Subject: Professional Communication

Notes: UNIT I

Topics : Grammar for Spoken English - Tense, Active and Passive Voice, Negative,
Interrogative and Negative-interrogative sentences, use of modal auxiliary verbs,
reinforcement exercises ​[7 Hours]

TENSE (ACTIVE VOICE)

In Grammar, we use ‘Tenses’ to define the time of occurrence of the action. Tenses tell us when
something happens, the time of an action (verb). Verb comes in three tenses :

Present Tense: The present tense is used to describe things that are happening right now or things that are
continuous.
For example: He is eating Pasta. (Presently he is doing this act of eating)

Past Tense: The past is used to describe things that have already happened (e.g., earlier in the day, yesterday,
last week, ten years ago).
For example: He ate Pasta (He has already done the action of eating).

Future Tense: The actions which we are going to do/will do/planning to do are termed as ‘Future tense’.
For example: He will eat Pasta (He is going to do the action of eating)

There are total 12 types of tenses, which are described as follows:

Present Tense
Simple Present Tense:

Structure: Subject + Base Verb

3rd person singular takes ‘s/es’ with the verb.

Simple present tense is used when:

- an action happens every day/every time/every week/every month/every year

- To indicate universal truth
- To talk about fixed actions
- To give commands and directions

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 Simple Present Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S+ do/does + not + V1 Do/does + S+ V1 + O Do/does + S + not + V1
Structure S + V1 + s/es + O +O +? +O+?

Example The cow gives The cow does not give Does cow give milk? Does cow not give milk?
milk. milk

Present Continuous Tense:

Structure: S+ is/am/are + Present participle+ O

Present continuous tense is used when:

●​ - An action that is happening while we speak

●​ - When an action or plan is fixed
●​ - Any action in continuation not necessarily while we speak
●​ - With “always, forever and constantly”

Present Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Is/am/are + S + V +
Is/am/are + Subject + V
S + is/am/are + not + ing + O + ?
S + is/am/are + V + + ing + O + ?
Structure V + ing + O
ing + O.

Example The cow is giving The cow is not giving Is cow giving milk? Is cow not giving milk?
milk. milk.
Present Perfect Tense:

Structure: S + have/has + past participle +O

●​ - To indicate completed activities in the past.

●​ - To express past action without a definite time reference.
●​ - To express past action when we think more of their effects in the present than of the action itself.
●​ - To denote an action beginning at some point in the past and continuing up to the present
moment (often with since and for phrases)

Present Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S +has/have + V3 + Has/Have + S +V3 + O Has/Have + S+ not +V3 +
S + has/have + not + V3
Structure O +? O+?
+O

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 Example The cow has given The cow has not given Has cow given milk? Has cow not given milk?
milk milk

Present Perfect Continuous Tense :

Structure: S + have/has + been +past participle +O

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for a situation that has occurred in the past and is still continuing

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Past S +has/have +
S + has/have + not +
Has/Have + S + been + Has/Have + S + not +
Structure been+ V + ing + O V + ing+ O + ? been + V + ing+ O + ?
been+ V + ing + O
Example The cow has been The cow has not been Has cow been giving Has cow not been giving
giving milk giving milk milk? milk?

Tense

Simple Past Tense :

Structure: S+ V2 +O

●​ To describe an action of the past, we use Simple past tense. In this tense, the regular verb ends with an
'-ed'. Also, some verbs end differently, for example for 'eat', we use 'Ate' in the simple past tense
(irregular verbs). It is also used for indicating past habits.

Past Simple Past Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Did + S + not + V1 + O
S+ did + not + V1 + O Did + S+ V1 + O +?
Structure S + V2 + O +?

Example The cow gave The cow did not give Did cow give milk? Did cow not give milk?
milk. milk

Continuous Tense :

Structure: S + was/were +V4 +O

Past Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Was/were + S + V +
Was + Subject + V +
S + was/were + not + V ing + O + ?
S + was/were + V ing + O + ?
Structure + ing + O
+ ing + O.

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 Example The cow was The cow was not Was cow giving milk? Was cow not giving milk?
giving milk. giving milk.
Past
Perfect Tense :

Structure: S + had +past participle +O

Past Perfect Tense

Past Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S +had + V3 + O Had + S +V3 + O + ? Had + S+ not +V3 + O + ?
Structure S + had + not + V3 + O

Example The cow had given The cow had not given Had cow given milk? Had cow not given milk?
milk milk
Perfect Continuous Tense :

Structure: S +had been + present participle + O

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + had + been+ V + Had + S + been + V + Had + S + not + been + V
S + had + not + been+ V
Structure ing + O ing+ O + ? + ing+ O + ?
+ ing + O
Example The cow had been The cow had not been Had cow been giving Had cow not been giving
giving milk giving milk milk? milk?

