MODAL VERBS

Ability, capability and You can't open the door. lt's closed
CAN knowledge to do something
General ability in the past. But in
ABILITY COULD negative it's for general and
particular situation
When CAN or COULD aren't possible.
TO BE ABLE TO
In past it's used in a particular situation
Sarah can p/ay three instruments
When I was younger, I could run 10 km
She couldn't speak French.
She couldn't speak to me yesterday
I will be able to study more
When I saw the dog I wasn't able to run

CAN Things that are (not) permitted The class is over. You can leave now
COULD More formal. (in a shop) Could I have a look?
PERMISSION It isn't used to give permission Of course, you can/may.
MAY Very formal May I ask you a personal question?
To BE ALLOWED TO When the rest aren't possible I won't be allowed to do that, sure.
MUST Only in present (when the subject puts the You must stay here.
OBLIGATI0N obligation )
HAVE TO In present when the obligation is external /have to stay in bed.
Doctor's
for orüer
the rest of the tenses Did you have to buy this?
PROHIBITION MUSTN'T Obligation not to do something You mustn't smoke here

In affirmative it's a normal verb He needs to rest sometimes

LACK OF NEEDN’T In negative you can use the normal You don't need to carry heavy things
verb or the modal one You needn’t carry heavy things
OBLIGATION DON'T HAVETO It's not necessary You don't have to carry heavy things

SHOULD To ask for and give advice. You shouldn’t smoke so much
ADVICE In past, use perfect infinitive You are ill, you shouldn’t have smoked
ÓÜGHT TO Not in questions You oughtn’t to smoke so much
Certainty It could rain
COULD In negative means impossibility You couldn’t run a marathon
Speculating about the past You could have run faster last day
POSSIBILITY MAY Less possible It may rain
Speculating about the past Yesterday it may have rained
MIGHT Remote possibility. It might rain
Speculating about the past It might have rain yesterday
MUST We are sure or for speculation I must have flu
DEDUCTION In past She must have had flu
|CAN'T We're sure something isn't true He can 't be your husband
In past He can't have been/couldn't have been
CAN Informal Can I borrow your pen?
REQUEST COULD Polite Could you close the door, please?|

WILL More polite ' Will you give me some money?

OFFERS WOULD Polite Would you like more coffee?

SHALL First person ( I / We) Shall I open the door?
SHOULD Similar to giving advice You should/ought to save more
SUGGESTION OUGHT TO money if you want to buy a car
SHALL First person Shall we dance?
COULD suggestion You could try talking to your teacher.
HAD BETTER You’d better go before they arrive.

1) Fill in the blanks with Can, Can’t, Could or Couldn’t or Be able to:
1. I ______ pick it up tonight if that is convenient.
2. I ______ speak English quite well when I lived in Paris.
3. She ______ give you a lesson this evening.
4. We wanted to go to the opera but we ______ get the tickets. They were sold out.
5. I ______ swim across the river but it was harder than I expected.
6. He __________ walk when he was ten months old.
7. ______ you speak Japanese? No, I ______, but I ______ speak Chinese.
8. I don’t know how the cat ______ get through the window but it did.
9. Next year I ______________ drive.
10. She _______________________ find her watch yet. She’s really worried.

2) Fill in the blanks with Must, Mustn’t, Don’t have to or Needn’t:

1. John ______ go to school everyday.
2. A soldier ______ obey orders.
3. Cars ______ be parked on double yellow lines.
4. Pay me back when you can. You ______ do it
immediately..
5. Residents ______ hang washing out of the
windows.
6. This is a great book. I ______ read it soon.
7. You ______ help your mother with the housework.
8. You ______ disturb your sister when she is
studying.
9. It is forbidden. You ______ do that.
10. You ______ ask my permission. You can do what
you want.
11. All employees ___________ be on time for work.
12. Help yourself to anything you want. You ______
ask.
13. We ___________ talk about it. It's confidential.
14. It's optional. We ______ to go if you don't want
to.
15. You _______turn off your cell phone in here. It’s
disturbing all our patients!
3) Fill in the blanks using Can/Can't, Could/couldn't, Must/Mustn't:
1. You ______ work harder if you want to pass the exam.
2. I don't want anyone to know. You ______ tell anyone.
3. ______ you please open the door?.
4. ______ I go out tonight? No, you ______ study English.
5. We haven't got much time. We ______ hurry.
6. He ______ play tennis very well now but he ______ play really well when he was young.
7. You got here very quickly. You _______ have taken a taxi.
8. The boy fell into the river but fortunately we ______ rescue him.
9. We haven't got enough food at home so we ______ go shopping today.
10. She wasn't at home when I phoned but I ______ contact her at her office.
11. I can't stay in bed tomorrow morning because I ______ work.
12. You ______ touch that switch. It's very dangerous.
13. ______ you post this letter for me?.
14. Brian has got three houses, six cars, a yacht. He ______ be very rich.
15. You've only just had dinner. You ______ be hungry.
16. You've been working all night long. You ______ be tired.
17. That restaurant _________ be very good. It is always empty.
18. The weather was stormy everyday during their holiday, so they _______ have had a very nice holiday.
19. Tom ______ drive but he hasn't got a car. 20. Tim and Lucy go away on holiday very often, so they _______ have a
lot of savings in their account.

