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1. Fill in: can, could or be able to in the correct tense.
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1. Fill in: can, could or be able to in the correct tense.
John: 1)………. you ski?
Dave: Yes, I 2) …….. I went skiing last year and I 3) ……… go down the learner's slope easily.
John: I4)............. ski when I was younger but since I hurt my leg I 5)............. (not).
Dave: Actually, I think ice-skating is much easier. I 6) …… ice-skate when I was five years old.
John: Really? I tried ice-skating once but I 7) ……….. (not) stand up at all!
2. Fill in: can / can't, could / couldn't, was / wasn't able to or have been able to.
| 1. A: I'd like to speak to Mr Turner, please. B: I'm sorry but Mr Turner........ come to the phone right now. He's busy. 2. A: I.................. ride a bicycle until I was ten. B: Well, I didn't learn until I was twelve. violin when he was seven. 6. A: ……... you swim, Sophie? B: Of course. I............... swim since I was five. | 3. A: How was the test, Lily? B: It was difficult but I....... answer all the questions. 4. A: Is Kim good at languages? B: Yes, she.................... already speak French, German and Spanish. 5. A: Maksim was a very talented child. B: I know. He.................. play the |
| We express possibility / probability with (in the order of growing degree of the modality): • may / might + present infinitive He may be back before noon. (It's possible. ) There might be some cheese in the fridge. (It's possible. ) • could + present infinitive He could still be at home. (It's possible. ) • must + present infinitive They look alike. They must be twins. (I think they are twins. ) • can't + present infinitive You have been sleeping all day. You can't be tired. (I don't think it's possible that you are tired. ) • Can... ? + present infinitive Can he still be at work? (Is it possible? ) • could / might + perfect infinitive We could have had an accident. (It was possible but it didn't happen. ) Though might is the past form of may, might can be used for lower degree of probability in present situations, too. There's a lot of traffic. I might be a little late for the meeting.
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3. Use must, might, may, could or can't plus the correct form of the verb.
1. Where is David? He ………. (be) at school. Classes begin at 8 and he's never late.
2. She ………. (think) that it is a good idea. It's crazy!
3. I'm absolutely sure! They ………. (arrive) yesterday. Tom showed me his train ticket.
4. Courses ………. (begin) the fifth of September, but I'm not really sure.
5. Are you joking! David ……… (go) to Paris last week. He doesn't have enough money to go to Europe.
6. They …. (live) in New York, or he ………. (be) in San Francisco. I know he likes big cities.
7. The concert …. (be) wonderful last night. John is a fantastic singer. You ………. (have) fun.
8. Students ………. (get) sick and tired of grammar. I know it's kind of boring.
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9. Alice ………. (be) looking for a job because she finished college last year.
10. Janice …. (want) to get in touch with you. She's always asking about you when we talk.
| We express permission with: (asking for permission) can (informal) Can I borrow your pen? could (more polite) Could I borrow your car? may (formal) May I use your phone? might (more formal) Might I see your driving license, please? | (giving / refusing permission) can (informal, giving permission) You can have one more if you want. may (formal, giving permission) You may stay a little longer. mustn't (refusing permission) You mustn't park here. can't (refusing permission) You can't enter this room. |
4. Fill in: can, may, could, mustn't or can't.
Ramon: Mum, 1) ……. I go to the library?
Mother: Of course you 2) ……….. , Ramon, but you 3)................ stay very long.
Ramon: 4).................. I stay until 8 o'clock?
Mother: No, you 5).................. because we're leaving for the cinema at 8: 30.
(At the library)
Ramon: 6).................. I look at the latest issue of Musician magazine, please?
Librarian: Yes, you 7)............ but remember that you 8)........... take it out of the library.
| We make requests, offers or suggestions with: can (request) Can you help me tidy my room? could / would (polite request) Could / Would you help me with my homework? could (suggestion) Could we go shopping today? would you like (polite offer) Would you like some more lemonade? Shall I / we (suggestion/offer) Shall I post this letter for you? (offer) Shall we buy him a present? (suggestion) will (offer/request) I'll make you some coffee if you want. (friendly offer) Will you do me a favour? (friendly request) |
5. Fill in: can, could, would, shall or will.
John: 1)...... you like some more juice, Jane?
Jane: No, thank you. 2)........................ we get the bill?
John: OK. Waiter - excuse me, 3).................. you bring us the bill, please?
Waiter: Here you are sir. 4)........................ I take these plates away?
John: Yes, please. 5) ……........ I have a pen to sign this cheque, please?
Jane: 6)........................ you give me my glasses?
Waiter: 7)........................ you like me to get a taxi for you, sir?
John: Yes. Thank you.
Waiter: And I 8)........................ bring your coats for you in just a minute.
6. Fill in: will, shall or won't.
Mum: 1) …..... you be late home tonight, Berta?
Berta: Yes, I2)............. . I'm going to a party. But I 3)............. be too late. I have
classes tomorrow.
Mum: 4)......... I keep some dinner for you?
Berta: No thanks, Mum. There 5)........... be lots to eat at the party.
Mum: 6)............. I pick you up after the party?
Berta: No, there's no need. I 7)............. come home with Niki and her parents.
Mum: Well, I 8)............. wait up for you.
Berta: No, Mum. Please don't. Oh no! Look at the time! What 9)............. I wear?
| We express advice with: should / ought toYou should walk more. (general advice; I advise you. ) had betterYou'd better see your dentist. (advice for a specific situation; it is a good idea. ) We express criticism with: should / ought to + perfect infinitive = It would have been better if you had... You ought to have been more polite to him. (It was the right thing to do but you didn't do it. ) |
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