PRACTICE WITH MODAL VERBS

PRACTICE WITH MODAL VERBS

1. Can, could, may

Exercise 1 Two colleagues are rearranging a meeting. Complete the conversation with
a) can, b) can't , c) be able to, or d)been able to.

HELEN: Jane, I'm afraid that I won't 1 be able to see you on Friday. I've got to see some clients and they make it any other time.

JANE: Don't worry, we easily meet next week. How would Tuesday morning suit you?

HELEN: That's fine, I come and pick you up at the station.

JANE: That's very kind of you, but my car will be back from the garage, so I will drive up.

HELEN: I'm sorry about the delay.

JANE: That's fine, really. I haven't do much work on the proposal, and now I've got an extra weekend, I'll look at it in more detail.

Exercise 2 Complete the sentences using either could or managed to. (It is possible to use was/were able to in all these sentences.)

1. We had a very successful meeting, and we managed to make the publishers agree to giving us a 56% discount.

2. The walls in the hotel were very thin, and I hear people talking in the next room.

3. Although the meeting finished early, we cover the main points.

4. The machine was no longer in production, but at last we find a spare part from a supplier in Scotland.

5. She was brought up in Paris , so by the time she was five she speak French perfectly.

6. He was a brilliant salesman and sell anything to anyone.

7. Although I was at the back of the hall, I hear very clearly.

8. It was very difficult to find a suitable office, but in the end we rent one near the Central Station.

Exercise 3 Match the first part of the sentences in column A with the right endings in column B.

A	B
1) Peter could have got a job in the overseas division,	A. he could have explained things more clearly.
2) He was lucky that he was only slightly injured in the accident, because	B. he was lucky they only fined him L 500.
3) We could have met our sales targets	C. he could have lost a great deal of money.
4) I didn't think the presentation was very good, and that	D. but they decided to accept the 2.5% pay offer.
5) The unions could have gone on strike	E. but unfortunately one of our main customers cancelled a major order.
6) He could have stayed at the Hilton	F. but the political situation stopped us from opening an office there.
7) The results last year were very bad	G. but he didn't want to live abroad.
8) He could have been sent to prison for drinking and driving, so	H. but he decided to get a room at the Holiday Inn instead.
9) He was lucky he sold his shares when he did, because	I. he could have been killed.
10) We could have done a great deal of business in Iraq	J. but they could have been worse.

Exercise 4 Complete the sentences using can, can't, or a form of (not) be able to.

1. If we send the parcel by second class post, it'll take a week. But if you like, ... we can send it first class.

2. I've been trying to find a solution to the problem all week, but so far .

3. She could easily get a job as an interpreter because .

4. If business goes well this year, we will .

5. If you have a credit card, .

Exercise 5 Complete the following sentences using could + perfect infinitive (could have done).

1. In the end I decided to turn down their offer of a job, but .

2. The machine had an electrical fault and was dangerous. You're lucky you didn't touch it, because .

3. She left the company a month before the top job became vacant. That was unfortunate for her, because .

4. It's a pity we placed such a large order just before they cut their prices. We .

2. Must, have to, have got to, needn't, can't, to be allowed to

Exercise 1 Choose the correct word or phrase in italics to complete each sentence.

1.You save a file before you turn the computer off, or you will lose it.

2. I'm afraid this is a non-smoking office, so you smoke in here.

3. Employees are reminded that they use the office phone to make personal calls.

4. You send that reminder to Eastwood's – they paid the invoice this morning.

5. In countries like Iran , you buy or sell alcohol.

6. This income tax be completed and returned to the Inland Revenue within 30 days.

7. You come to the meeting if you have more important things to do.

8. This information is highly confidential, so you discuss it with anyone.

9. As you are from the European Union, you have a visa to go to France .

10.Drivers wishing to hire a car be over 21 and have a full driving license.

Exercise 2 Write sentences using the prompts with must, needn't, or mustn't.

1. James needs these documents urgently. (fax them to him immediately)

You must fax them to him immediately.

2. Good, we all seem to agree. (discuss the matter any further)

3. We've still got plenty of stock. (order any more yet)

4. Our health care products are selling really well. (make sure we keep our market share)

5. I hear you're coming over to England next month. (give me a ring)

6. I've got a very important meeting this afternoon. (be late)

Exercise 3 Fill in the blanks with a) didn't need to or b) needn't have.

1. We were worried we might have to cut the workforce, but we got some large orders, so we make anyone redundant.

2. We sent the manager of our Istanbul branch some important documents by air courier, but we spent so much money because he was away on holiday at the time.

3. An interpreter came with us to a meeting with some Japanese clients, but we hired he because they all spoke excellent English.

4. The negotiation in Hamburg went very well, so we spend the whole week there and we came back a day early.

Exercise 4 Write down what the following people might say in these situations using must, needn't, or mustn't.

1. A supervisor in a supermarket hears a check-out operator being rude to a customer.

‘You mustn't talk to customers like that.'

2. A clerk in a store is explaining to a customer that refunds cannot be given without a receipt.

...

