Fill in the blanks with an appropriate auxiliary verb.
1. Anybody who wants to ……………………. join the club.
We use can to express theoretical possibility.
2. I ………………………… have won the race if I hadn’t fallen.
We can use could to talk about unrealized past ability.
3. We …………………….. go camping in June.
We do not use can to talk about future probability.
4. I was so angry I …………………………. have slapped him.
We use could to talk about unrealized past ability.
5. One day, it …………………………. be possible to travel to other planets.
We use will be able to talk about future possibilities.
6. Chennai …………………………. be very warm throughout the year.
We often use can to talk about what is common or typical of a place.
7. War ………………………… break out any day.
We use can/could to talk about theoretical possibility.
8. Who ……………………………. be at the door?
We use can in questions to talk about the logical possibility.
9. ‘Where is Janet?’ ‘She …………………………. be at John’s place.’
Can is not used in affirmative clauses to talk about logical possibility.
10. ‘Where ……………………….. we go?’
We use shall to ask for suggestions.
11. I ……………………….. see somebody coming.
To talk about seeing at a particular moment, we often use can see.
12. I can’t help but wonder what we ………………………… do next.
Answers
1. Anybody who wants to can join the club.
2. I could have won the race if I hadn’t fallen.
3. We may / might go camping in June.
4. I was so angry I could have slapped him.
5. One day, it will be possible to travel to other planets.
6. Chennai can be very warm throughout the year.
7. War can / could break out any day.
8. Who can be at the door?
9. ‘Where is Janet?’ ‘She may / could be at John’s place.’
10. ‘Where shall we go?’
11. I can see somebody coming.
12. I can’t help but wonder what we should do next.
