Vanessa Rodríguez

Cód. 201610970
Modal verbs

Ability (Can-Can’t)
EXERCISE #1

Find the activities and write them in the correct boxes.

I know lots of sports. I can swim and I can play football. I can play basketball too because we are
learning at school! But I can’t play baseball. We don’t have baseball lessons at my school. What else
can I do? Well, I can´t speak German or French but I can speak English of course!

Read the text and complete the chart with the activities that the person can or can’t do

Things I can do Things I can’t do

✔ Swim

✔ Play football SPEAK GERMAN AND FRENCH

✔ Basketball I can´t play baseball

✔ I can speak english

EXERCISE # 2

Find the mistake on each sentence, underline it and then write the correct word on the right side.
 She cans ride a bike Can

Can you to play cricket? Can you play cricket?

He not can speak Englis He can not speak englis

Can swim they fast? Can they swim fast?

She can’t ate 20 cakes! She can’t eat 20 cakes!

He can to cook dinner He can cook dinner

EXERCISE # 3

Complete the sentences by using modal verb can or can’t. Consider the activities that you can see in the
chart below, related to the abilities these people have.

a. Mike can dance but Ann _can’t dance__________.

b. Cathy can swim but she _____can’t______ cook.
c. Tim and Samantha ________can_______ ride a bike.
d. John and Paul ___can______ play the guitar but they ____can’t______ sing.
e. Mike ____can’t____ play the guitar but Cathy __can play the guitar.
f. Mike ____can____ ride a bike but he ____can’t___ cook.
g. Tim and Samantha _can’t______ swim but they ___can______ sing.
(Should-Shouldn’t)

EXERCISE # 4

a. Complete the sentences by using Should or Shouldn’t.

1. If someone doesn’t speak your language very well, you shouldn’t speak fast: you should speak
slowly and carefully.

2. if you need a pen, you shouldn’t say “Give me that pen” you should say “could I borrow your pen,
please?”

3. If people want to live until they are very old, they should eat a lot of fruit and vegetables; they
shouldn’t eat a lot of cakes and chocolate.

4. In a big city, you should be careful with your money; you shouldn’t leave your bag on a chair in a
restaurant.

5. When you are driving, you shouldn’t drive for hours and hours without stopping; you should stop
and walk around every two hours.

6. When people are travelling by plane, they shouldn’t drink lots of water; they should wear
comfortable clothes.

b. Organize the sentences and make suggestions using Should or Shouldn’t.

People / less TV / watch People should watch less TV

Boys / girls / to different / schools / go / and Boys and girls should go different schools

Men / get / the same payment / women / for the same job /and

Men and women should get the same payment for the same job

People / public places / free to smoke/ in / be People shouldn’t be free to smoke in public places

We / on animals / stop / testing medicine we should stop testing medicine on animals

nuclear weapons / destroy / We We should destroy nuclear weapons

 Obligation (Have to- Don’t Have to)

EXERCISE # 5

Complete the following sentences by using have to or don’t have to properly.

Today is a holiday. I don’t have to go to work.

My mother has to go to the post office now.
I have to study for the grammar test tomorrow.
A: Do they have to get up early every morning? B: Yes, they have to.
Patrick doesn’t have to drive to the store. He can take a bus.
Anne has to see a doctor because she isn’t feeling well.
Excuse me, I have to answer my phone.
My friend has to take a driving test this afternoon.
My sister has to see a dentist. She has an appointment.
. Astronauts have to bring food and water into space

Quick Review

Complete the sentences with can and can’t.

1. A cat can climb trees, but it can´t fly.

2. A fish can’t walk, but it can swim.
3. A dog can bark, but it can’t sing.
4. A tiny baby can cry, but he/she can´t talk.
5. You can store water in a glass jar, but you can’t store it in a paper bag.

Give advice using should or shouldn’t.

m sleepy: Ex: I am sleepy: You should drink a cup of coffee.
2. I'm hungry: you should cook
3. I’m cold: you should wear a jacket
4. I have a headache: you should take medicine
5. Someone stole my bicycle. What should I do? You should call the police
I bought a pair of pants that don’t fit. They’re too long. You should take them to the dressmaker
Look at the pictures and complete the sentences by using modal verbs and the verbs in the box. You don’t have
use all the verbs proposed there.

You should
do some
exercise
every day

You
shouldn't go
to bed late

You can eat

five fruits
and
vegetables
every day

You
shouldn't
drink too
much alcohol

You
shouldn't eat
too many
sweets

You have to
brush your
teeth after
every meal

You have to wash your hands before every meal

You should sleep eight hours every day

You have to wear your coat in winter

You have to visit the dentist once a year