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Past modals

Paraphrase the following phrases using the words in brackets:


e.g. I can play football quite well. (when a child) -
When a child I could play football quite well.
He may write a book about ghosts in a month. (long ago) -
He may have written a book about ghosts long ago.
1. He may be studying in his room. (when I called him)
When I called him,he may have been studying in his room.
2. Jade can’t beat Ellen in tennis. (last weekend).
Jade couldn’t have beaten Ellen in tennis last weekend.
3. She’s quite able to lift this suitcase, it isn’t heavy. (when she went on holiday)
when she went on holiday,she could have quitted able to lift this suitcase,it isn’t
heavy.
4. The situation is bad, but it could be worse. (yesterday)
The situation is bad,but it could have been worse yesterday.
5. Nicky must be asleep now. (when his parents called at his bedroom)
Nick must have been asleep now,when his parents called at his bedroom.
6. You must be tired. (you came home late yesterday)
You came home late yesterday,you must have been tired.
7. They can’t know many people here. (when they moved to their new house)
When they moved to their new house,they couldn't have known many people here.
8. My neighbor can’t be playing the trumpet. I’ve never heard him playing. (previous)
My neighbor couldn’t have been playing the trumpet.I’ve never heard previous him
playing.
9. That man outside the café might be waiting for someone. (we saw last night)
We saw last night that men outside the café might have been waiting for someone.
10.Jane looks pale, she may be ill. (on Monday)
Jane looks pale,she may have been ill on monday.
11.You must come immediately. (when I asked you)
When I asked you,You must have come immediately.
12.You mustn’t leave the lecture without professor’s permission. (when you were at
university)
When you were at university,you mustn’t have left the lecture without professor’s
permission.
13.You should apologise for talking to her like that. (yesterday)
You should apologise for talking to her like that yesterday.
14.You shouldn’t listen to our conversation, it’s private. (last time we saw you)
Last time we saw you,You shouldn’t listened to our conversation, it’s private.

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