14.- I was a long way from the stage.
I ____ see all right
2º Bachillerato AUXILIARY VERBS:
EXERCISES
1) Auxiliaries: mixed
Fill each of the following gaps with a suitable
auxiliary or auxiliary form:
1.- Schoolboy to friend: I left my book at home. ____ I share
yours?
2.- I'm taking swimming lessons. I hope to ____ swim by
the end of the month.
3.- You ____ better take off your wet shoes.
4.- I'm sorry I'm late. I ____ to wait ages for a bus.
5.- Teacher: You ____ (obligation) read the play, but you
____ (no obligation) read the preface.
6.- I knew he was wrong but I ____ (hadn't the courage) to
tell him so.
7.- You're getting fat. You ____ to cut down on your beer
drinking.
8.- I've come without any money. ____ you possibly lend
me £5?
9.- Ann: ____ we meet at Piccadilly Circus?
10 Tom: It ____ be better to meet at the theatre. We ____
miss one another at Piccadilly.
11.- ____you like to come canoeing with me next
weekend?
12.- Mary: I ____ to pay 20p. for this little chap on the bus
yesterday.
13.- Ann: My little boy's under three so I ____ (No
obligation. Use present tense) to pay for him.
14.- You've spelt it wrong. There ____ be another 's'.
15.- You ____told me! (I'm disappointed that you didn't tell
me.)
16.- We ____ to take a taxi. Otherwise we'll be late.
17.- At the holiday camp we ____ to get up at six and
bathe in the river.
18.- Tom ____ know the address. (Tom probably knows.)
19.- Tom ____ know the address. (I'm sure that Tom
knows.)
20.- I've lost my umbrella! I ____ left it on the bus!
21.- Theatre regulations: At the end of the performance the
public ____ (are permitted to) leave by all exit doors.
22.- You ____ (negative) to be driving so fast. There's a
speed limit here.
23.- You ____ (request) get me some aspirin when you're
at the chemist's.
2) Ability: can and be able.
Fill in the following spaces, using can for present,
could for past and shall/will be able for future. There
is no need to use other able forms in this section. Put
to where necessary before the infinitives:
1.- _____ you stand on your head? - I _____ when I was at
school but I ____ now (2nd verb negative)
2.- When I've passed my driving test I _____ hire a car from
our local garage.
3.- At the end of the month the Post Office will send him
an enormous telephone bill which he ____ pay. (negative)
4.- I ____ remember the address.
5.- When the fog lifts we ____ see where we are.
6.- You've put too much in your rucksack; you never _____
carry all that.
7.- When I was a child I ____ understand adults, and now
that I am an adult I ____ understand children. (negative,
negative)
8.- When you have taken your degrees you ____ put letters
after your name?
9.- Don't try to look at all the pictures in the gallery.
Otherwise when you get home you ____ remember any of
them. (negative)
10.- When I first went to Spain I ____ read Spanish but I
____ speak it. (2nd verb negative)
3) Ability: could and was able
In some of the following sentences either could or was
able could be used. In other only was/were able is
possible. Fill the spaces and put to where necessary
before the infinitives.
11.- He was very strong; he ____ ski all day and dance all
night. 13.- The car plunged into the river. The driver ____
get out but the passengers were drowned.
but I ____ hear very well. (2nd verb negative)
15.- We ____ borrow umbrellas; so we didn't get wet.
16.- ____ you walk or did they have to carry you?
17.- I had no key so I ____ lock the door. (negative)
18.- I knew the town so I ____ advise him where to go.
19.- When the garage had repaired our car we ____
continue our journey.
20.- At five years old he ____ read quite well.
4) Factual possibility: may, might, could.
Replace the words in italics with a clause using may,
might or could.
1.- Perhaps you will find you have made a mistake.
2.- It is just conceivable that we shall get an answer
tomorrow.
3.- Accept his offer now. It is just possible that he will
change his mind later.
4.- Owing to the strike, trains will possibly be subject to
delays. 5.- It is possible that parents will find that they
cannot understand the way their children are now being
taught.
6.- We shall possibly find we can't get accommodation, as
we haven't booked rooms.
7.- As your bank manager. He will perhaps be able to
advise you better than I can.
8.- Let's not wait any longer. It's possible that he won't turn
up at all.
9.- It's not impossible that the Government's policy will
prove to be little short of disastrous.
10.- It is quite possible that getting the two sides to agree
will not be as easy as some people imagine.
5) Theoretical possibility: can, could
Replace the words in italics, using can or could
together with the words given in brackets, e.g.
Learning a foreign language isn't always easy.
(sometimes difficult)
Learning a foreign language can sometimes be difficult.
