MODAL Verbs
Exercise 1. Comment on the meaning of the verb can/could/to be able to/to be
allowed to. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. He is much better and can walk without my help now. 2. Oh! It can’t be true! 3. He can’t have taken it (the box) upstairs this morning. 4. Anne can’t mean that, it’s not like her. 5. He couldn’t have done it all by himself. Somebody helped him, I’m sure.6. Can you believe the girl? Can it be true? 7. Could she have done it without consulting me? 8. Can it really be as bad as that? 9. You can wait in the kitchen. 10.You can take another umbrella. 11. I don’t believe a single word; he can’t have failed to learn the news before us. 12. Could I help you to carry those bags? 13. No, children, you can’t take the dog indoors. 14. Could you come again tomorrow? 15.Why didn’t Sally come to work in her car? – She didn’t say. She could have lent it to her sister, I suppose. 16. I’d like to be able to play the piano well. 17. She enjoys being able to speak foreign languages. 18. Even though I had hurt my leg, I managed to swim back to the boat. 19. You could have helped me. Why didn’t you? 20. I could have gone to China on holiday last year, but I decided not to. 21. How long have you been able to play the guitar? 22. Look! I can lift this chair with one hand. 23. Andrew was allowed to leave school early yesterday because he wasn’t feeling well.(Permission; a particular situation) 24. Until the 19th century people could/were allowed to travel freely between most countries without a passport. (Permission) 25. The children were allowed to watch the film on TV last night. 26. Her son has to wear a uniform in his new school, but in his old school he could/was allowed to wear whatever he liked.27. Where is Simon? – He could be in living room. (= Perhaps he is in the living room.) 28.I forgot to lock my car yesterday. – You were very lucky. Someone could have stolen it. 29. He can’t leave yet. (= It is not possible for him to leave yet.) 30. He can’t be leaving yet. (= I’m not sure he is leaving.)
Exercise 2. Comment on the meaning of the verb can/could/to be able to. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. He said he could see me the next Sunday/ He said he would be able to see me the next Sunday. 2. He said you could/would/might leave early. 3. He could (or: was able to) swim five miles when he was a child. 4. I managed to (or: was able to; not: could)finish the job yesterday. 5. Can you run 1500 meters in 5 minutes?/Are you able to run 1500 meters in 5 minutes? 6. Billy is only 9 months old and he can already standup. (or: he is already able to stand up.) 7. Look! I can stand on my hands! (‘am able to stand’ would be unnatural: when we are commenting on something that is happening at the time of speaking, we use ‘can’.) 8. I used to be able to hold my breath for one minute under water. 9. I tried again and found I could swim/was able to swim.(interchangeable, when we refer to the acquisition of a skill after effort) 10. I can smell something burning. 11. I can/can’t understand why he retired at 50. 12. I could/couldn’t understand why he had decided to retire at 50. 13. I can’t/couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live in a hot climate. 14. I’m sure you could get into university if you applied. 15. He can’t/couldn’t have told you anything I don’t already know. 16. I’ll be able to pass my driving test after I’ve had a few lessons. 17. I’ve been trying to contact him, but I haven’t managed to. 18. If you can pass/are able to pass you driving test at the first attempt, I’ll be very surprised. 19. This car can only be driven by a midget (карлик, лилипут). 20. It can be quite cold in Cairo in January. (= It is sometimes cold.) 21. It could be quite cold in Cairo. (= It was sometimes cold.) 22.I wish I could swim. 23. I wish Peter could have come to my party. 24. If only we could be together.
Exercise 3. Which of these things can you do? Which can’t you do? Write sentences like this:
· a) I can play chess, but my sister can’t. / I can’t play chess, but my sister can.
(ability)
1. count to twenty in Spanish
2. ride a bike
3. drive a car
4. understand sign language
5. swim like a fish
6. ride a horse
7. sail a boat
8. use a word processor
9. play chess
10. run a marathon
· b) How many of the things above could you do when you were ten years old?
Write sentences like this:
1. When I was ten years old, I could ride a bike, but I couldn’t drive a car.
Exercise 4. Complete these sentences using can, can’t, could, or couldn’t.
1. There was a woman with a big hat right in front of me. I... couldn’t... see a thing.2. I’m sorry, you’re in my light. I.............................................. see what I’m doing.3. It was a huge hall and we were at the back, so we........................ hear very well.4. When she screams, you.............................................. hear her all over the house.5. She was phoning all the way from Singapore, but I........... hear her very clearly.6.............................................................................. you hear me at the back?7. Put your hands up if you.............................................................. hear me.
Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using could, couldn’t or was/were able to.
1. My grandfather was a very clever man. He... could... speak five languages.
2. I looked everywhere for the book but I... couldn’t... find it.
3. They didn’t want to come with us at first but we... were able to... persuade them.
4. Laura had hurt her leg and........................................................... walk very well.
5. Sue wasn’t at home when I phoned but I.......................... contact her at her office.
6. I looked very carefully and I..................................... see a figure in the distance.
7. I wanted to buy some tomatoes. The first shop I went to didn’t have any but I......get some in the next shop.
8. My grandmother loved music. She................................ play the piano very well.
9. A girl fell into the river but fortunately we.......................................... rescue her.
10. I had forgotten to bring my camera so I............................. take any photographs.
Exercise 6. Complete the sentences using: (ability; possibility)
can could can’t couldn’t were able to will be able to won’t be able to
1. I don’t think we........................................................ travel to Mars before 2010.
2. Luckily the weather was great, so we............................................. have a picnic.
3. My cousin...................... swim when he was three, but I still..........................
4. The music was so loud that I.................................... hear what you were saying.
5. If we don’t finish early, we....................................... see the programme on TV.
6. Anyone................................................................................................... do that!
Exercise 7. Rewrite these sentences using be able to, like this: (possibility)
Example: I can get up late. → I enjoy being able to get up late.