Model verb

Động từ khuyết thiếu: S + động từ khuyết thiếu + động từ nguyên thể

Model verb Nghĩa Cách dùng Ví dụ

Could/ may/ Có lẽ Chỉ sự không They may come by car. (= Maybe

might chắc chắn (có they will come by car.)
thể hoặc không
They might be at home. (= Maybe
thể xảy ra)
they are at home.)

That dog could/ may/ might be

dangerous.

(= Perhaps that dog is dangerous. I

don't know.)

Can Có thể Make general It can be very cold here in winter.

statements about (= It is sometimes very cold here in
điều gì có thể winter.)
xảy ra
You can easily get lost in this
town. (= People often get lost in
this town.)

That dog can be dangerous.

(= Sometimes that dog is

dangerous. I know.)

Có thể làm Chỉ khả năng có I can ride a bicycle= I am able to

= be able to gì thể làm việc gì ride a bicycle.
đó
= should be They can't dance very well.
able to
She could speak several
languages. (in the past)

Tôi có Xin phép Can I ask a question, please?

thể…. đc
Could I ask a question, please?
không
= May I ask a question, please?
can/shall/may
( could và may => trang trọng và
lịch sự hơn can)

Can’t Không thể Không có khả I can’t come to your party tonight.
làm gì năng làm việc gì
I can’t wait to see her again after 2
years out of sight

Chắc chắn Việc gì đó It’s can’t be John, who killed that

không thể không thể xảy ra woman because he was with me at
xảy ra được that time.

He can’t be in his office now. I’ve

just seen him sitting near the lake.

Have to Phải Nêu điều bắt Everyone has to wear helmet

buộc phải làm when driving. (traffic rule)
( do ngoại cảnh
Students have to wear uniform
tác động: luật lệ,
every day. (school rule)
quy định, hoàn
cảnh không thể I miss the train so I have to walk
làm khác được to school this morning.

Must Phải Nêu điều cần I must remember to get a present

phải làm (do tự for Daisy. (my opinion)
= need to
bản thân thấy
I must get my hair cut before my
cần thiết)
meeting tomorrow. (my opinion)

Everyone needs to bring

something to eat.

Chắc hẳn là Chỉ dự đoán You must be so tired after running

hoặc 1 kết luận that marathon! (note: this means ‘I
 logic assume that you are so tired.

make an I can’t use this pen. It must run

assumption or to out of ink.
reach a logical
His house is big. He must be very
conclusion
rich.

I can’t call, the line is busy.

Someone must be using the
phone.

Don’t have to Không cần Nêu sự không I don't have to wear a suit to
phải cần thiết, không work.
= needn’t
bắt buộc làm gì
We don't have to get up early
today.

You needn’t water the plants as it

is going to rain.

Must not Cấm Chỉ quy định You must not park outside the
không được làm entrance.
Mustn’t
việc gì
You mustn’t make noise after 9
o’clock.

Should/ Nên/ không Đưa lời khuyên People should eat enough fruits in
shouldn’t nên làm gì order to be healthy.

You should do exercise every day

to loose weigh.

Would better Tốt hơn là Lời khuyên + The type loses its air. We would
(not) hãy mang tính cảnh better stop to repair.
báo
= have better …. You have sore throat. You have
(not) better not drink cold water.
Exercise 1: can vs could/may/might

1. I don't know where Eliza is. She ________________be in her office.

2. Eliza's a good boss, but she ________________ be difficult sometimes.

3. We can invite Filip to dinner tonight, but I think he _____________ be too

tired.

4. Don't feed that dog. You don't know where it's from. It _________ be
dangerous.

5. You shouldn't walk home alone. This city ____________ be dangerous at

night.

