Module 3. Grammar topic 3.1 revision of modal verbs placement test

a). Fill in the gaps with any appropriate modal verb.

1. You _____well think it’s possible, but I doubt it.

2. Jack is a bit overweight. He _____ do more regular exercise.

3. That ____ be Ann over there – she has gone away for a week.

4. They got here so fast, they ______ run all the way.

5. You ____ think he is ugly, but I find him quite attractive.

6. He ____ (not) have told you my secret! I don’t believe you.

7. I’ve been looking for you everywhere: you _____have told me you’d be late.

8. When I first came to Madrid, I _____ speak only few words of Spanish.

9. Who ___ that be on the phone at that late hour? It ___ be Jane – she never phones so late. It _______ be Ann. She usually sits up late.

10. “Well, I ____ be going”, he said after a short pause.

11. “You _____ have taken her advice then”, Mary remarked. ”Now it’s too late”.

12. She ____ often get up and wander noiselessly round the house.

13. _____ you let me have a look at your newspaper?

14. You ____ laugh, but I don’t find anything funny about the whole thing.

15. You ___ (not) help me, I will do everything myself.

2. Underline the correct modal in the sentences below.

1. You need/must/might be a member of the library in order to borrow books.

2. Susan doesn’t need to/shouldn’t/couldn’t wear glasses because her eyesight is still quite good.

3. Did you have to/ Must you/Should you have your hair cut before the interview?

4. Although I’m good at physics, I don’t think I could/might/will be able to pass my exam next week.

5. That must/could/might be Martha on the phone – she’s the only person with my new number.

6. You could/should/must at least have asked me for advice before going there..

7. He can’t/ mustn’t/ shouldn’t have been the murderer because he has an excellent alibi.

8. Would/Could/Should you mind giving me a hand?

9. It may/can/must be cold tomorrow.

10. I could/ should/ would have told him about it last week if he’d asked me.

Task 1. Comment on the meaning of modal verbs in the sentences below.

1. He’s not here - he must have left. (deduction).

2. Shall I carry that for you? (willingness)

3. They won’t be here for a while. (prediction).

4. Would you like me to carry that for you?(willingness)

5. You must phone me as soon as you have left. (giving orders)

6. They said they would be here soon.(prediction)

7. You should make less noise when other people are asleep. (complaining)

8. You have to wear a uniform.(=It’s a regulation) (obligation)

9. You could at least have asked me before taking the money.(complaining)

10. Could I ask you to do me a favour? (making requests)

11. The Prime Minister is to visit our city next week. (arrangement or plan for the future)

12. Visitors may not use the car park.(prohibition)

13. The interview can be arranged for the next week.(possibility)

14. Ann must be in France now (= I’m certain)(certainty)

15. Who could have done such a terrible thing? (incredulity)

Task 2. Decide whether the following statements about the use of modal verbs are true or false. Correct the false statements. Use some examples from Task 1 to illustrate your answer.

1. There are 10 modal verbs in English: can, may, must, could, might, ought to, shall, should, will, would. Modals are quite different from other verbs in forms and functions./T

2. The same modal can express different meanings and perform different functions./T

3. Different modals cannot express similar meanings./F

4. Modals can affect the level of formality and politeness./T

5. Modals do not exist in all tenses./T

6. Must is often personal and expresses someone’s opinion, while have to often refers to laws and regulations./T

7. Sometimes we can use one modal verb after another./F

8. Could always has past meaning./F

9. When you ask for permission, could is more polite than can and less hesitant./F

10. May not is used to express strong prohibition./T

11. To express probability or prediction we use modal verbs should, ought to, will, would/T

12. When we want to complain, we use could, should(not), ought (not),

13. The construction be with the infinitive is often used to talk about arrangements and plans for the future./T

14. We can’t use modals with the passive forms of the verb./F

15. Can and must are used to express positive and negative certainty. / T

Task 3. Complete the sentences with the verbs in parenthesis. Use must, should, may, might, could, have to, be to, needn’t. In some sentences more than one modal is possible. The first one is done for you.