Future Tense
Simple Future Tense :
Structure: S + will/shall + Base verb +O

Simple Future Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall +V S + will/shall + not + V Will/shall + S +V Will/shall + S + not +V
Structure
(root) + O (root) + O (root) + O (root) + O
Example The cow will give The cow will not give Will cow give milk? Will cow not give milk?
milk. milk

Future Continous Tense:

S + will/shall + Present participle +O

Future Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall + be S + will/shall + not + Will/shall + S + be+ Will/shall + S + not +
Structure
+V + ing + O be + V + ing + O V + ing + O be+ V + ing+ O
Example The cow will be The cow will not be Will cow be giving Will cow not be giving
giving milk. giving milk milk? milk?

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 Future Perfect Tense:

Structure: S + will/shall +have + past participle +O

Future Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall + S + will/shall + not + Will/shall + S + have Will/shall + S + not +
Structure
have +V3 + O have +V3 + O +V3 + O have +V3 + O
Example The cow will have The cow will not have Will cow have given Will cow not have given
given milk. given milk milk? milk?

Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure: S + will/shall +have been +Present participle +O

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

S + will/shall + S + will/shall + not Will/shall + S + not +

Will/shall + S + have
Structure have + been + V + +have + been + V + ing have + been + V + ing +
+ been + V + ing + O
ing + O +O O

Example The cow will have The cow will not have Will cow have been Will cow not have been
been giving milk. been giving milk giving milk? giving milk?

TENSE (PASSIVE VOICE)

●​ What is Passive Voice?

●​
●​ When the subject of the sentence receives the action expressed by the verb or is acted
●​ upon then it is Passive Voice.
●​ For Example: “The apple was eaten by Nisha.”
●​ Here, ” The apple” is the subject receiving the action “was eaten”.
●​
“Active voice defines that the subject is doing the action and the passive voice refers to that
the subject is being acted upon.”

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 Present Tense

Simple Present Tense

Affirmative Present Continuous Tense
Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S +Affirmative
is/am/are + V3 Negative
S + is/am/are + not + Interrogative
Is/am/are + S + V3 + Negative
Is/am/areInterrogative
+ S + not +
Structure S ++is/am/are
by + O + V3 + by ++Onot +
S + is/am/are by + O? + S + being
Is/am/are V3 + by++SO+ ?not
Is/am/are
Structure
Example being
The milkV3
+ is + by +
given Is+milk given
The milk
being + V3is not
+ bygiven
+ O. V3 + by +byO?
the Is milk +
+being notV3
given
+ byby+the
O?
O.cow
by the cow? cow?
by the cow
Example The milk is being The milk is not being Is milk being given by Is milk not being given by
given by the cow given by the cow the cow? the cow?

Present Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S +has/have + been S +has/have + not + been
+ V3 + by + O
Has/have + S + been Has/have + S + not +
Structure + V3 + by + O
+ V3 + by + O? been + V3 + by + O?
Past
Example The milk has been The milk has not been Has milk been given by Has milk not been given
given by the cow given by the cow the cow? by the cow?

Tense

Simple Past Tense

Affirmative Past Continuous Tense
Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Affirmative
S + was/were + V3 S + was/were + not + Was/were + S + V3 + Negative
Negative Interrogative Was/wereInterrogative
+ S + not +
Structure S ++was/were +
by + O S + V3 + by ++O not + by
was/were + O? + S + being
Was/were V3 + by ++ SO+?not
Was/were
Structure
Example being + V3 + by +
The milk was given The milk
being + was
V3 +not + O. Was+milk
bygiven V3 +given
by +by
O?the Was milk+not
+being V3given
+ byby
+ the
O?
O.cow
by the cow? cow?
by the cow
Example The milk was being The milk was not Was milk being given Was milk not being given
given by the cow being given by the cow by the cow? by the cow?

Past Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + had + been + V3 S + had + not + been +
V3 + by + O
Had + S + been + V3 Had + S + not + been +
Structure + by + O
+ by + O? V3 + by + O?
Example The milk had been The milk had not been Had milk been given by Had milk not been given
given by the cow given by the cow the cow? by the cow?

