MODALS AND MODAL PERFECTS
A. Complete the sentences with the correct form of CAN, COULD or BE ABLE TO. If it is
possible to use CAN/COULD or BE ABLE, use CAN/COULD.
1.He is very fit for his age. He .........................(run) really fast.
2.I´d like....................................(work) with you one day.
3.He ......................................(not climb) up to the top;he was too scared.
4.If they hadn´t phoned for an ambulance, he...............................................(die)
5.I love.......................................(spend) all morning in bed at the weekends.
6.I ..........................................(not understand) what he says: he speaks too quickly.
B. Put these sentences into the past, using the perfect infinitive.
1. You shouldn´t say that. ...............................................................................
2. They might not go. ......................................................................................
3. She couldn´t know. ....................................................................................
4. The machine ought to work. .......................................................................
5. They can´t leave ..........................................................................................
6. We ought to stop them. ...............................................................................
7. Should I tell the teacher? ............................................................................
8. Could they help me? ....................................................................................
9. Ought I to stay? ...........................................................................................
10. He can´t be there ........................................................................................
11. They might not like it ....................................................................................
12. He may agree ..............................................................................................
13. Couldn´t John drive the car? ........................................................................
14. Shouldn´t he check the information? ...........................................................
C. Put COULD, MUST, SHOULD, MIGHT, or CAN´T in the past tense in the spaces
provided. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.
1. How did you know about the wedding? Someone ............................................. (tell) you!
2. The money was on the desk: I .......................................(take) it, but I didn´t.
3. I know you were angry, but you.............................................(not be) so rude.
4. I don´t know who sent these flowers; it ...........................................(be) Jane.
5. She ......................................(not move) abroad – she hates foreign countriues.
6. .......................................(you not be) just a little more polite?
7. They ..............................................(not know) about the plans for the new factory – it´s not
possible.
8. I think you ............................................(tell) your parents you were going to be late. They were
very worried.
9. They ............................................(not get) into the house through a window. they were all closed.
10. They .............................................( not leave) without being seen by anybody.
11. I .................................................(go) for a swim if I´d wanted to.
12. You .........................................(apologise) for being late.
13. We don´t know who took the money. The office was full of people and it ................................
(be) any of them.
14. I ............................................(not say) such a terrible thing.
15. I ............................................(not leave) my keys at home – I´m sure they were in my pocket.
16. He ...........................................(warn) us that he was going to leave his job.
17. She tried to contact me, but the phone ................................................(be) engaged.
