Fill in the blanks with appropriate modal auxiliary verbs.
1My grandmother is eighty-five, but she ............... still read and write without glasses.
Wrong!
Use "can" to express present ability.
2............... I come with you?
Wrong!
Use "Can" to ask for informal permission.
3............... you help me with the housework, please?
Wrong!
Use "Could" to make a polite request.
4There was a time when I ............... stay up very late, but now I can't.
Wrong!
Use "could" to talk about past ability.
5You ............... not lose any more weight unless you want to. You are already slim.
Wrong!
Use "need" in "need not" to say something is not necessary.
6It's against the rules: we ............... make the first move.
Wrong!
Use "must not" to express prohibition, as the rules forbid the action.
7It is snowing outside, so I have decided that I ............... stay at home.
Wrong!
Use "will" to express a decision or intention about the future.
8I promise I ............... get you a shawl from Kashmir.
Wrong!
Use "will" to make a promise.
9............... you mind if I borrowed your car?
Wrong!
Use "Would" in the polite request form "Would you mind if...?"
10............... you take care of my dog for a day?
Wrong!
Use "Will" to make a direct polite request.
11Our country ............... become a superpower in the future.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "may" or "might" to show possibility.
12She ............... sell her home, but she hasn't decided yet.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "might" or "could" to show a weak possibility; she hasn't decided yet.
Answers
- My grandmother is eighty-five, but she can still read and write without glasses.
- Can I come with you?
- Could you help me with the housework, please?
- There was a time when I could stay up very late, but now I can’t.
- You need not lose any more weight unless you want to. You are already slim.
- It’s against the rules: we must not make the first move.
- It is snowing outside, so I have decided that I will stay at home.
- I promise I will get you a shawl from Kashmir.
- Would you mind if I borrowed your car?
- Will you take care of my dog for a day?
- Our country may / might become a superpower in the future.
- She might / could sell her home, but she hasn’t decided yet.