Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.
1We stayed in a nice hotel. I ............... see the lake from one window and the hills from the opposite window.
Wrong!
Use "could" for an ability or possibility in the past.
2If you arrived in the morning, you ............... see him.
Wrong!
Use "could" in this unreal conditional sentence.
3She ............... read when she was three.
Wrong!
Use "could" for an ability someone had in the past.
4She ............... come tomorrow because she is free all day.
Wrong!
Use "can" to show that something is possible because the person is free.
5When I was younger, I ............... run for hours.
Wrong!
Use "could" for a general ability in the past.
6The doctors tried their best, but they ............... save the patient.
Wrong!
Use "could not" for inability in the past.
7My dad travels a lot. He ............... speak several languages.
Wrong!
Use "can" for a present ability.
8I'm afraid I ............... accept your invitation.
Wrong!
Use "cannot" to say that something is not possible now.
9I wish I ............... fly.
Wrong!
Use "could" after "I wish" to talk about an unreal present wish.
10I searched the room carefully, but I ............... find my passport.
Wrong!
Use "could not" for inability in the past.
11I ............... help you at the moment.
Wrong!
Use "cannot" for inability at the present moment.
12The weather ............... change very quickly in hilly areas.
Wrong!
Use "can" for general possibility.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
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 could see him.
- She could read when she was three.
- She can come tomorrow because she is free all day.
- 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 cannot help you at the moment.
- The weather can change very quickly in hilly areas.