1. Look! Those people who are coming in the door are carrying wet umbrellas. It (rain). It must be raining.

2. Why is Margaret in her room? = I don’t know. She (do) __________ her homework.

3. Do you smell smoke? – I sure do. Something (burn)_________.

4. What are you doing? – I’m watching TV, but I (study) ___. I have a test tomorrow.

5. Did Ed really mean what he said yesterday? – I don’t know. He (kid) ____ when he said that but who knows?

6. Let’s go to the lecture tonight. It (be____ interesting.

7. Here are tour tickets. Your flight (depart) ____from Gate 15 at 6.27.

8. Hmm. I wonder what’s causing the delay. Ellen’s plane (be) ___ here an hour ago.

9. I don’t have enough money to take the bus, so I (walk) ____ home.

10. Hurry up, we’re late! We (be ready) ___ hours ago.

11. ( borrow) _____your calculator for a moment? – I’m sorry but I’m using it.

12. Terry has done so little work, he (come) ______ to class today.

13. I locked the door, so that we (continue) ___ our discussion undisturbed.

14. You (go) ___ shopping today. We have everything for dinner,

15. The traffic warden said we (park) ____ the car outside the bank.

Task 4. Discuss the differences in meaning, if any, in the following groups of sentences.

1. a. Can I use your phone?

b. Could I use your phone?

c. May I use your phone?

2. a. You should take an English course.

b. You ought to take an English course.

c. You must take an English course.

d. You‘re supposed to take an English course.

3. a. You should see a doctor about that cut on your arm.

b. You had better see a doctor about that cut on your arm.

c. You have to see a doctor about that cut on your arm.

4. a. You must not use that door.

b. You don’t have to use that door.

5. - There is a knock at the door. Who do you suppose it is?

a. It might be Sally.

b. It may be Sally.

c. It could be Sally.

d. It must be Sally.

6. Where’s Jack?

a. He might have gone home.

b. He must have gone home.

c. He had to go home.

7. a. Each student should have a health certificate.

b. Each student is to have a health certificate

c. Each student has to have a health certificate

8. a. If you have a problem you should talk to Mrs. Anderson.

b. If you have a problem you could talk to Mrs. Anderson.

9. I needed some help.

a. You should have asked Tom.

b. You could have asked Tom.

10. a. When I was living at home, I would go to the beach every weekend.

b. When I was living at home, I used to go to the beach every weekend.

Task 5. Modals meaning. Choose the correct word to complete each conversation.

1. We might/can be away for a week. Is there enough food? –Maybe not. Let’s pack a little more in case we stay longer.

2. Should/Might we drive around in the nature preserve? – We’d better not. The roads are bad.

3. Do you think it’s going to rain? - It can’t/ may not. I don’t see any clouds.

4. We’d better not/might not forget the camera this time. – I know. Last year, we can’t/weren’t able to take pictures.

5. I hear the phone. Who could/should that be? – It must/ couldn’t be the kids. I told them to call before we left.

6. You’d better/may not remind Kate to feed the dog. – You are right. She is so busy, she should/might not remember.

7. Well, we can/must always call her on the cell phone and remind her. – How were we able/ did we have to survive without cell phones?

8. Did I turn off the stove? I just can’t/may not remember. – Maybe we should/shouldn’t check the house one more time.

9. I think the clerk is the killer. – It couldn’t/might not be the clerk. She was on a plane to Paris at the time of the last murder. Remember?

10. Do you think the Browns aren’t Jane’s real family? – They can’t/must be. She looks just like them.

Task 6. Read each numbered statement. Then choose the sentence (a or b) that best describes the situation. The first one is done for you.

1. I shouldn’t have called him.

1. I called him.

2. I didn’t call him.

2. My parents ought to have moved away from that neighbourhood.

1. They are going to move, but they are not sure when.

2. Moving was a good idea, but they didn’t do it.

3. I should have told them what I thought.

1. I didn’t tell them, and now I regret it.

2. I told them, and that was a big mistake.

4. We could have told you the movie was no good.

1. We didn’t know you were planning to go, we didn’t tell you.

2. We haven’t seen the movie yet, so we can’t tell you about it.

5. He might have warned us about the traffic.

1. He didn’t know, so he couldn’t tell us.

2. He knew, but he didn’t tell us.

6. Patricia could have been a vice president by now.

1. Patricia didn’t become a vice president.

2. Patricia is a vice president.

7. I ought to have practiced more.

1. I practiced enough.

2. I didn’t practice enough.

8. They shouldn’t have lent him their car.

1. They refused to lend him their car.

2. They lent him their car.

Task 7. Error analysis. Read the journal entry. Find and correct six mistakes in the use of modals. The first mistake is already corrected.

