Grammar practice

Talking about ability and possibility

1 Choose the correct verbs to complete the sentences. In some cases, both answers are correct.
1 Ivan couldn’t / didn’t manage to speak Japanese, so he failed to understand what the tourist
was saying.
2 I’m tall so I managed to / was able to see most of the game from the back of the crowd.
3 The police could / were able to stop the vandals before they broke any more windows.
4 When I was twelve, I couldn’t / didn’t manage to run very fast, so I joined the sports club.
5 Alice tried to pass her driving test three times, and eventually could / managed to pass it.
6 I’m sorry, but I didn’t manage to / wasn’t able to get a ticket to the concert. I’ll call again
tomorrow.
7 I think we can / ’ll be able to solve many mathematical problems in the future.
8 Can you / Do you manage to answer these science questions?

2 Complete the sentences with could or couldn’t, managed to or didn’t manage to. In some
cases, more than one answer is possible.
1 Tom fell into the river, but, fortunately, despite the bad weather,
he swim to the shore.
2 Penny persuade her friends to go to the movies with her,
so she went on her own.
3 When I was five, I lived in Germany and speak German.
I’ve forgotten how to now.
4 Alana swim until she was fourteen. But now she’s a
swimming champion.
5 She spoke so quickly that I understand a word she said.
6 The door was stuck, but Jimmy open it because he’s very strong.
7 Sally waited for hours, but she get Tom Holland’s autograph as
he left the hotel. She was really disappointed.
8 I missed the play because I get to the theater in time to watch it.

3 Complete the article with the correct form of be able to, could, or managed to and the verbs in
parentheses.

Magnus Carlsen – Chess Master

At a very young age, Magnus Carlsen, from Norway, 1
(remember) complex numbers and do problem-solving activities. When he started to play chess,
he 2 (learn) the many
different moves and combinations very quickly. And in 2003,
aged thirteen, he became a grandmaster. His skills were
extraordinary.
He 3 (play) chess faster than
anyone else. The story of his success didn’t end there. In 2009,
he 4 (reach) the top of
the world rankings and he became the world number one.
He was nineteen! In the future, who knows what Magnus
5
(achieve).

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 Grammar practice

Talking about deduction

4 Read the situations. Choose the correct answers.
1 Andy has just finished competing in a triathlon!
a He must be tired!  b  He might be tired!  c  He can’t be tired!
2 Clara hasn’t come to school – I don’t know why.
a She must have flu.  b  She can’t have flu.  c  She may have flu.
3 I spent the whole day with Joe. I’m sure he didn’t commit any crime.
a He must not be a criminal.  b  He shouldn’t be a criminal.  c  He can’t be a criminal.
4 The party has already started, but most of the guests haven’t appeared yet.
a They must come later.  b  They might come later.  c  They can’t come later.
5 That man is wearing a blue uniform and has a police badge.
a He might be a police officer.  b  He can’t be a police officer.  c  He must be a police officer.
6 The person in the photo has dark hair and Anna has fair hair.
a OK. So, it must be Anna!  b  OK. So, it might be Anna!  c  OK. So, it can’t be Anna!

5 Complete the sentences with the past form of the modal verbs below and the verbs in
parentheses. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

can’t  could  may  might  must

1 Will has no money at all! He (spend) it all.

2 Rose didn’t come to the park with us yesterday. I guess she
(be) ill.
3 I can’t find my keys anywhere. I (leave) them in the supermarket.
In fact, I’m sure of it. I’ll go and look.
4 The baby was on the floor crying when we got there. I don’t know why! She
(fall) out of her high chair.
5 United lost the game 7–0! They (play) well.
6 Ask Pete if he wants to come before you book the tickets. He
(see) the play already.

6 Complete the article with the words below. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

able  could  managed  may  might  must

School Burglary
O VER THE WEEKEND, burglars were 1
is not clear how they 2

police are convinced that they 3

to break into Whitby High School. It
to do this. However, as the alarms did not go off, the
have known how to switch them off. The police
are not sure how they got in, but one theory is that the burglars 4 have known the
numbers on the lock on the main door. One of the thieves 5 speak French really
well as some neighbors overheard him shouting instructions. Not only that, the burglars stole all the
English–French dictionaries from the school. As a result, the police are considering whether the burglars
6
  be exchange students from the local language school!

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