6. Sometimes, the temperature in Antarctica ____________be less than –50°C.

7. Please, don't tell John about our meeting. He ____________be angry.

8. There are many different types of tea. It __________be white, yellow, green
or black.

Exercise 2: must, mustn’t or have to, don’t have to

1. You _________ visit your aunt while you're here. She's always asking about
you.

2. I've reserved the hotel for two nights. I ________ give them my credit card
number.

3. You ________ be late for class, or the teacher will be angry.

4. You ________ buy the text book for this course -- you can borrow mine.

5. Canadians ________ get a visa to travel to the US.

6. You _____________ smoke in here. You'll set off the fire alarm!

7. You ________ live in Canada to study at the University of Victoria. You can
take a course by Internet.

8. When I was at school, we ___________ stand up whenever a teacher came

into the room.
9. Children __________ run inside the school building. They must walk at all
times.

10.You can sleep here tonight, but you ______________ leave tomorrow.

11.You ________ pass a test to ride a bicycle.

12.You __________make sure that you save all documents in the correct folder.

13.It's raining outside. Tim __________take his umbrella.

14.You ________ unplug the computer while it is turned on.

15.In Canada, employers ________ discriminate against women or minorities.

It's against the law.

16.This bus is free! You ________ buy a ticket.

17.You ____________ stop at the red light.

18. Shops____ sell cigarettes to children.

19.You _____________stop smoking. It is very harmful.

20.You ________ smoke in a gas station.

21.All the students _______________obey the school rules.

22. You ___________apologise; it isn't necessary.

23. I _______wear a tie; I do it because I like wearing ties.

24. You _______smoke in here; smoking is not allowed.

25. I _______be late. It's the most important meeting of the year.

26. You _______go now; you can stay a bit longer.

27. Visitors to the zoo ___________feed the animals.

28. You __________drive so fast; we have a lot of time.

29. We ___________cook more; there's enough food.

30. You ___________put salt in her food; the doctor said she can't eat salt.
Exercise 4:

1. You must/can listen to the teacher.

2. You can´t/won’t park here.

3. People couldn’t/shouldn't waste food.

4. Will/would it snow tomorrow?

5. Could/must I have a coffee, please?

6. You have to/should do more exercise.

7. You mustn't/couldn’t drink alcohol.

8. Can/shall you play the guitar?

9. Would/will you like to go by train?

10.I couldn’t/won't play tennis tomorrow.

11.We mustn’t/can’t take photos here.

12.You shouldn't/mustn’t smoke so much. It’s not good for your health.

13.A surgeon mustn't/needn’t make mistakes.

14.Could/must I have the menu, please?

15.We would/will go if you invited us.

16.You can/ must brush your teeth every day.

17.Peter can't/mustn’t speak Spanish.

18.I will/would eat when I finish this.

19.If I were you I wouldn't/won’t do it.

20.Lily couldn't/can’t swim when she was six.

21.Will/can I go to the toilet?

22.You must/should eat less sweets.

23.I have to/must study for the exam.

24.Sorry, I'm busy. I can't/mustn’t help you.

25.May/Shall I watch TV now, mum!

26.You shouldn't/ mustn’t shout at your children.

27.Tomorrow we would/will go camping.

28.I couldn't/can’t start my car yesterday.

29.May/ can I phone you later, Mr. Levis?

Exercise 5

1. Peter ____________ swim when he was a child, but now he ____________.

In fact, he swims every day!

A. ? couldn't / can't

B. ? could / can't

C. ? couldn't / can

2. Kevin was disappointed because he ____________ get tickets for the football
game.

A. ? weren't able to

B. ? wasn't able to

3. The family can't decide where to go on vacation. They ____________ go to

Los Angeles or they ____________ go to Hawaii.

A. ? could / couldn't

B. ? might / may

C. ? may / are able to

4. My cat ____________ jump, but it ____________ talk.

A. ? can / can't

B. ? can't / can
5. When Vera was young, she ____________ type quickly. She took a typing
class and now she ____________ type very quickly!

A. ? can / could

B. ? could not / can to

C. ? could not / can

6. ____________ I borrow your dictionary?

A. ? Might

B. ? Am I able to

C. ? May

7. The little girl asked, "Mommy, ____________ I have a cookie?" The mother
said, "Yes, you ____________."

A. ? may / might

B. ? can / are able to

C. ? can / can

`7. I'm going to bring an umbrella today because it ____________ rain.