Future Tense

Simple Future Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall + be S + will/shall + not+ be Will/shall + S + be + Will/shall + S + not + be
Structure
+ V3 + by + O + V3 + by + O V3 + by + O + V3 + by + O
Example The milk will be The milk will not be Will milk be given by Will milk not be given by
given by the cow given by the cow the cow? the cow?

Future Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

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 S + will/shall + S + will/shall + not + Will/shall+ S + have Will/shall+ S + not +
Structure have + been +V3 + have + been +V3 + by + been + V3 + by + have + been + V3 + by
by + O +O O? + O?
Example The milk will have The milk will not have Will milk have been Will milk not have been
been given by the been given by the cow. given by the cow? given by the cow?
cow.
Tenses with Active and Passive Voice at a Glance

Simple Present Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S+ do/does + not + V1 + Do/does + S+ V1 + O Do/does + S + not + V1 +
S + V1 + s/es + O O +? O+?
Active
Voice
The cow gives milk. The cow does not give Does cow give milk? Does cow not give milk?
milk

S + is/am/are + V3 + S + is/am/are + not + V3 Is/am/are + S + V3 + Is/am/are + S + not + V3

by + O + by + O by + O? + by + O ?
Passive
Voice The milk is given by The milk is not given by Is milk given by the Is milk not given by the
the cow the cow cow? cow?

Present Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Is/am/are + S + V +
Is/am/are + Subject + V +
S + is/am/are + not + V + ing + O + ?
S + is/am/are + V + ing + O + ?
ing + O
Active ing + O.
Voice
The cow is giving The cow is not giving Is cow giving milk? Is cow not giving milk?
milk. milk.
S + is/am/are + being S + is/am/are + not + Is/am/are + S + being Is/am/are + S + not
+ V3 + by + O. being + V3 + by + O. + V3 + by + O? +being + V3 + by + O?
Passive The milk is being The milk is not being Is milk being given by Is milk not being given by
Voice given by the cow given by the cow the cow? the cow?
Present Perfect Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Has/Have + S +V3 + O Has/Have + S+ not +V3 +
S +has/have + V3 + O S + has/have + not + V3 +
+? O+?
Active O
Voice
The cow has given The cow has not given Has cow given milk? Has cow not given milk?
milk milk
S +has/have + been + S +has/have + not + been Has/Have + S + been Has/Have + S + not + been
V3 + by + O + V3 + by + O +V3 + by + O + ? +V3 + by + O + ?
Passive
Voice The milk has been The milk has not been Has the milk been Has the milk not been
given by the cow given by the cow given by the cow? given by the cow?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

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 S +has/have + been+ V Has/Have + S + been + Has/Have + S + not + been
S + has/have + not +
+ ing + O V + ing+ O + ? + V + ing+ O + ?
Active been+ V + ing + O
Voice
The cow has been The cow has not been Has cow been giving Has cow not been giving
giving milk giving milk milk? milk?
Passive
Voice No Passive No Passive No Passive No Passive

Simple Past Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Did + S + not + V1 + O +
S+ did + not + V1 + O Did + S+ V1 + O +?
S + V2 + O ?
Active
Voice
The cow gave milk. The cow did not give milk Did cow give milk? Did cow not give milk?
S + was/were + V3 + S + was/were + not + V3 Was/were + S + V3 + Was/were + S + not + V3
by + O + by + O by + O? + by + O ?
Passive The milk was given by The milk was not given Was milk given by the Was milk not given by the
Voice the cow by the cow cow? cow?
Past Continuous Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
was/were + S + V +
Was + Subject + V + ing
S + was/were + not + V + ing + O + ?
S + was/were + V + +O+?
ing + O
Active ing + O.
Voice
The cow was giving The cow was not giving Was cow giving milk? Was cow not giving milk?
milk. milk.
S + was/were + being S + was/were + not + Was/were + S + being Was/were + S + not
+ V3 + by + O. being + V3 + by + O. + V3 + by + O? +being + V3 + by + O?
Passive The milk was being The milk was not being Was milk being given Was milk not being given
Voice given by the cow given by the cow by the cow? by the cow?
Past Perfect Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S +had + V3 + O Had + S +V3 + O + ? Had + S+ not +V3 + O + ?
S + had + not + V3 + O
Active
Voice
The cow had given The cow had not given Had cow given milk? Had cow not given milk?
milk milk
S +had + been + V3 + S +had + not + been + V3
Had + S + been + V3 Had + S + not + been +
by + O + by + O
+ by + O? V3 + by + O?
Passive
Voice The milk had been The milk had not been Had the milk been Had the milk not been
given by the cow given by the cow given by the cow? given by the cow?
Past Perfect ContinuousTense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

