modals 3

MUST or HAVE TO

1. I ... be at the meeting by 10:00. I will probably ... take a taxi if I want to be on time.

2. You ... submit the application if it has not been completely filled out. Check that the name, address, and background information are correct. If the form is not accurate and complete, you will be rejected and you will ... reapply at a later date.

3. Tina: Look at these flowers - they're beautiful! But, there's no card. Who could have sent them?
Stephanie: It ... have been David. He's the only one who would send you flowers.

4. You ... forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about paying on time.

5. You ... be so rude! Why don't you try saying "please" once in a while.

6. If you are over 18 in California, you ... take a driver training course to get a driver's license. You can have a friend or a family member teach you instead. But remember, you ... still get your permit before you start practicing.

7. You ... be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.

8. Ed: My car broke down in Death Valley last week. I ... have it towed more than a hundred miles to the nearest mechanic.
Lilly: That ... have cost a fortune!

9. While hiking in Alaska, you ... keep an eye out for bears. If you see one, you ... approach it. They are beautiful animals; however, they are wild and unpredictable in nature. You ... be afraid of them, but educating yourself about the dangers can help keep you safe.

10. I ... go to work tomorrow because it is Memorial Day. The best thing about a day off from work is that I ... get up at 6:00; I can sleep in till noon if I want to.

11. Yesterday, I ... cram all day for my French final. I didn't get to sleep until after midnight.

12. Nate: Oh no! I completely forgot we were supposed to pick Jenny up at the airport.
Barbara: She ... still be sitting there waiting for us.

13. Ingrid received a scholarship to Yale University which will cover 100% of the tuition. She ... worry at all about the increasing cost of education.

14. When I was a child my grandmother was continually correcting our manners. She always used to say, "One ... eat with one's mouth open." Or, she would correct us by saying, "One ... rest one's elbows on the table."

modals 2

CHOOSE ONE MODAL FROM THE LIST TO REPLACE THE MODAL IN THE SENTENCE

can • not have to • may • ought to • must • could

1. People should drink a lot in summer.

2. When Mia was younger, she was able to run very fast. 

3. Are you able to adapt to new situations? 

4. Could I please leave the room? 

5. You have to stop for red lights. 

6. He needn’t come if he doesn’t want to. 

CHOOSE

Have you lost your job? Has your girlfriend left you? Perhaps you (1) must have / should have tried Feng Shui – the ancient Chinese art of placement. Feng Shui teaches us that we (2) could / can transform our lives if we learn how to arrange the things around us properly. It tells us that objects (3) could not / ought to be placed in a way that increases energy flow.

According to Feng Shui, there are certain rules we (4) should / might follow when planning our homes and workplaces. If we follow these rules, we (5) aren’t able to / can create harmony in our lives. First, we (6) mustn’t / ought to keep things we don’t need. They take up space and (7) might / needn’t block energy flow. In addition, we (8) are able to / need to think positive thoughts. We (9) have to / might not make these changes in our lives if we hope to live in harmony, and Feng Shui shows us how.

COMPLETE WITH ONE MODAL PERFECT

should have • couldn’t have • must have • might have • shouldn’t have

1. They ... (judge) him so quickly. He was innocent.

2. Amy ... (apologise) to Jack after the argument. I’m glad to see they’re still friends.

3. Daniel ... (offend) his brother. He’d never do anything to hurt him.

4. I think the waiter ...(make) a mistake in the bill but I‘m not sure.

5. You ... (wear) something more appropriate. The invitation said “formal dress”.

CHOOSE

1. I can’t / don’t have to / needn’t see without my glasses.

2. There’s school tomorrow, so we could / have to / are able to be home early tonight.

3. It’s cold. I think you can / are able to / ought to take a sweater.

4. We’ll look after you. You needn’t / can’t / may not be afraid.

5. The doctors say Uncle Jeff doesn’t have to / might not / mustn’t work so hard.

Match each sentence in A to a continuation in B.

A                                         B

1. You could tidy your room.                                         a He’s a great player.

2. She can’t have known about the party.                   b. It’s not on the table.

3. They shouldn’t have left without us.                         c. She’d already heard.

4. Someone must have taken the letter.                     d. It wasn’t nice of them.

5. The coach ought to choose Joe for the team.       e. It was a big secret.

6. I didn’t have to tell Betty what had happened.       f. It would look much nicer.

Choose the correct continuation.

1. He must have known we were coming.

a. He prepared a delicious meal. 

b. He looks so surprised.

2. You shouldn’t have eaten so quickly.

a. You don’t want to be sick. 

b. You will be sick.

3. They could have bought it.

a. They had enough money.

 b. They didn’t have enough money.

