Fill in the blanks with appropriate modal auxiliary verbs. Each question is followed by four suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one.
1He is afraid to speak, lest he ............... be laughed at.
Wrong!
After "lest", formal English commonly uses "should" before the base verb.
2He said he ............... not come.
Wrong!
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, "will" usually changes to "would".
3Had I seen you, I ............... have come.
Wrong!
In a third conditional main clause, use "would" before "have" and the past participle.
4He ............... swim across the river when he was young.
Wrong!
For general ability in the past, use "could".
5He told me that he ............... not help me.
Wrong!
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, "can" usually changes to "could".
6............... you live long!
Wrong!
For a formal wish or blessing, use "May" at the beginning of the sentence.
7If I had studied medicine, I ............... have become a doctor.
Wrong!
In a third conditional result clause, use "would" before "have" and the past participle.
8I ............... have arrived in time if I had not lost my way.
Wrong!
For a possible past result that did not happen, use "could" before "have" and the past participle.
9I ............... very much like to see my old classmates.
Wrong!
For a polite expression of desire, use "would" in "would like".
10We ............... not hurry; we have got plenty of time.
Wrong!
When something is not necessary, modal "need" can be used before "not" and the base verb.
Answers
- He is afraid to speak, lest he should be laughed at.
- He said he would not come.
- Had I seen you, I would have come.
- He could swim across the river when he was young.
- He told me that he could not help me.
- May you live long!
- If I had studied medicine, I would have become a doctor.
- I could have arrived in time if I had not lost my way.
- I would very much like to see my old classmates.
- We need not hurry; we have got plenty of time.
