MODAL VERBS

WORKSHOP

CARMEN LILIANA PUCHE MIRANDA

GRAMMAR

LUZ EUGENIA GONZALEZ MEZA

CORPORACION UNIVERSITARIA DEL CARIBE – CECAR

LICENCIATURA EN INGLÉS
MONTERIA
2021
 Workshop

1) Mr. Burns is 75 years old now. What could he do when he was young but

can’t do now? Make sentences using the prompts below as in the example.

e.g. He could play volleyball but now he can’t.

a) play volleyball

b) dive  he could dive but now he can’t

c) dance all night  he could dance all night but now he can’t

d) eat a lot  he could eat a lot, but now he can’t

e) walk for miles  he could walk for miles but now he can’t

f) lift heavy things  he could lift heavy things but he can´t

2) Fill in the gaps with can, can’t, could or couldn’t.

a) Sarah is three years old. She can’t write

b) Peter is nineteen. He can drive a car

c) Mr Thompson is 70 years old. He can’t see very well so he wears glasses

d) When I was 5 years old, I could only count to ten

e) When kate was two, she couldn’t read a newspaper

f) It was cold yesterday so we couldn’t go out

g) Can you answer the phone please?

h) I couldn’t walk when I broke my leg

i) Could I take this pencil, please?

 j) Could you sing when you were a small child?

3) Choose the correct answer

 I _C_ climb up a ladder at the age of three.

a) May b) can c) couldn’t

 John can play the Piano very well now

a) May b) can c) could

 may you post this letter for me, please?

a) May b) can c) can’t

 I couldn’t spell my name when I was four years old.

a) May b) can’t c) couldn’t

 Can Simon speak Spanish?

a) May b) can c) could

 Cindy could tell the time when she was five.

a) May b) can c) could

4) Read the situations. Make questions with May I… or Can I… as in the

example.

a) You want to borrow your friend’s camera. What do you say to him?
 Can I borrow your camera please?

b) You want to use the phone in your boss’s office. What do you say to him?
May I use your phone office boss?
c) You want to invite some friends to dinner. What do you say to your mother?
Mom, can I invite some friends to dinner?

d) You want to speak to your boss. What do you say to him?

May I have some time to speak with you?

e) You and your brother want to play in the garden. What do you say to your

father?

Dad, Can I go to play in the garden with my brother?

f) You and a friend want to go to Helen’s party. What do you say to your

parents?

May I go to Helen’s party with my friend?

5) Fill in mustn’t or needn’t.

a) You mustn’t play with matches. It’s dangerous

b) You needn’t talk loudly. The baby is sleeping

c) I needn’t go to the bank. I have got some money

d) We mustn’t stay out late. We have to get up early tomorrow

e) You needn’t feed the dog. I’ll do it

f) I mustn’t forget to buy some milk. There isn’t any left

g) You mustn’t talk during the exam

h) You phone Julia. She’s coming here later.

i) You needn’t take your umbrella. It has stopped raining

 j) You mustn’t park here. There is a “No parking” Sign

6) Underline the correct word.

a) I must/mustn’t go to school every day

b) Can/cannot I borrow your pen please?

c) You must/mustn’t go out alone at night

d) I can/can’t show you where the office is. It’s next to my house

e) Can/must Susan come and play with me?

f) I can/Can’t go out tonight. I’m busy.

7) Complete the sentences with shall or will

a) You look tired. Shall I do the cooking tonight? “Oh yes Please”

b) I can’t do this exercise will you help me do it, Peter? “yes of course”

c) This room is in a mess. shall I clean it? “Yes please”

d) I have a headache. Will you bring me an aspirin, please? “Yes I’ll get one for

you”

e) The phone is ringing. Shall I answer it for you? “No thanks. I’ll get it”

8) Correct the mistakes.

a) I must having a bath  I mustn’t having a bath

b) You can’t to go out tonight  You shouldn’t go out tonight
 c) Shall you water the flowers this afternoon?  May you water the flowers this afternoon

d) He must studies hard for his exams  He should studies hard his exams

e) She must helping her mother today  She should help her mother today

f) They needn’t to stay here anymore  They shouldn´t be here anymore

g) I can’t do puzzles when I was four years old.  I couldn’t do puzzles when I was four years old.

9) Write a list of 10 prohibitions or obligations you have in the university,

house or the place where you work.

1. I mustn’t send my activities late

2. I should complete all the units to pass the signature
3. I mustn’t forget to send my activities on time
4. I should assist to the videoconferences
5. I must practice English if I want to improve my skills
6. I must to be on time at work
7. I shouldn’t disconnect from my work before my shift ends
8. I mustn’t use the air conditioner 24h at day
9. I must to go to the gym every day
10. I must to transport my son to his football practice