Can, Could, Could Have

Fill in the blanks.

1. What shall we do tonight? We ....................... a movie.

could watch

could have watched

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

Could is used in polite suggestions.

2. I was very hungry. I ............................ an elephant.

can eat

could eat

Correct! Wrong!

Could is used to talk about unrealistic hopes, aspirations, situations etc.

3. This is a beautiful place. I wish I ....................... here forever.

can stay

could stay

could have stayed

Correct! Wrong!

4. She ....................... be telling the truth but I don't think she is.

can

could

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

Can is not normally used in affirmative sentences to talk about possibility.

5. The weather ...................... change any time in the mountainous regions.

can

could

Correct! Wrong!

Can is used in affirmative sentences to talk about theoretical possibility.

6. I was so angry. I ................................ him.

can kill

could kill

could have killed

Correct! Wrong!

Could have + past participle is used to talk about past events that did not happen.

7. I ............................ anyone I wanted to.

can marry

could marry

could have married

Correct! Wrong!

8. You needn't have stayed in a hotel. You ............................... with us.

can stay

could stay

could have stayed

Correct! Wrong!

9. If you needed help, you ................................... me.

Please select 2 correct answers

can call

could call

could have called

Correct! Wrong!

10. She ............................. walk when she was just 9 months old.

can

could

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

Use could to talk about past ability.

11. If you like we .............................. go for a walk.

can

could

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

12. We had a great time. It .............................. better.

cannot have been

cannot be

could not have been

Correct! Wrong!

Answers

What shall we do tonight? We could watch a movie.
I was very hungry. I could eat an elephant.
This is a beautiful place. I wish I could stay here forever.
She could be telling the truth but I don’t think she is.
The weather can change any time in the mountainous regions.
I was so angry. I could have killed him.
I could have married anyone I wanted to.
You needn’t have stayed in a hotel. You could have stayed with us.
If you needed help, you could call / could have called me.
She could walk when she was just 9 months old.
If you like we could / can go for a walk.
We had a great time. It could not have been better.