Project Success 4 ● Grammar Worksheets

UNIT 7 ● LESSON 5, ACTIVITY 2

Grammar Worksheet
Modals of possibility and conclusion

Study the chart.

They may have a problem.
Karen might want to talk to the dean.
She could be at a different meeting.
Arnold must work with Ben and Rochelle.
She may not know how to solve the problem.
The dean might not want to talk to Karen.
It couldn’t be a very important meeting.
Karen must not be happy about the gossip.
She can’t be at lunch. It’s too early.

Read each sentence. Choose the sentence with a similar meaning. Circle a or b.
1. Laura was sick a couple of days ago.
a. Laura may be out sick again today. b. Laura couldn’t be out sick today.
2. She sometimes leaves before 5:00, and it’s 4:50 now.
a. She may have left. b. She can’t have left.
3. The printer won’t work, and Frank’s paper is due in ten minutes.
a. Frank may be upset. b. Frank must be upset.
4. I’m pretty sure Karen is a vegetarian.
a. Karen can’t be having hot dogs. b. Karen may be having hot dogs.
5. She’s not at her desk, and it’s noon.
a. She might be at lunch. b. She couldn’t be at lunch.
6. It’s partly cloudy today.
a. The outdoor event must be canceled. b. The outdoor event may be canceled.
7. I think he really doesn’t want to meet that client.
a. He must not want to meet that client. b. He may not want to meet that client.
8. Maybe that’s Ellen’s sister. She sure does look like her.
a. That couldn’t be Ellen’s sister. b. That could be Ellen’s sister.

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