1Anyone ............... do this.
Wrong!
Use "can" to talk about general ability.
2I ............... have married her if I had wanted to.
Wrong!
Use "could" before "have" and a past participle for an unrealized past ability.
3Nothing is decided yet, but we ............... go swimming on the weekend.
Wrong!
Use "may" to show that something is possible but not certain; "nothing is decided yet" rules out "must".
4I was so angry I ............... have slapped him.
Wrong!
Use "could" before "have" and a past participle for something possible but not done in the past.
5One day, it ............... be possible to live on other planets.
Wrong!
Use "will" for a simple future prediction.
6Tropical areas ............... be very warm throughout the year.
Wrong!
Use "can" for a general possibility that is sometimes true.
7Epidemics ............... break out any day.
Wrong!
Use "can" for a theoretical possibility.
8"There is the doorbell." "Who ............... it be?"
Wrong!
Use "can" in the question "Who can it be?" when wondering about someone's identity.
9"Where is Janet?" "She ............... be in the basement."
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "could" or "may" for a possible location in an affirmative sentence.
10Let's go for a walk, ............... we?
Wrong!
Use "shall" in the question tag after "Let's" to make a suggestion.
11I ............... see something over there.
Wrong!
Use "can" to talk about ability with verbs of perception such as "see".
12I ............... help but laugh.
Wrong!
Use "couldn't" in the fixed expression "couldn't help but".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Anyone can do this.
- I could have married her if I had wanted to.
- Nothing is decided yet, but we may go swimming on the weekend.
- I was so angry I could have slapped him.
- One day, it will be possible to live on other planets.
- Tropical areas can be very warm throughout the year.
- Epidemics can break out any day.
- “There is the doorbell.” “Who can it be?”
- “Where is Janet?” “She could / may be in the basement.”
- Let’s go for a walk, shall we?
- I can see something over there.
- I couldn’t help but laugh.