Online exercises:
Intermediate Level
Can, Could, May and Might
Use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap.
1
They (can/might)________________ be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2
You (may/might)________________ leave now if you wish.
3
(Could/May)________________ you open the window a bit, please?
4
He (can/could)________________ be from Sheffield, judging by his accent.
5
(May/Can)________________ you swim?
6
Listen, please. You (may not/might not)________________ speak during this exam.
7
They (can't/may not)________________ still be out!
8
You (couldn't/might not)________________ smoke on the bus.
9
With luck, tomorrow (can/could)________________ be a cooler day.
10
You (can/might)________________ be right but I'm going back to check the times.
ANSWERS:
1 might 2 may 3 Could 4 could. 5 Can
6 may 7 can't 8 couldn't 9 could 10 might
Advanced Level
Choose the correct MODAL:
are, can, could, do, does, has, have, must, should, would
"UNDERGROUND MUSIC"
Waiting for the Metro in Paris is a lot more pleasant nowadays, thanks to a project orchestrated by transit officials.
As Jim Bittermann reports, it brings a whole new concept to the term "underground music."
It may be rush hour in the Paris underground, but these days down here there are good reasons
to slow down a little when commuting is more than just getting from A to B, when the transit #1________________ be too rapid.
Increasingly, the underground tunnels Parisians know as the Metro echo with music worth being late for. That wasn't, and even today, isn't always the case. There's never a shortage of those risking starvation by attempting to sing for their supper, and there's always someone to appreciate an artist struggling.
In the past, without much success, authorities periodically #2________________ tried to eject the would-be musicians who inflict themselves on the travelling public. But with their numbers continually growing, the situation seemed to be getting out of hand.
Transit officials came to the conclusion that if they #3________________ not beat the musicians at their game, perhaps they #4________________ perhaps join them, or at least organize it a little better. So just over a year ago, they set up auditions to select the 300-or-so
performers who #5________________ become the official underground musicians of Paris.
And it is now an ongoing process. Every six months, all the officially sanctioned musicians, minus those who #6_______________ found real work and plus those looking for a underground gig, #7________________ appear at a Metro audition.
Antione Nazo, a one-time guitar plucker himself, video tapes them all for approval by a music committee. "We #8________________ not have the pretension that we #9________________ selecting music virtuosos," Nazo says. "We just put ourselves in the shoes of the riders. We want good quality music, not too aggressive, and as diversified as possible."
Diversification #10________________ never been a problem in Paris. A city which, as a current exhibition on street musicians plainly illustrates, has more than two centuries of encouraging the artists who work its boulevard.
For those selected to be the Metro's officially sanctioned performers, there's a badge which ensures they #11________________ work uninterrupted by transit authority police, and which often guarantees as well a good well travelled spot in a busy metro station, which some musicians, when the mood of the travelling public is right, #12________________ mean as much as 600 euros a day in income.
Of course, that #13________________ not happen every day to everyone. But many down here are not looking for a fortune.
Paul Suzan said that "the people who play here play because they first of all, they love the music. But it keeps you in shape and gives you some pocket money".
After a year in operation, Metro authorities believe their official musicians #14________________ raised the quality of underground performances and the mood of the travelling public, and prove that there's more than one way an underground #15________________ move people.
ANSWERS
1: can 2: have 3: could 4: should 5: would 6: have 7: must 8: *do 9: are10: has 11: can 12: can 13: does 14: have 15: can
Rewrite sentences with modals and modal perfects ( with solutions)
1 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains can, could, must, have to, should ( including negative forms)
a) I´m sure that Helen feels really lonely. Helen must feel really lonely
b) You are not allowed to park here. You can´t park here.
c) It would be a good idea if Harry took a holiday. Harry should take a holiday.
d) I´m sure that Brenda isn´t over 30. Brenda can´t be over 30.
e) Do I need a different driving licence for my motorbike?. Do I have to have a different driving licence?
f) What would you advise me to do? What do you think I should do?
g) Mary knows how to stand on her head. Mary can stand on her head.
h) You needn´t come with me if you don´t want to. You don´t have to come with me…..
i) It´s possible for anyone to break into this house! Anybody can break into this house.
2. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains cant, might, must, should or needn´t ( modal perfects)
a) I´m sure that David took your books by mistake. David must have taken your books by mistake.
b) It was a mistake to park outside the police station. You shouldn´t have parked outside the police station.
c) It was unnecessary for you to clean the floor. You needn´t have cleaned the floor.
d) I´m sure that Liz hasn´t met Harry before. Liz can´t have met Harry before.
e) Ann possibly hasn´t left yet. Ann might not have left yet.
f) I´m sure they haven´t eaten all the food. It´s impossible. They can´t have eaten all the food. ….
g) Perhaps Pam and Tim decided not to come. Pam and Tim might have decided not to come.
h) I think it was the cat that took the fish from the table. The cat must have taken the fish from the table.
i) It was a waste of time worrying, after all! You needn´t have worried after all.
3. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word given and so that the meaning stays the same.
a) I expect we will get there by 5.00, if there isn´t too much traffic (SHOULD)
We should be there by 5.00,……
b) Is it necessary for me to bring my passport? ( HAVE)
Do I have to bring my passport?
c) I´m sure that the cat is in the house somewhere. ( MUST )
The cat must be in the house somewhere.
d) An aerial is not required with this radio. (HAVE)
You don´t need to have / you don´t have to have an aerial with this radio.
e) It is very inconvenient if you can´t drive. (ABLE )
It is very inconvenient if you are not able to drive.
f) I´m sure that John is not the thief. (CAN´T)
John can´t be a thief.
g) I thought that you would know better. (OUGHT)
You ought to know better.
4. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word given,( it can have negative form ) and so that the meaning stays the same.( modal perfect)
a) It wasn´t necessary for me to go out after all. ( HAVE) I needn´t have gone out after all.
b) It was a mistake for you to buy that car. ( SHOULD)
You shouldn´t have bought that car.
c) I don´t think that Sally enjoyed her holidays. ( CAN´T)
Sally can´t have enjoyed her holidays.
d) It is possible that Bill saw me. ( MAY )
Bill may have seen me.
e) I´m sure Karen was a beautiful baby. (MUST)
Karen must have been a beautiful baby.
f) Perhaps Alan didn´t mean what he said. (MIGHT)
Alan might not have meant what he said
g) It´s possible that I left my wallet at home. (COULD )
I could have left my wallet at home.
h) I think you were wrong to sell your bike. ( SHOULDN´T). You shouldn´t have sold your bike.
i) The only thing I could do was to run away . (HAD). I had to run away.