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 S + had + been+ V + Had + S + been + V + Had + S + not + been + V
S + had + not + been+ V +
ing + O ing+ O + ? + ing+ O + ?
Active ing + O
Voice
The cow had been The cow had not been Had cow been giving Had cow not been giving
giving milk giving milk milk? milk?
Passive
Voice No Passive No Passive No Passive No Passive

Simple Future Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall +V S + will/shall + not + V Will/shall + S +V Will/shall + S + not +V
Active (root) + O (root) + O (root) + O (root) + O
Voice The cow will give The cow will not give milk Will cow give milk? Will cow not give milk?
milk.
S + will/shall + be + S + will/shall + not+ be + Will/shall + S + be + Will/shall + S + not + be
V3 + by + O V3 + by + O V3 + by + O + V3 + by + O
Passive The milk will be given The milk will not be Will milk be given by Will milk not be given by
Voice by the cow given by the cow the cow? the cow?
Future Continuous Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall + be +V S + will/shall + not + be Will/shall + S + be+ V Will/shall + S + not + be+
Active + ing + O + V + ing + O + ing + O V + ing+ O
Voice The cow will be giving The cow will not be giving Will cow be giving Will cow not be giving
milk. milk milk? milk?
Passive
Voice No Passive No Passive No Passive No Passive

Future Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
S + will/shall + have S + will/shall + not + Will/shall + S + have Will/shall + S + not +
Active +V3 + O have +V3 + O +V3 + O have +V3 + O
Voice The cow will have The cow will not have Will cow have given Will cow not have given
given milk. given milk milk? milk?
S + will/shall + not + Will/shall+ S + have Will/shall+ S + not +
S + will/shall + have +
have + been +V3 + by + + been + V3 + by + have + been + V3 + by +
been +V3 + by + O
Passive O O? O?
Voice The milk will have The milk will not have Will milk have been Will milk not have been
been given by the cow. been given by the cow. given by the cow? given by the cow?
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Will/shall + S + not +
S + will/shall + have + S + will/shall + not +have Will/shall + S + have
Active have + been + V + ing +
been + V + ing + O + been + V + ing + O + been + V + ing + O
Voice O

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 The cow will have The cow will not have Will cow have been Will cow not have been
been giving milk. been giving milk giving milk? giving milk?
Passive
Voice No Passive No Passive No Passive No Passive

Modals and Auxiliaries

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (also known as modals and modal auxiliary) are a group of verbs that give additional
information about the function of the main verb. Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verbs. We
have nine modals in English:

1.​ Can and could

2.​ Shall and should

3.​ Will and would

4.​ May and might

5.​ Must

For Example :

He can stay and watch the procedure.

I would try a different route.

Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs (also called the helping verbs) are verbs that are paired with a main verb to create tenses
and voices. We have four auxiliary verbs in the English language:

1.​ Be (is, am, are, was, were)

2.​ Do (does, did)

3.​ Have (has, had)

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 Modal Function Example
Verb

I can lift this forty-pound box. (ability)

Can Expresses an ability or possibility We can embrace green sources of energy.

(possibility)

I could beat you at chess when we were

kids. (past ability)

Expresses an ability in the past; a present We could bake a pie. (present possibility)
Could
possibility; a past or future permission
Could we pick some flowers from the
garden? (future permission)

I may attend the concert. (uncertain future

action)

Expresses uncertain future action; You may begin the exam. (permission)
May
permission; ask a yes-no question
May I attend the concert? (yes-no
questions)

I might attend the concert (uncertain future

Might Expresses uncertain future action
action—same as may)

I shall go to the opera. (intended future

Shall Expresses intended future action
action)
I should complete the work today.
(obligation, same as ought to)
Expresses obligation; ask if an obligation
Should
exists
Should I call my mother? (asking if an
obligation exists)
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 I will get A grade in this class. (intended
future action)
Expresses intended future action; ask a
Will Will you buy me some chocolate? (favor)
favor; ask for information
Will you be finished soon? (information)

I would like the soup, please. (preference)

Would you like to have breakfast in bed?

