Couldthe girlsstudyin a different school?Yes, they could. / No, they couldn’t.

 

Quiz

What’s the order?

Instructions: Make questions with the following words:

help meCould youwith my literaturehomework
?
repeatyouCouldthat,please
?
hebookCouldtheread
?
to ourCouldclassthey come
?
bringthe teacherCouldthe books
?

Quiz

Poetry

Instructions: Make questions with the following prompts:

  1. English poetry / be characterised by elaboration of language? ?
  2. it / have an extensive allusion to classical myths? ?
  3. it / depict fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dinasty? ?
  4. it / also refer to queen Elizabeth I? ?
  5. poems/ intend to be set to music as songs? ?
done Check

Evaluation

Elizabethan period

Instructions: Match questions to answers.

Yes, they could.Yes, he could.No, it couldn’t.Yes, it could.No, I couldn’t.

1. Could the reign of Elizabeth I be called the Elizabethan period? ______________.

2. Could you imagine a London-centred culture that was both courtly and popular? ______________.

3. Could simple poetry and drama be produced during the Elizabethan period? ______________.

4. Could the English playwrights be intrigued by Italian model? ______________.

5. Could John Florio influence William Shakespeare? ______________.

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