TASK TWO

Modals of Ability

Put in ‘can’, ‘can’t’, ‘could’ or ‘couldn’t’. If none of these is possible use

1) …………. you swim when you were 10?

2) We …………. get to the meeting on time yesterday, because the train was
delayed by one hour.

3) He …………. arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he
was very pleased.

4) He’s amazing, he …………. speak five languages, including Chinese.

5) I …………. drive a car until I was 34. Then I moved to the countryside, so I had
to learn.

6) I looked everywhere for my glasses but I …………. find them anywhere.

7) I searched for your house for ages. Luckily, I …………. find it in the end.

8) She’s seven years old, but she …………. read yet. Her parents are getting her
extra lessons.

9) I read the book three times, but I …………. understand it.

10) James …………. speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he’s forgotten
most of it now.
11) I …………. understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was so
difficult.

12) I …………. lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you help me?

13) Lucy …………. make it to our meeting after all. She’s stuck in traffic.

14) John …………. play tennis really well. He’s champion of his club.

15) Unfortunately, I really …………. sing at all. No-one in my family is musical

16) When the car broke down I was really pleased because I …………. solve the
problem.

17) Julian …………. play excellent golf when he was only ten.

18) My grandmother …………. use a computer until last month. Since then

19) I …………. open this window! I think it’s stuck.

20) Gill …………. play the piano. She has never studied it.

Modals of Obligation

Put in ‘mustn’t’ or ‘don’t / doesn’t have to’.

1) We have a lot of work tomorrow. You …………. be late.

3) The museum is free. You …………. pay to get in.

4) Children …………. tell lies. It’s very naughty.

5) John’s a millionaire. He …………. go to work.

6) I …………. do my washing because my mother does it for me.

7) We …………. rush. We’ve got plenty of time.

8) You …………. smoke inside the school.

9) You can borrow my new dress, but you …………. get it dirty.

10) We …………. miss the train, because it’s the last one tonight.]

11) She …………. do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.

12) I …………. clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.

13) We …………. forget to lock all the doors before we leave.

14) We …………. stay in a hotel in London; we can stay with my brother.

15) I …………. spend too much money today, as I’ve only got a little left.
16) They …………. get up early today, because it’s Sunday.

17) I …………. eat too much cake or I’ll get fat!.]

18) We …………. be late for the exam.

19) You …………. tidy up now. I’ll do it later.

20) He …………. cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.

Modals of Probability

Put in ‘must’ or ‘can’t’.

1) Why is that man looking around like that? He …………. be lost.

2) That woman …………. be a doctor! She looks far too young.

3) John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He …………. study
enough.

4) The food is really good at that restaurant. They …………. have a great chef.

5) Who’s that at the door? It …………. be Susie – she’ll still be at work now.

6) This …………. be John’s house. This house has a red door and it’s number 24,
just like he said.
7) Julie …………. have much money or she would buy a new car. Her old one is
falling apart.

8) He …………. be at work now, can he? It’s nearly midnight.

9) What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You …………. really like gardening.

10) David …………. drink a lot of coffee. He’s finished two packets already this
week.

11) This …………. be Jamie’s coat. He’s tall and this is tiny.

12) Her life …………. be easy. She has four children and very little money.

13) Where’s Lucy? She …………. be at the library, as she often goes there at this
time.

14) This bill …………. be right! £50 for two cups of coffee!.

15) Emma’s amazingly good at the piano. She …………. practice a lot.

16) The car in front is driving so slowly that I think they …………. be looking for
something.

17) You’ve already eaten enough for three people! You …………. still be hungry!.

18) This book …………. belong to the library. It’s certainly not mine.
19) It only takes three hours to fly from London to Sydney? That …………. be
correct!.

20) There …………. be something wrong with the fridge! It’s making a very
unusual noise.

Modals of Probability

Put in ‘must + infinitive’ or ‘must + have + past participle’.

1) Keiko always does really well on exams. She ………….  a lot.

2) That woman drives a very expensive car. She ………….  a lot of money.

3) You …………. a lot before you gave your speech. It was really good.]

4) When Lizzie got home yesterday there were flowers on the table. Her
husban’…………………….them.

5) Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it ………….  in this room.

6) Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she ………….  them at her office.

7) It …………. cold outside. That man in the street is wearing a coat.

8) All my plants …………. dead! I forgot to water them before I went on holiday.

9) Susie is so late! She ………….  the train!.

11) Anna has a huge library in her house. She …………. books.

12) Oh no, I don’t have my keys! I ………….  them in the taxi.

13) When Lucy got home, she found the ice cream had melted. It ………….  too
hot in the car.

14) If you haven’t eaten all day, you ………….  hungry.

15) Jimmy and Louisa ………….  very tired. They have a new baby.]

16) It …………. a lot in the night. There are puddles everywhere.]

17) David …………. happy. His girlfriend just agreed to marry him.]

18) What an amazing kitchen you’ve got! You …………. cooking.

19) John ………….  all the biscuits! There are none left.

20) When I got up this morning, the kitchen was spotless. Lily …………. it before
she went to bed last night.