Reading And Use Of English - Modal Verbs

Question 1

Modal verbs - present and future

Talk about ability

Answer 1

Can/ can’t

I can swim.
Can you swim?

Question 2

Modal verbs - present and future

We can use (…) instead of can

Answer 2

Be able to

Will you be able to help me move my furniture tomorrow?

Question 3

Modal verbs - present and future

Permission

Answer 3

Can/ can’t

Can I leave earlier, please?
I can’t come skating tomorrow

Question 4

Modal verbs - present and future

(Table) Certanty and uncertainty

Answer 4

Question 5

Modal verbs - present and future

Certain

Answer 5

Will/ won’t

I will read a book next year

Question 6

Modal verbs - present and future

Deduction

Answer 6

Must/ can’t

He must be stuck in the traffic
She can’t be in Italy! I saw her today.

Question 7

Modal verbs - present and future

Something is expected to happen

Answer 7

Should

They should arrive here at about 6:30

Question 8

Modal verbs - present and future

Uncertanty

Answer 8

May, might and could

I may not have time to finish tonight
President Jones might win the next election
He could be stuck in the traffic

Question 9

Modal verbs - present and future

Obligation

Answer 9

Must/ have to

I must finish my homework before 8:00
I have to phone Jan at 9:00

Question 10

Modal verbs - present and future

What is the difference between have to and must?

Answer 10

• Have to - someting necessary
  ex: at our school, we have to wear a uniform
• Must - personally feels that something is important
  ex: you really must stop working so hard and try to relax

Question 11

Modal verbs - present and future

What is the difference between don’t have to and mustn’t?

Answer 11

• Don’t have to - an action which is not necessary (choice)
  ex: you don’t have to turn on the central heating
• Mustn’t - something prohibited/forbidden
  ex: you mustn’t cross the road when the red light is showing

Question 12

Modal verbs - present and future

Something is certain to happen in the future

Answer 12

Be bound to

You’re be bound to see Paula if you go there (I’m sure you will)

Question 13

Modal verbs - present and future

Give an opinion

Answer 13

Should and shouldn’t

When we speak to another person our opinion becomes advice

I think the police should arrest hooligans (opinion)
I think you should talk to you teacher (advice)

Question 14

Modal verbs - present and future

We can use (…) in the same way as should and shouldn’t

Answer 14

Ought to/ ought not to

I think you ought to talk to your teacher

Question 15

Modal verbs - present and future

Strong opinions

Answer 15

Had better

I think you’d better (had better) talk to you teacher

Question 16

Modal verbs - past

Past ability

Answer 16

Could, couldn’t, was able to

Jane could/was able to swim when she was ten

Question 17

Modal verbs - past

One specific past action

Answer 17

Was able to

When david fell in the river, Jane was able to rescue him

Question 18

Modal verbs - past

Something which was supposed to happen, but didn’t

Answer 18

Was/ were to have

He was to have left yesterday (he was supposed to leave, but he didn’t)

Question 19

Modal verbs - past

(Past) Certainty and uncertainty

Answer 19

Modal + have + past participle

• You must have left your passaport on the plane
• Lina can’t have written this
• Maria might/may/could have taken the bus

Question 20

Modal verbs - past

(Past) Obligation

Answer 20

Had to/ didn’t have to/ didn’t need to/ needn’t have done

Must has no past form, we use had to

When I was at school, we had to/didn’t have to wear a uniform

Question 21

Modal verbs - past

(Past) Opinions and advice

Answer 21

Modal + have + past participle

I think you should have worked harder
You shouldn’t have eaten so much