4) Fill in the gaps with Could , can , may , must , might , should
1. He ____________walk thirty miles a day.
2. When she was young, she ___________swim across the lake.
3. _____________ you please tell me how to get to Almond Street?
4. You ________________try asking the bus driver to help you.
5. If he were stronger, he _________________help us push the car out of the snow.
6. I would be glad if I ______________help you.
7. He says I ___________take the day off.
8. _____________ I have some more soup?
9. You ____________provide proper identification in order to cash a check.
10. They _____________work harder if they are to succeed.
11. You _____________take an umbrella with you, in case it starts to rain.
12. I _____________answer his letter as soon as possible

5) Fill in the blanks using a modal verb. More than one answer may be sometimes possible.

1. We ________ win, but I don’t think there’s much chance.

2. That ________ be her daughter, they’re nearly the same age.
3. You ________ pass a special exam to be a teacher.
4. In Spain, boys ________ do the military service.
5. It took a long time but I ________ repair the car.
6. At what age ________ you get a driving licence?
7. I left my book at home. ________ I share yours?
8. Teacher: You ________ (obligation) read the play, but you ________ (no obligation) read the preface.
9. You’re getting fat. You ________ drink less beer.
10. I’ve come without any money. ________ you possibly lend me 5 pounds?.
11. A: ________ we meet at Piccadilly Circus?
B: It ________ be better to meet at the theatre. We ________ miss one another at
Piccadilly.
12. ________ you like to come on a picnic next weekend?
13. We ________ take a taxi. Otherwise, we’ll be late.
14. I’ve lost my umbrella! I ________ left it on the bus.
15. You ________ drive so fast. There’s a speed limit here.
16. ________ you get me some aspirin from the chemist’s, please?.
17. I think the finger is broken. You ________ go to hospital.
18. You ________ talk in the exam. It’s forbidden.
19. I can hear the siren now. It ________ be the police.
20. ________ you mind if I sit here?.
21. My son ___________ be home now. Where can he be?
22. I think your thumb is broken. You __________ go to the emergency room.
23. If you are interested in losing weight, you __________ try this new diet.
24. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! __________ I call an ambulance?
25. You __________ come too early. We won’t leave until nine o’clock.
26. The train was badly damaged in the crash, but the passengers __________ get out through a broken window.
27. Children __________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
28. You __________ talk during tests. It’s prohibited.
29. I can feel the heat. We __________ be near the fire.
30. They __________ hear him because he was whispering.
31. You’ve never heard of the Beatles! You __________ be serious!
32. __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?.
33. __________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?.
34. You __________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a surprise!
35. I crashed into a wall, but luckily I __________ force open the car door and escape.
36. __________ you please help me wash the car?.
37. I __________ try and eat less sugar. I’m having trouble with my teeth.
38. We ___________ go to bed early tonight. We are leaving at 5.30 tomorrow.
39. We __________ bring sandwiches. Food will be provided.
40. People __________ smoke in non-smoking areas.
41. __________ you pass me the sugar, please?
42. __________ I sit down?

6) Change these sentences according to the words given in brackets:

1. I can sing opera . (when I was five) ………………………………………………………………..
2. I can skate (next year) ………………………………………………………………………………
3. Do you have to get up early? (yesterday) …………………………………………………………..
4. They must be at home. (when the store started) …………………………………………………….
5. She can’t see me (befote) ……………………………………………………………………………
6. You must listen to me (soon) ………………………………………………………………………..
7. You needn’t stay here (last month) …………………………………………………………………..
8. He may be ill (last Saturday) ………………………………………………………………………….