A. ? might

B. ? is able to

C. ? can

9. ____________ dogs fly? No, of course not!

A. ? Can

B. ? May

C. ? Do can

10. She ____________ understand Korean very well, but she ____________
speak it perfectly.

A. ? is able to / cannot
 B. ? be able to / cannot

C. ? is able to / is able to

11. ____________ you play the piano when you were a child?

A. ? Can

B. ? May

C. ? Could

12. Sara ____________ Italian food and she ____________ French food too!

A. ? can cooking / can cooking

B. ? can cook / is able to cook

C. ? can cooks / can cooks

13. George is absent from class today. He ____________ be sick.

A. ? can

B. ? is able to

C. ? could

Exercise 6:

1. You ______________go there with me. I can handle it; it's not difficult.
(Absence of necessity)

A. may not

B. must not

C. don't have to

D. had better not

2. ____________bring me a glass of cold water? (Request)

A. Could you

B. Can't you
 C. Would you mind

D. Why don't you

3. I _____________ give you a lift to the station. My car broke down yesterday.
(Ability)

A. must not

B. should not

C. may not

D. can't

4. I don't know what to do. – You _______ your father for advice. (Suggestion)

A. are able to ask

B. could ask

C. must ask

D. have to ask

5. He didn't go to the park with us yesterday because he___________ write a

report. (Necessity)

A. should

B. must

C. had to

D. could

6. I left my bag here just five minutes ago. You _______ it! (Strong probability)

A. may have seen

B. must have seen

C. were able to see

D. could see
7. You _________the bills two weeks ago. (Advice)

A. had better pay

B. should pay

C. ought to pay

D. should have paid

8. I don't know how to help you. Try asking Anton for help. He _________ be able
to find a solution. (Possibility)

A. must

B. has to

C. might

D. will

9. I ___________play tennis every day when I was younger. (Repeated action in

the past)

A. had to

B. was able to

C. used to

D. could

10. You want to call them now? It's already after midnight! They . (Strong
probability)

A. must sleep

B. should sleep

C. may sleep

D. must be sleeping

11. It's a great town. You ___________visit it some day.

A. could
 B. might

C. should

D. had better

12. If she wants to buy an apartment, she _____ consult a good real estate agent.

A. has to

B. should

C. may need to

D. could

13. ___________I ask John to help us?

A. Should

B. Ought

C. Could

D. May

14. Children ___________eat too much chocolate.

A. must not

B. may not

C. could not

D. should not

15. You _________come here again, or I'll report you to the police!

A. can't

B. won't

C. mustn't

D. 'd better not

16. He ____________be punished for his terrible attitude to people.

 A. might

B. ought to

C. could

D. would

17. It's getting late. I go now. (Necessity)

A. can

B. may

C. have to

D. would rather

18. Mike broke his leg yesterday. His leg is in a cast, and he________ use crutches
for a month. (Necessity)

A. will be able to

B. will have to

C. had better

D. should

19. I____________ talk to Ann about it. (Necessity)

A. have got to

B. would like to

C. may have to

D. may need to

20. We can't just go away! We help him! (Strong necessity)

A. have to

B. need to

C. should
 D. must

21. Tomorrow is Sunday. I______ go to school. (Absence of necessity)

A. can't

B. may not

C. must not

D. don't have to

22. You_________ go to the supermarket. There is enough food in the refrigerator.

(Absence of necessity)

A. mustn't

B. don't need to

C. shouldn't

D. ought not

23. She_________work yesterday, so she spent the whole day in the park by the
river. (Absence of necessity)

A. couldn't

B. shouldn't

C. mustn't

D. didn't have to

24. It's a secret. You_________ tell anyone about it. (Strong necessity NOT to do
something / Prohibition)

A. can't

B. may not

C. must not

D. don't have to
EXERCISE 7

1. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You________ buy any.