3. A pension salesman is explaining that there is no obligation to pay contributions every month.

...

4. You have just heard a colleague give a terrible presentation. Give him some advice.

...

5. You notice that a colleague uses the ‘save' facility on his computer every ten minutes. You know that the computer has an ‘auto-save' facility.

...

6. You overhear a temporary secretary discussing travel insurance with a travel agent. Your company has a policy that covers all the employees.

...

3. May, might, could, must, can't

Exercise 1 Match the first part of the sentences (1-10) with an appropriate ending (A-J).

A	B
1. I'll send you the letter now, so	A they could go wrong at any time.
2.There are no vacancies at the moment, but	B. there could be a strike soon.
3.The machines are getting very old, and	C. you might get it tomorrow morning
4.The Director is under a lot of pressure from the board, so	D. she may want to discuss it with you.
5.The new range of sun creams looks very exciting, and we think	E. there could be some in a few months.
6.I've shown your advert to the Marketing Manager, and	F. I could be sent to the Argentina office next year.
7.The power generators are stockpiling supplies of coal because	G. he may sell the company.
8.He's thinking of retiring from the family business, and	H. they may sign it this afternoon.
9.We're expanding in Latin America, so	I. it may capture about 15% of the market.
10.They're reading the contract now, and	J. he might have to resign.

Exercise 2 Write sentences using might, can't, must, and a suitable infinitive (e.g., have done, have been done, have been doing).

1. They say they definitely sent the shipment, but it never arrived.

(They/must/send it/wrong address)

They must have sent it to the wrong address.

2. You receive a memo saying that a company's phone number has changed. (They/must/move/new premises)

3. You have come for a 10 o'clock meeting. It is now 10.15 and no-one else is there. (The meeting/must/be cancelled)

4. It is 12.20. You ring a colleague but there is no reply. (he/might/go to lunch)

5. She was engaged when I rang her but I don't know who she was talking to. (She/might/be phoning/Sales Department)

6. The equipment was repaired last week, but it has gone wrong again. (It/can't/repair/properly)

Exercise 3 Rewrite each of the following sentences using might, can't, must, and a suitable infinitive.

1. It's possible that they will give us the discount that we want.

They ... might give us the discount we want.

2. Judging by the phone bill, I am sure she has been making long international calls.

Judging by the phone bill, she .

3. The factory is on a 3-day week. I'm sure they aren't selling many cars.

The factory is on a 3-day week. They .

4. It was a very bad deal. I am sure they lost a lot of money.

It was a very bad deal. They .

5. There's chance she will be promoted at the end of the year.

She .

6. She seemed surprised to see me, so I am sure she wasn't expecting me.

She seemed surprised to see me. She .

7. He went home at 4.30, so I am sure he hasn't heard the announcement.

He went home at 4.30, so he .

4. Shall, should, ought to.

Exercise 1 Match the comments in column A with the comments in column B.

A	B
1. I'm afraid I'm tied up all this week.	A. OK, I've got them here. Shall I fax them to you?
2.Can you turn the heating down?	B. That's OK. Shall I pick you up from the airport?
3.Is the next interviewee here yet?	C. That's OK. Shall I ring back this afternoon?
4.Is that the new screen I ordered?	D. Yes. Where shall I put it?
5.I'm sorry, but I'm in a meeting at the moment.	E. I'm not sure yet. Shall we send you a quote in a few days?
6.How much is this going to cost?	F. No, but shall I open the window for you?
7.I don't know London very well.	G. That's OK. Shall we arrange a meeting for next week?
8.I need to see the plans. Today, if possible.	H. Yes, she is. Shall I send her in?

Exercise 2 Rewrite these suggestions. Use the word in capitals.

1. Shall we have lunch at Le Manoir? (WHY)

Why don't we have lunch at Le Manoir?

2. I advise you to prepare for the interview carefully. (SUGGEST)

3. Why don't we wait until the next financial year? (HOW)

4. Let's organize a leaving party for Mr. Simpson. (WHAT)

5. I suggest that you think about it and let me know your decision. (WHY)

6. How about sharing a taxi to the station? (LET'S)

7. I think you should check her references before offering her the job. (ADVISE)

8. Let's see if we can subcontract this work. (WHY)

Exercise 3 Fill in the blanks with the verbs from the box in the active or passive.

Ought/accompany	ought/not/bring	should/deposit
should/not/leave	should/meet	should/report

TO ALL STAFF: SECURITY

Following a number of recent thefts from the office, please remember the following points:

VISITORS

Visitors should be met at Reception by a member of staff. They at all times. You anyone who is acting suspiciously to a member of the security staff at reception.

VALUABLES

It possible, you large amounts of personal cash, or valuable items such as jewellery to the office. Handbags and wallets unattended. Any large amounts of cash or traveller's cheques in the safe.

Êîìïüþòåðíûé äèçàéí è ïðîãðàììèðîâàíèå: Å.Â. Êàáàêîâà, A.C.Íîñèêîâ