December 15

About a week ago, Jennifer was late for work again, and Doug, our boss, told me he wanted to get rid of her. I was really upset. Of course, Jennifer shouldn’t had/ have been late so often , but he might has talked to her about the problem before he decided to let her go. Then he told me to make her job difficult for her so that she would quit. I just pretended I didn’t hear him. What a mistake! I ought have confronted him right away.. Or I could at least have warned Jennifer. Anyway, Jennifer is still here, but now I’m worried about my own job. Should I told the boss? I wonder. Maybe I should handle things differently last week. The company should never hired her.

Task 8. Mind the difference between used to do and be/get used to doing. Add an appropriate form of be if necessary.

1. I ____ used to sitting at this desk. I sit here every day.

2. I ______ to sit in the back of the classroom, but now I prefer to sit in the front row.

3. When I was a child, I ______ to play games with my friends after school.

4. A teacher ____ used to answering questions. Students, especially good students, always have a lot of questions.

5. People _______ used to believe that the world was flat

6. Mrs. Hansen _____used to do all the laundry and cooking for her family. Now the children are older and Mrs. Hansen has gone back to teaching.

7. Trains ____ used to be the main means of cross-continental travel. Today most people take airplanes for long-distance travel.

8. Mrs. Stanton’s job requires her to travel extensively throughout the world.

She ____ used to travelling by plane.

9. You and I are from different cultures. You ____ used to having fish for breakfast. I ____used to having cheese and bread for breakfast.

10. I have lived here for a long time. I ______used to hot weather.

Task 9. Use would to express a repeated action in the past whenever possible in the following sentences. Otherwise, use used to. The first sentence is done for you.

1. I (be) used to be very shy. Whenever a stranger came to our house, I(hide) would hide in a closet.

2. I remember my aunt Susan very well. Every time she came to our house, she (give) _____ me a big kiss and pinch my cheek.

3. Illiteracy is still a problem in some African countries, but it (be) _____ much worse.

4. I (be) ______ afraid of flying. My heart (start) ____ pounding every time I stepped on a plane. But now I’m used to flying.

5. I got a new bicycle when I was ten. My friends (ask)_____ to ride it, but for years I(let, never)_____anyone else use it.

6. When my grandfather was a boy and had a cold, his mother (make) ____ him go to bed. Then she (put) _____ goose fat on his chest.

7. When I was a child, I (take) ____ a flashlight to bed with me so that I could read comic books without my parents’ knowing it.

8. Last summer my sister and I took a camping trip to the Rocky mountains.It was a wonderful experience. Every morning we (wake) _____ up to the sound of singing birds.

9. I can remember Mrs. Sawyers fifth grade class well. When we arrived each morning, she (sit) ______ at her desk. She (smile) ____ and say hello to each student as he or she entered.

10. When the bell rang, she (stand) _____ up and (clear)_____ her throat. That was our signal to be quiet. Class was about to begin.

Task 10. Alan went sailing and got lost in a storm. He was rescued by a ship. When the captain heard Alan’s story, he was not very sympathetic. Complete the captain’s sentences using the words in brackets with should, would, or could\might (in this situation they mean the same thing) in the correct form.The first sentence is done for you

Don’t you realize you (drift) could have drifted for days? You (even die) ___ if we hadn’t seen you. You (listen) ___ to the weather forecast before you left and you (check) ___ your petrol supply. You (not go) ___ sailing again until you learn to do it properly. You were lucky we had found you; we (easily miss) ___ you out in the open sea and then you (be) ___ in real trouble. If you went to classes you (know) ___ what to do and you (learn) ___ to be a real sailor, though I am not sure of that. You (take) ___ some waterproof clothes and a life jacket when you set out, and you (tell) ___ someone where you were going. In fact, you (go out) ___ at all if the weather’s been so changeable recently. If you had died it (be) ___ all your own fault, and you’re not a child either; you (still catch) ___ influenza, so keep warm.

Task 11. PRACTICE TRANSLATION. Translate from Russian (A)/ Ukrainian (B) into English, paying attention to the use of the modal verbs and the article.

А

1. Он, возможно, поедет в город после завтрака, но его жене придется остаться в деревне, чтобы присматривать за детьми.

2. Вам не нужно было ничего покупать. У нас все есть для обеда.

