Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.
1. We stayed in a nice hotel. I ……………………… see the lake from one window and the hills from the opposite window.
Correct!
Wrong!
Use could to talk about past ability.
2. If you arrived in the morning, you ……………………….. see him.
Correct!
Wrong!
3. She ……………………… read when she was three.
Correct!
Wrong!
4. She …………………….. come tomorrow.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. When I was younger, I ………………………… run for hours.
Correct!
Wrong!
6. The doctors tried their best but they ……………………… save the patient.
Correct!
Wrong!
Use could not to talk about past inability.
7. My dad travels a lot. He ……………………….. speak several languages.
Correct!
Wrong!
8. I’m afraid I …………………………. accept your invitation.
Correct!
Wrong!
9. I wish I ………………………….. fly.
Correct!
Wrong!
Use could after I wish to talk about unrealized wishes.
10. I searched the room carefully but I ………………………… find my passport.
Correct!
Wrong!
Use could not to talk about past inability.
11. I ………………………… help you at the moment.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. The weather …………………….. change very quickly in hilly areas.
Correct!
Wrong!
Use can to talk about theoretical possibility.
Answers
- We stayed in a nice hotel. I could see the lake from one window and the hills from the opposite window.
- If you arrived in the morning, you can see him.
- She could read when she was three.
- She can come tomorrow.
- When I was younger, I could run for hours.
- The doctors tried their best but they could not save the patient.
- My dad travels a lot. He can speak several languages.
- I’m afraid I cannot accept your invitation.
- I wish I could fly.
- I searched the room carefully but I could not find my passport.
- I can’t help you at the moment.
- The weather can change very quickly in hilly areas.