7) Make polite requests as in the example below:

1) request an appointment to see your boss
2) ask your classmate to wait for you in the university library
3) offer yourself to close the door
4) ask for permission to your teacher to leave earlier
5) ask your mother to answer the phone for you
6) give somebody permission to use your cellphone
7) ask your friend to open a window

8) Choose the correct form of the verbs.

1. We thought our cousins would visit us when they were in town last week, but they didn’t even phone. I suppose they
must be / must have been too busy.
2. I’ve just rung the garage to check if they’ve fixed my car, but I can’t get an answer. I suppose they may have / may be
having a break.
3. You must be/ must have been thirsty after carrying those heavy boxes. Shall I make some tea?
4. Sally didn’t come to work in her car today. She could lend/ could have lent it to her sister.

9) Complete the following sentences :

1. Nigel says he met your sister in Berlin.
But he …………………………….. her there! She’s never been to Germany.
2. This letter says you owe the bank $45,000.
It ………………………… a mistake! I don’t even have a bank account.
3. Shall we go to the concert?
I’d love to, but you’d better phone first. They …………………………….. all the tickets.
4. Do you know where my address book is?
It ……………… in the hall cupboard. I think I saw it there the other day.
5. He really …………………………… his brother about this deal. It was supposed to be absolutely confidential.
6. I’m going to be in trouble. I …………………… these letters instead of drinking a coffee with you. And Mary is about
to arrive!
7 You ………………………………………………..……………….to your teacher like that. It was rude. (talk)
8 I ……………………………………………………………………seen that film before, I’m not sure. (see)
9 You …………………………………………………….Joe yesterday. He’s in France. (see)
10 I …………………………………………………..call Anna today. It’s her birthday. (call)
11 Graham ………………………………………............... a hobby. He seems so bored. (take up)
12 You ………………………………………………….really scared when you saw the snake, right? (be)
13 Kevin is late again. He ………………………………………………………the bus. (miss)
14 Mum was right about it. I …………………………………………………..her. (trust)
15 The curtains are closed and the car is not in the garage. They……………………………….. inside. (be)
16 I …………………………………….my grandparents this weekend if the weather is good. (visit)

10) Rewrite the sentences using modal verbs.

1.- Some people just don’t know how to sing.
Some………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2.- Perhaps she’s in the airport.
She……………………………………………………………………………………………….
3.- I knew how to ride horse when I was six.
I ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4.- John isn’t sure if he is going to go to Turkey.
John ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
5.- Do not block the emergency exit.
You ………………………………………………………………………………………………
6.- It is dangerous to use mobile phones on the plane.
You …………………………………………………………………………………………………
7.- It is necessary to fasten your seat belt for landing and taking off.
You ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8.-It’s possible that he’ll be there to meet us.
He ………………………………………………………………………………………….
9.- This is a surprise. Don’t tell anybody about it.
You ………………………………………………………………………………………..
10.- It wasn’t necessary for me to buy a new car.
I …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
11.- Don’t buy any more bread. It is not necessary.
You…………………………………………………………………………………………
12.- Do you want me to open the window?
………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
13. Can I come in, please?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..?
14.- Your marks are really bad. You need to improve.
You……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
15. It is forbidden to get on buses without a ticket.
You……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
16. It is forbidden to smoke in public places.
You …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
17. Children have permission to play outside.
Children……………………………………………………………………………………………………
18. Sara missed school today so she surely is ill.
Sara……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
19. Teenagers are allowed to go out just this once because they deserve it.
Teenagers……………………………………………………………………………………………………
20. It was very rude of you to talk to your mother like that.
You…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
21. He is completely drunk.
He ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. Translate into English:

1. Puede que llueva

2. Mi hermano pequeño no sabe nadir.
3. No puedo abrir la puerta. La llave está rota.
4. El podrá venir el próximo fin de semana.
5. Tengo que hacer los deberes.
6. Bob no ha podido ir al cole hoy. Debe estar enfermo.
7. No hace falta que compres leche. Hay una botella en el frigorífico.
8. Ella podrá coger el tren sola. No es necesario que vayas.
9. Debe llegar tarde porque va corriendo.
10. ¿Puedo pasar?
11. Puede que no hayamos hecho el examen bien.
12. Ella tuvo que irse a su casa ayer porque tenía que cuidar a su hermana.
13. No puede ser. Ella me dijo que no tenía nada que hacer.