3. Вы предпочитаете жить в деревне, не так ли? – Да, я люблю погулять в хорошую погоду перед обедом и после ужина, а в городе я не получаю удовольствия от прогулки по улицам с оживленным движением.

4. Где Джон? – Он, должно быть, в школе. – Он не может быть в школе. Уроки давно кончились, и он, должно быть, играет сейчас в футбол.

5. Не может быть, что она отказалась от вашего предложения. Вам следовало ей все объяснить. Она, возможно, неправильно вас поняла.

6. Мы должны были встретиться перед ужином у Смитов, но он не пришел. Он, возможно, забыл обо всем и уехал в город.

7. Какой-то Петров звонил вам полчаса назад. Может быть, это тот Петров, который сдавал экзамен в прошлую среду?

8. У него, возможно, были хорошие намерения, но он сделал большую ошибку – не надо было рассказывать ей всю правду.

9. За завтраком он мог говорить только о своей поездке в город. Он хотел заставить нас поверить в то, что жизнь в городе гораздо интереснее, чем в деревне. Но ему не нужно было говорить нам об этом – мы были с ним согласны и давно решили, что переедем в город, как только сможем.

10. Недавно один мой приятель купил подлинного Пикассо у одного старого художника. – Неужели вы этому верите? Картина Пикассо сейчас может сто стоить миллионы долларов. Ваш друг, возможно, купил хорошую копию.

В

1. Він, можливо, поїде до міста після сніданку, але його дружині прийдеться залишитися у селі, щоб доглядати за дітьми.

2. Вам не треба було нічого покупати. У нас все є для обіду.

3.Ви вважаєте за краще жити у селі, чи не так? – Так, я люблю погуляти у гарну погоду перед обідом та після вечері, а у місті я не отримую задоволення від прогулянки вулицями зі жвавим рухом.

4.Де Джон? – Він, напевно, у школі.– Він не може бути у школі. Уроки давно закінчилися, і він, напевно, грає зараз у футбол.

5.Не може бути, щоб вона відмовилась від вашої пропозиції. Вам слід було їй усе пояснити. Вона, мабуть, невірно вас зрозуміла.

6. Ми мали зустрітися перед вечерею у Смітів, але він не прийшов. Він, можливо, забув про все і поїхав з міста.

7. Якийсь Петров телефонував вам півгодини тому. Можливо, це той Петров, який складав іспит минулої середи?

8.У нього, мабуть, були гарні наміри, але він зробив велику помилку – не треба було розповідати їй усю правду.

9. За сніданком він міг розмовляти лише про свою подорож до міста. Він хотів змусити нас повірити у те, що життя у місті набагато цікавіше, ніж у селі. Однак йому не треба було говорити нам про це – ми були з ним згодні і давно вирішили, що переїдемо до міста, як тільки зможемо.

10. Нещодавно один мій приятель купив справжнього Пікассо у одного старого художника. – Невже ви цьому вірите? Картина Пікассо зараз може стоїти мільйони доларів. Ваш приятель, мабуть, купив гарну копію.

Task 12.* Talking about grammar.

1. “There’s someone at the door.

All right, I …

Express your intention.

2. “I should be glad if you won”, he said.

He said he would be glad if I won.

“I should stop smoking”, he said.

He said he should stop smoking.

Why should? Why would?

3. If you should visit Paris, you should climb the Eiffel Tower. What might I do and what ought I to do?

4. By working hard we were able to succeed.

By working hard we could succeed.

Does were able to = could here?

5.Distinguish between:

The government can do something about it.

The government may do something about it.

6.Suicide can be fatal.

Why can’t we say this?

7. Distinguish between:

The rain has got to stop sometime. This cheating has got to stop, Jenkins.

8.Distinguish between:

George had to stop to rest.

George must have stopped to rest.

9.(Doorbell rings.)

That will be David again.

When?

10.Sidney should be in Paris by now.

Is the speaker sure that Sidney is in Paris?

11.Might I ask what you’re doing here?

When might I?

Might he ask what we’re doing here?

When might he?

12.You have to drive on the right.

Does this mean:

I order you to drive on the right.

Or:

You are required by regulations to drive on the right.

13.You mustn’t stand in the bath while switching the light on.

You needn’t stay in the bath while switching the light on.

Same or different?

14.Need you leave so soon?

Yes, I need.

What’s wrong with this?

15. I could have passed the exam.

Have I, or didn’t I?