Question

Ranjit: ______ you please tell me whose bag is that?
 a. must
b. will
c. would
d. could

Answer 1

Hint: The student should go through the options carefully after reading the sentence to understand what possibility/ability/compulsion the sentence implies. This will help the student in finding the right answer for the given question.

Complete answer:
A modal auxiliary is an auxiliary verb (such as `can' or `will') that is used to express modality. Modality refers to a classification of propositions on the basis of whether they claim necessity or possibility or impossibility.
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question -
Option (a.), 'must', refers to ‘(modal auxiliary, defective) to do as a requirement; indicates that the sentence subject is required as an imperative or directive to execute the sentence predicate, with failure to do so resulting in a negative consequence’.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as the sentence does not indicate a requirement but a polite request.
Option (b.), ‘will', refers to ‘future tense’. Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as the sentence provided is set in the present tense.
Option (c.), ‘would', refers to a modal used to make polite requests, which expects a definite action or affirmation in response. Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as the given sentence uses ‘please’ which indicates that the sentence is a polite request, but the given request does not require an affirmation or a definite action.
Option (d.), ‘could', refers to a modal used to make polite requests, which indicates possibility and ability. Therefore, option (d.) is correct as the given sentence uses ‘please’ which indicates that the sentence is a polite request which does not require a definite action or affirmation.

Note:
 In this question, it will be helpful for the student to recall the concept of a verb (as all modals are verbs). A verb is a content word that denotes an action, occurrence, or state of existence. A verb is the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence.