UNIT2: Humour Grammar: Modals (present and past)

Fill in the blanks with the right modal from the list
1. a. Why don’t you read this story? You…………………like it.
b. you…………………go to the university to register. You can send your application by email
must – need to – wouldn’t – may – needn’t
2. I wish I …………………help you, but I’m too busy right now. Will – may – could
3. Workers …………bring their old uniforms. The company will give them new ones.
Need – not need – needn’t
4. My parents ……………… travel at the weekend if the weather is nice. have - may - need
5. We………………be at the bus stop at 08.00 if we don’t want to miss the bus. may – have – must
6. You…………………buy a ticket for the match. I’ve got two invitations. wouldn’t – can’t – needn’t

A. Put the sentences in the correct order to make a dialogue

A: He might have generous parents then
B: He must have a lot of money then!
C : He may be in the library or he may be in the photocopying room.
B: Any idea where he might be?
D: He's a student so he can’t be that rich.
E: By the way, where is he now?
F: Well, he can’t be far away. His phone's on the table.
G: That’s the second laptop that Jack has bought this year.

B. Read the first sentence in each pair. Write an appropriate modal to complete the second sentence.
1. You’re expecting Nicole to call. The phone rings. That…………………be Nicole.
2. You are certain the answer isn’t D. The answer ………………… be D.
3. It’s possible your cell phone is at home. My cell phone………………… be at home.
4. You are sure this is Emma’s house. Emma …………………live here.

C. Fill in the blanks with the correct modal verb

1. He……………….. French. His French is terrible. (must be/ can’t be/ can’t have been)
2. The kids are calm today. They ……………….. tired.( must have been/ must be)
3. I'm not really sure where Aziz is. He in the library, or perhaps he is in at school.
( might be / must be / must have been / might have been)
4. Drivers ……………….. stop when the traffic lights are red. ( could/ must/ may/ had to)
5. I ……………….. speak French fluently when I was a child. But now, I ……………….. just speak a few words
in the language. ( could / must / can / may)
6. There were plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You ………….. buy any. (don’t need to/ didn’t need to) absence
7. They [ must / would / may ] put off the meeting again. I’m not quite sure
8. She didn’t come to the meeting. She [might have forgotten / might forget] about it.
9. Picasso……………….. that picture. It is fake. ( can’t have painted/ must paint/ might paint)
10. She ……………………to the airport yesterday because the flight was cancelled. Needn’t go – needn’t have gone
– can’t go

D. Rewrite the sentences using the modals of certainty, impossibility , possibility and advisability or criticism

1. Perhaps Jane will lend Tom some money. ……………………………………………………….

2. Perhaps Jane lent Tom some money. ……………………………………………………….
3. I’m sure he wasn’t tired. ……………………………………………………….
4. It’s impossible that he forgot the meeting. Because I called him this morning.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
5. I’m sure she reads adventure books a lot. ……………………………………………………..
6. I’m sure she is driving carefully. ……………………………………………………..
7. Laura asked our customers to leave the restaurant early last night (shouldn’t)
Laura shouldn’t ……………………………………………………………………………………..
8. It’s 9.30 and my friend hasn’t arrived yet. It’s probable that he missed the bus
He might………………………………………………………………