Fill in the blanks with appropriate auxiliary verbs. Remember to observe the rules of sequence of tenses.
1He died so that he ............... save his country.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Might" and "could" both express past purpose after "so that."
2We eat so that we ............... live.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"May" and "can" both express purpose here, with "may" sounding more formal.
3You ............... go only if you have permission.
Wrong!
"May" expresses permission in this sentence.
4He was so tired that he ............... hardly stand.
Wrong!
"Could" expresses past ability after "was so tired."
5He went to England in order that he ............... become a barrister.
Wrong!
"Might" expresses purpose in a past context after "in order that."
6He said that he ............... do it.
Wrong!
"Could" is the reported-speech form of "can" after "said."
7The robbers stole whatever they ............... find in the shop.
Wrong!
"Could" shows what the robbers were able to find in the past.
8He worked hard so that he ............... win the prize.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Might" and "could" both express past purpose after "so that."
9We ran so that we ............... arrive in time.
Wrong!
"Could" expresses purpose in the past after "ran."
10He said that he ............... try again.
Wrong!
"Would" is the reported-speech form of "will" after "said."
11He ran as quickly as he ...............
Wrong!
"Could" is used because the sentence refers to a past action.
Answers
- He died so that he might / could save his country.
- We eat so that we may / can live.
- You may go only if you have permission.
- He was so tired that he could hardly stand.
- He went to England in order that he might become a barrister.
- He said that he could do it.
- The robbers stole whatever they could find in the shop.
- He worked hard so that he might / could win the prize.
- We ran so that we could arrive in time.
- He said that he would try again.
- He ran as quickly as he could