(request a choice politely)
States a preference; request a choice
Would politely; explain an action; introduce I would go with you if I didn’t have to
habitual past actions babysit tonight. (explain an action)

He would write to me every week when we

were dating. (habitual past action)

Must Expresses obligation We must be on time for class.

All students of this institution ought
to abide by the rules and instructions
Used to denote the obligation of the subject provided.
Ought to
to perform a particular action

Modal Verb and Function

Practice Questions

Exercise 1 – Change the tense

Go through the sentences and change their tenses as directed.

1.​ The boy speaks the truth. (Present Continuous Tense)

2.​ Mr Cooper has spoken about Dinosaurs. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
3.​ The boat sailed yesterday. (Simple Present Tense)
4.​ Amy went to school yesterday. ( Future Continuous Tense)
5.​ The baby cried for hours. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
6.​ Robert ate all the cookies. (Present Perfect Tense)

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 7.​ I have finished my assignment. (Past Perfect Tense)
8.​ Mr Bert had taught for five years. (Past Perfect Continuous Tense).
9.​ Dev saw the Prime Minister yesterday. (Future Continuous Tense)
10.​Priya shall finish her stitching by then. (Future Perfect Tense)

Exercise 2 - Situation Based Questions

1.​ Narrate a short story using past continuous tense

2.​ Describe the scene of a rainy day in simple present tense
3.​ Imagine that you got an opportunity to spend two hours with your role model. List five sentences in
future tense regarding how you will spend those two hours.
4.​ Prepare a list of five questions in simple future tense which can be asked to a candidate in an interview.
5.​ Explain in your own words the scenario of a cricket match as a commentator in present tense.

Exercise 3 - Tenses Fill-ups

Use the correct Tense/ tenses exercise with answer:

1. We______ (go) to New Delhi tomorrow.

2. I usually_____(take) tea in breakfast.
3. It_____rain) heavily in July and August.
4. The tea we ______ (drink) at present is nicely prepared.
5. The school _____ (bring) some changes from next session.
6. My mother _____ (cook) in the kitchen now.
7. The political leaders _____ (make) big promises.
8. Our examination _____ (start) at 9 am.
9. Most of the people of India ______ (believe) in God.
10.Someone ______ (knock) at the door.

Exercise 4 - Voice Change

Change the below-mentioned sentences from Active Voice to Passive Voice

1.​ The puppy licked the bowl .

2.​ The insect bit the little girl .
3.​ The Boss played cricket .
4.​ Mr. Shyam teaches French .
5.​ Seema draws the sketch .
6.​ They revamped the hotel .
7.​ The student is studying the course .
8.​ Father baked the cookies on the weekend .
9.​ Have you completed your assignment ?
10.​ She has mastered the subject of design .
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Exercise 5 - Voice Change

In the below-mentioned sentences, change the passive voice of the sentences into an active voice.

1.​ The vouchers are usually given by her .

2.​ The tickets were confirmed by us .
3.​ The box was closed by her quickly .
4.​ The floors are wiped by him .
5.​ The article was edited by her .
6.​ The keychain was located by Diana .
7.​ His stamp collection was stolen by her .
8.​ The radio was switched off by them .
9.​ Coffee was ordered by him at 6 pm .
10.​ The town was vacated by the Wildlife Department .

Exercise 6 - Transformation of sentences

Change the following sentences from active voice to passive voice.

1.​ The dog chased the cat.

2.​ The dog bit the boy.
3.​ The peon rang the bell.
4.​ Ram played hockey.
5.​ Miss Mary teaches us English.
6.​ Raj caught the ball.
7.​ Children like sweets.

8.​ Rita will take a photograph.

9.​ Who taught you this poem?
10.​The police arrested the smuggler.

Exercise 7 – Modals and Auxiliaries

Fill in the blanks with the correct modals

1.​ I __ arrange the flowers for the bouquet. (may/can)

2.​ __ I borrow this pen from you? (may/might)
3.​ The teacher __ ask you to bring the homework. (might/can)
4.​ According to the weather forecast, it ___ snow heavily tomorrow. (may/shall)
5.​ Raj hasn’t studied well. He __ fail his exam. (might/shall)

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 6.​ You __ follow the traffic rules. (may/must)
7.​ It __ be difficult to live amidst war. (should/must)
8.​ My mother __ scold me if I don’t go back on time. (will/may)
9.​ We ___ take care of our parents. (ought to/ could)
10.​I __ visit the local grocery store soon. (shall/can)

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