practical grammar I practice sheet 4 MODALS

summer term

I. could, could have: Rewrite the sentences, using the adverbs suggested, so that they represent the equivalent situation in past time (i.e. potential, not actual, performance). Any words in italics should be omitted in your answers.

He can speak German fluently. (when he was younger)

He could speak German fluently when he was younger.

I can give him an answer. (last week)

I could have given him an answer last week.

1 He can drive a car. (when he was eighteen)

2 I find I can understand English better than I can speak it. (when I first arrived in England)

3 I can let you have the money tomorrow. (yesterday)

4 You can persuade him to come, if anyone can. (last week)

5 My daughter can play the piano beautifully. (at one time)

6 You can see that he is bored to death. (at the party last night)

7 I can't get into the house. (because I had forgotten my key)

8 We can overhear every word our neighbours say. (in the hotel we stayed at)

9 The doctor can see you later today. (yesterday)

10 (When they asked my advice) I can suggest only one way of solving the problem.

11 I can well understand how you feel about the situation. (at the time)

12 I can't get the letter translated immediately, but I could get it done by tomorrow morning. (by the following morning)

II. be able to: Replace the words in italics with a suitable form of be able to.

1 If we don't book seats soon, it won't be possible for us to get into the theatre.

2 In two months' time we shall be in a position to give you the examination results.

3 The main road was under repair, but it was possible for us to take an alternative route.

4 By pretending to be ignorant of the rules, he managed to escape being punished.

5 Luckily we retraced our steps and succeeded in finding our way again.

6 It has been impossible for me to get to the bank yet, so I haven't any money.

7 May I borrow this piece of material? I' d like to have the opportunity of showing it to my wife.

8 He took a crash course in Spanish- he wanted to be in a position to speak it when he went on business to S.

America.

9 They bought their first house last year: previously it had been impossible for them to get a loan.

10 The student said there were a few questions he had found impossible to answer.

III. general characteristics: can, could: Replace the words in italics, using can or could together with the

words given in brackets, e.g.

Learning a foreign language isn't always easy. (sometimes difficult)

Learning a foreign language can sometimes be difficult.

1 She doesn't always remember everything. (quite forgetful)

2 Holidays abroad aren't necessarily expensive. (quite cheap)

3 Racial harmony isn't always easy to achieve. (difficult)

4 When I was at school, discipline wasn't generally lax. (very strict)

5 He wasn't miserable all the time. (occasionally, quite high-spirited)

6 September isn't by any means a bad month for taking a holiday in England. (wonderful)

7 Students at university don't always approve of the way their courses are run. (very critical)

8 One-way traffic systems aren't always as clear as they might be for a foreign driver. (very confusing)

9 She doesn't always look so plain. (quite pretty at times)

10 English cooking isn't necessarily bad. (in fact, excellent)

IV. Past possibility: may have, might have, could have: Respond to the statements or questions with a sentence suggesting a possible explanation, using may, might, or could + the perfect infinitive of the verbs given, e.g.

Why isn't he here? (may, miss) He may have missed the train.

1 No one is waiting at the bus stop. (may, miss)

2 He didn't come to the party last night. (might, not want)

3 No one has answered the door. (might, go out)

4 How on earth did the thief get in? (could, break)

5 Why didn't the teacher explain? (may, not know)

6 How did they know about our plans? (could, guess)

7 He didn't seem surprised when I told him. (may, already know)

8 They should have been here long before now (may, lose)

9 I haven't seen my neighbours for over a week. (may, go)

10 Why hasn't she written to me? (could, forget)

11 I can't understand why he didn't look me up when he was down here. (may, not have)

12 It's strange that he hasn't said any more about his plans to emigrate. (might, change)

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