4. She might have called.

a. I am at home. The phone didn’t ring. 

b. I wasn’t at home. I don’t know.

5. My parents couldn’t have seen that film.

a. They would have told me. 

b. They aren’t going out tonight.

COMPLETE WITH A MODAL PERFECT AND THE VERB IN BRACKETS

1. There isn’t one mistake in this composition. Bill ……………………………… (write) it without help.

2. There’s no water in the dog’s bowl. He ……………………………… (drink) it all.

3. We’ve missed the bus. We ……………………………… (leave) the house earlier.

4. You ……………………………… (tell) me about the sale, but I don’t remember.

Complete the sentences using a modal or modal perfect from A and the correct form
of a verb from B.

                                                A
can’t • couldn’t have • should have
won’t have to • may • needn’t have

                           B

snow • call • read • be • bring • do

 


1. I’m sorry we were out. You … to tell us you were coming.

2. Thanks, but you … any drinks. We’ve got plenty.

3. Your handwriting is terrible. I … it.

4. It’s very cold. It … tonight.

5. Everything will be ready tonight. We … anything tomorrow.

6. She … a model. She wasn’t tall enough.

MODAL VERBS: choose

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He had better / can / must be exhausted after such a long flight.

2. The book is optional. My professor said we could read it if we needed extra credit. But we must not / cannot / don't have to read it if we don't want to.

3. Susan can't / couldn't / might not hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.

4. The television isn't working. It must  / must have been / must be damaged during the move.

5. Kate: Are you able to / Might you / Can you hold your breath for more than a minute?
Jack: No, I can't.

6. You don't have to / shouldn't /  can't be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.

7. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the answer key. The answer in the book have to / must / should be wrong!

8. You couldn't / won't be able to /   can't do the job if you didn't speak Japanese fluently.

9. You shouldn't / don't have to /    can't worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.

10. You ought to / should / have to be kidding! That can't be true.

11. You may / might / would leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused yourself.

12. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It must be costing / must cost / must have cost a fortune.

13. Shall / Must / Will we move into the living room? It's more comfortable in there and there's a beautiful view of the lake.

14. If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I would be floating  /  would float /  would have float down the Colorado River right now.

15. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told my boss that he must / has to / ought to take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the position.

16. You had better / can / has to take along some cash. The restaurant may not accept credit cards.

17. The machine may turn / could be turning / can be turned on by flipping this switch.

18. I can't stand these people - I had better / have got to / might get out of here. I'm going to take off for awhile while you get rid of them.

19. You don't have  to / mustn't / couldn't forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about paying on time.

20. Do you always have to say the first thing that pops into your head. Can't / Can not / Don't can you think once in a while before you speak?

21. Terry and Frank said they would come over right after work, so they can / have to / should be here by 6:00.

22. Yesterday, I must / should / had to cram all day for my French final. I didn't get to sleep until after midnight.

modal verbs: uses

Certainty - necessity - recommendation -  - ability - opportunity -   permission - request - possibility -
probability - past ability -  suggestion - conditional - obligation - give permission - request permission - strong recommendation  - expectation - lack of obligation - prohibition -  advice

1 This must be the right address!
2 Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school.
3 You must take some medicine for that cough.
4 Jenny, you must not play in the street! 

5 I can ride a horse.

6 We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris.  
7 She cannot stay out after 10 PM.
8 Can you hand me the stapler?
9 Any child can grow up to be president. 

 

10 Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city.  

11 Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of
12 You could see a movie or go out to dinner.
13 Could I use your computer to email my boss?
14 We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend.

15 This answer has tobe correct.

16 The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning.
17 They have to leave early.

18 Drivers have got to get a license to drive a car in the US.

19 I have got to be at work by 8:30 AM.

20 Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at work.

21 Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner.
22 May I use your bathroom?

23 Your purse might be in the living room.

24 If I didn't have to work, I might go with you.
25 You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit.26 Might I borrow your pen?

27 You ought to stop smoking.

28 Jim ought to get the promotion. It is expected because he deserves it.
29 This stock ought to increase in value. 
30 Mark ought not drink so much. 

31 When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam.

32 You should focus more on your family and less on work.
33 I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM.
34 By now, they should already be in Dubai.

 

LA HORA SIN DEMORA
VOCABULARY TO LEARN
make up = recuperar, compensar
sound
throughout
current
former
attitude
signal
appointment
bad manners
sign
signal
bad name
abroad
put off
achieve
encourage
towards
foreigner
shocked
upset
bother
schedule
punctuality
on time
be used to
get used to
actually
matter
mind
name after
call after
concerned
lateness
fulfill = do
to have a long road ahead
survey
event
aim at