1.- She doesn't always remember everything. (quite
forgetful)
2.- Holidays abroad aren't necessarily expensive. (quite
cheap)
3.- Racial harmony isn't always easy to achieve. (difficult)
4.- When I was at school, discipline wasn't generally lax.
(very strict)
5.- He wasn't miserable all the time. (occasionally, quite
high-spirited)
6.- September isn't by any means a bad month for taking a
holiday in England. (wonderful)
7.- Students at university don't always approve of the way
their courses are run. (very critical)
8.- One-way traffic systems aren't always as clear as they
might be for a foreign driver. (very confusing)
9.- She doesn't always look so plain. (quite pretty at times)
10.- English cooking isn't necessarily bad. (in fact,
excellent)
7) Obligation : must and have to.
Fill in the spaces in the following sentences by
inserting must or the present, future, or past form of
have to.
1.- She ____ leave home at eight every morning at present.
2.- Notice in a picture gallery: Cameras, sticks and
umbrellas ____ be left at the desk.
3.- He sees very badly; he ____ wear glasses all the time.
4.- I ____ do all the typing at my office.
5.- You ____ read this book. It's really excellent.
6.- The children ____ play in the streets till their mothers
get home from work.
7.- She felt ill and ____ leave early.
8.- Mr Pitt ____ cook his own meals. His wife is away.
9.- I hadn't enough money and I ____ pay by cheque.
10.- I Never remember his address; I always ____ look it
up.
11.- Employer: You ____ come to work in time.
12.- If you go to the dentist with a private practice you
____ pay him quite a lot of money.
13.- Father to small son: You ____do what Mummy says.
14.- My neighbour's child ____ practice the piano for three
hours a day.
15.- Doctor: I can't come now. Caller: You ____ come; he's
terribly ill.
8) Obligation and prohibition: must, mustn't, have to or
have got to.
Complete the sentences with must, mustn't, or a
suitable form of have to or have got to.
1.- We ____ hurry, or we'll be late.
2.- 'Application forms ____ be returned to this office within
15 days.'
3.- You ____ visit us again some time.
4.- I can never remember people's phone numbers. I always
____ look them up.
5.- The car broke down, and we ____ have it towed to a
garage.
6.- The situation has now become intolerable, and
something ____ be done about it immediately.
7.-I realize how difficult the situation is, but you ____ try
not to let it get you down.
8.- 'Visas where required ____ be obtained in advance of
travel to the countries concerned.
9.- I'm sorry to ____ tell you this, but you leave me no
alternative.
10.- It's not fair! I always ____ do the dirty work
9) Prohibition / Absence of obligation: mustn't /
needn't, not need to, not have to.
1.- You ____ ring the bell; I have a key.
2.- Notice in cinema: Exit doors ____ be locked during
performances.
3.- You ____ drink this: it is poison.
4.- We ____ drive fast; we have plenty of time.
5.- You ____ drive fast; there is a speed limit here.
6.- Candidates ____ bring books into the examination
room.
7.- You ____ write to him for he will be here tomorrow.
8.- We ____ make any noise or we'll wake the baby.
9.- You ____ bring an umbrella. It isn't going to rain.
10.- You ____ do all the exercise. Ten sentences will be
enough.
10) Absence of obligation: needn't, not need to, not
have to. Rewrite the clauses in italics, using needn't
or a suitable negative form of have to or need to.
1.- It isn't necessary for us to leave so soon. The show
doesn't start till eight.
2.- You're not obliged to come just to please me.
3.- I don't think it's necessary for us to take his threats too
seriously.
4.- It isn't necessary for you to decide immediately. You
can let me know tomorrow.
5.- It's a public holiday tomorrow, so you're not obliged to
go to work.
6.- You're not obliged to take my word for it. You can go
and see for yourself.
7.- If we get everything ready now, we shan't be obliged to
rush around doing everything at the last minute.
8.- If you listened more carefully, it wouldn't be necessary
for me to keep repeating things just for your benefit.
9.- He doesn't know what work is. He's never be obliged to
earn his own living.
10.- You're not obliged to do everything he tells you, are
you?
11) Deduction: must / can't
The hunter drops his tenth victim into his bag. He looks up
into the sky, shielding his eyes against the glare, and
waits. There is no sound at all.
Answer the following questions using must or can't
and giving the reasons for your deduction.
e.g. Is the hunter near a town?
- No, he can't be near a town, since there is no
sound at all.
1.- Is the man hunting birds or animals?
2.- Is it a dull day?
3.- Is he an expert or a beginner?
4.- Do you think he is satisfied with the day's hunting?
12) Deduction: must / can't
Complete the responses to the statements, using must
or can't, to suggest what seems to be the most likely
explanation.
1.- His fiancée writes to him every day. She must...
2.- I don't seem to have my key with me. I must have ...