A. mustn’t B. needn’t C. may not D. should not

2. This is a hospital. You_________smoke here.

A. mustn’t B. needn’t C. may not D. don’t have to

3. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He______be tired after such hard
work. He______prefer to get some rest.

A. must/ must B. need to/ might

C. must/ may D. may/ may

5. I_________speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco.

But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and
forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I _________just say a few things
in the language.

A. can/ can B. may/ am able to

C. could/ can C. was able to/ could

6. The teacher said we ______read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional.
But we_________read it if we don't want to.

A. must/ needn’t C. should/ have to

C. should/ needn’t D. may/ can

7. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you_______ worry. We will help
you become a fluent speaker but you have to work hard.

A. could B. need C. needn’t D. mustn’t

8. Take an umbrella. It________rain later.

A. must B. may C. mustn’t D. need

9. You _____leave small objects lying around. Such objects__________ be
swallowed by children.

A. needn’t/ can B. should/ may

C. shouldn’t/ may D. don’t have to/ must

10. People_______ walk on the grass.

A. needn’t B. mustn’t C. don’t have to D. must

11. Drivers______stop when the traffic lights are red.

A. need to B. must C. have to D. must

12. You_______take your umbrella. It is not raining.

A. needn’t B. mustn’t C. don’t have to D. must

13. ___________ you speak Italian? No, I________.

A. could/ couldn’t B. may/ can’t

C. can/ can’t D. have/ needn’t

14. _____I ask a question? Yes, of course.

A. should B. may C. can D. must

15. Paul is behaving in a very unusual way. I think he ______ again.

a. can't drink b. can be drinking c. might be drinking

16. I think there ______ a mistake in your tax return. You should check it.

Choose TWO correct options

a. can't be b. might be c. may be

17. If Suzan said that, it ______ true. She never lies.

a. might be b. must be c. can be

18. Sorry, but I'm not Connor. You ______ me for someone else.

a.might be confusing b.must confuse c.must be confusing

19. I'm not sure I trust Peter. He ______ the person we think he is.

a.might not be b.can't be c.must not be

20. You have walked for ten hours. You ______ exhausted.

a.can be b.can't be c.must be

21. He ______ his son, they look completely different.

a.might be b.can't be c.must not be

22. There's a bit of traffic, so I ______ arrive in time. Choose TWO correct options

a.might not b.must not c.may not

23. He ______ be very proud of you right now. You disappointed him.

a.must not b.can't c.might

24. I wouldn't swim in this river if I were you. It ______ dangerous. Choose TWO
correct options

a.might be b.may be c.can be

22. The phone is ringing. It ___be Charlotte; she said she would call this morning.

a. can b. can’t c. must

23. She _______ be in love with him. She told me she hates him.

a. can’t b. might not c. can

24. He ______be at the gym right now. Sometimes he goes there at this time.

a. can b. must c. should

25. This is not possible. You ______be serious!

a. shouldn’t b. can’t c. must

26. If he drives a lamborghini , he ______be quite rich.

a. can b. can’t c. must

27. He _______know the answer, he's the best in the class.

a. can b. must c. may

28. You ________be right, but it's better if we check.

a. might b. can c. must

29. He __________ be in class. I saw him at the library a minute ago.

a. shouldn’t b. can’t c. must

30. A: Who's at the door? B: I don't know; it _______be John.

a. might b. can c. must

EXERCISE 8. CAN/ COULDN'T/ HAVE TO/ MIGHT/ MUST/ OUGHT TO/

SHOULDN'T/ WAS ABLE

1. It's very cold today. Do you think it___________snow later?

2. You_________leave your door unlocked when you go out.

3. They_____________have filled the car with petrol before they set off.

4. My motorbike broke down in the middle of nowhere, but luckily

I________to fix it.

5. Mum says we_________watch TV after we've finished our homework.

6. You don't___________pick me up at the station. I can get a taxi.score

7. This is impossible, it___________be a mistake!score

8. Jim___________have seen me because he walked past without saying

'Hello'.