3.- He drives a Rolls-Royce and his wife a Mercedes. They
must...
4.- No one thought he would be offered the job, but he was.
The person who interviewed him must have...
5.- He has no idea what the book is about. He can't have...
6.- He talks about going to the moon next year. He must...
7.- She didn't reply to his letter. She can't have ...
8.- He wears glasses all the time. His eyes can't...
9.- They haven't been on speaking terms recently. They
must have...
10.- He said he would ring, but he hasn't. He must have...
13) Advice and duty: should, ought to, had better.
Respond to the statements by giving advice or
making a
recommendation, using should, ought to, or 'd better,
with a suitable infinitive form, e.g.
I've got toothache.- You'd better go to the dentist.
He's failed his exam.- He should have worked harder.
1.- John's terribly overweight.
2.- You're always late for work!
3.- Our train leaves in a few minutes.
4.- Peter was involved in an accident with his car.
5.- Someone's stolen my wallet!
6.- The rain is coming through the roof.
7.- Our tent was always getting blown down when we were
on holiday.
8.- Mary got terribly sunburnt yesterday.
9.- We're spending our holidays in Spain next summer.
10.- This suit of mine is just about done for!
14) Auxiliaries + perfect infinitives
Use the perfect infinitive of the verbs in brackets with
a suitable auxiliary verb:
I've never seen a London policeman.-
You (see) one! You've been in London a week already.
You must have seen one.
Note that not placed before the verb in brackets refers
to the auxiliary verb:
I heard their phone ringing.-
You (not hear) their phone ringing. They haven't got a
phone. You couldn't have heard their phone ringing.
1.- Jack: I've finished. Ann: but you were only half way
through when I went to bed. You (work) all night!
2.- The instructions were in French. I translated them into
English for him.- You (not translate) them. He knows
French.
3.- Tom: What's happened to Jack? We said 7.30 and now
it's 8.00 and there's no sign of him. Ann: He (forget) that
we invited him. He is rather forgetful. I (telephone) him
yesterday to remind him. (It was foolish of me not to
telephone.)
4.- Tom: Or he (get) lost. He hasn't been to this house
before. I (give) directions. (I didn't give him directions, which
was stupid of me.) Ann: Or he (have) a breakdown or a
puncture. Tom: A puncture (not delay) him so long.
5.- Ann: Or he (stop) for a drink and (get) involved in an
argument. Jack's arguments go on for hours! Tom: Or he
(run) out of petrol. Perhaps we'd better go and look for him.
6.- You (not feed) the bears! (It was foolish of you to feed
them.) Now they'll be angry if the next campers don't feed
them too.
7.- Nobody has been in this house for a month.-
Nonsense! Here's last Monday's paper in the wastepaper
basket; somebody (be) here quite recently.
8.- Two of the players spent the night before the big match
at a party.- That was very foolish of them. They (go) to bed
early.
9.- He says that when walking across Kensington
Gardens he was attacked by wolves.- He (not be attacked)
by wolves. There aren't any wolves in Kensington. He (see)
some Alsatian dogs and (think) they were wolves.
10.- I waited from 8.00 to 8.30 under the clock and he
says he waited from 8.00 to 8.30 under the clock, and we
didn't see each other!- You (wait) under different clocks!
There are two in the station, you know.
11.- He set off alone a month ago and hasn't been heard of
since.- He (fall) into a river and (be eaten) by crocodiles.-
Or (be kidnapped) by tribesmen.- Or (catch) fever and (die)
of it.
12.- Mary to Ann, who has just toiled up six flights of
stairs: You (not walk) up! You (come) up in the lift. It's
working now.
13.- I left my car here under the No Parking sign; and now
it's gone. It (be) stolen!- Not necessarily. The police (drive)
it away.
14.- He had two bottles of Coke and got frightfully drunk.-
He (not get) drunk on coke. He (drink) gin with it.
15.- I fell desperately in love with her but she turned me
down over and over. I (know) better.
16.-He was riding a bicycle along the motorbike when he
was hit by the trailer of a lorry. These big lorries are very
dangerous.- Perhaps, but Paul (not ride) a bicycle along
the motorway; by cycles are not allowed.
17.- I've lost one of my gloves!- The puppy (take) it. I saw
him running by just now with something in his mouth. It (be)
your glove.
18.- We run out of petrol!- I'm not surprised. I noticed that
the tank was nearly empty when we left home.- You (tell)
me! We (get) petrol at the last village. Now we've got a
10-mile walk!
19.- If the ground hadn't been so soft the horse I backed
(win) instead of coming in second. He never does very well
on soft ground.
20.- I've written to Paul.- You (not write). He's coming here
tomorrow. You'll see him before he gets your letter.