Advanced English Grammar

Exercise 20. (Chapter 5)

Use could whenever possible in the following sentences – in other words, if could is possible, use it. Negative forms may be necessary. When could is not possible, use another appropriate form. Again, you may need to choose a negative form. Finally, decide in each case what kind of modality is being conveyed: permission, ability or mere possibility.

 

1.         He’d already had two sandwiches and a chocolate bar. He ___ eat anything else.

2.         She ___ date boys starting at the age of 16.

3.         Her results were very bad that term, but she ___ go to the dance all the same.

4.         Like modern-day elephants, mammoths ___ grow six sets of adult teeth in a lifetime.

5.         I ___ eat anything when I was a child. I wasn’t picky at all.

6.         He ___ ride a bike when he was six.

7.         We ___ smoke on the school premises. If we did, we got in trouble.

8.         Although I was exhausted, I ___ do my usual 10-mile run last night.

9.         When we walked into the house last night, we ___ smell something burning.

10.    The horse-drawn carts of the mid-1800s ___ reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

11.    He ___ speak Russian quite well when he was young.

12.    In the end, I ___ explain to the gendarme that my passport had been stolen.

13.    Sarah didn’t pick up when I phoned her, but I ___ contact her later via e-mail.

14.    Before Sarah was promoted, you ___ contact her at the office more easily.

15.    Several lucky concert-goers ___ go backstage last night to meet the band.

 

Exercise 21. (Chapter 5)

Choose can or can’t whenever possible in the following sentences. If can or can’t is unlikely or impossible, use will be able to or won’t be able to.

 

1.         The luxury hotel, if it is ever built, ______ accommodate thousands of guests.

2.         I do hope that you ______ enjoy your well-deserved time away next week.

3.         The doctor ______ see you next Monday afternoon if you’re free then.

4.         She ______ sleep tonight if she keeps drinking cup after cup of coffee.

5.         The manager ______ discuss the matter with us until later this afternoon. He’s in a meeting all morning.

6.         I ______ make it to the top of this hill unless I change into some more comfortable shoes.

7.         You ______ see very well after I put these drops in your eyes. Don’t worry, it’s temporary.

8.         Are you thirsty? I ______ whip us up some fancy cocktails, if you like. They’ll be ready in no time.

9.         Do you actually think that one day he ______ run a half marathon in under two hours?

10.    If they move that sign, drivers ______ tell which way the road goes.

11.    Sorry, but ______ help you move house next weekend. I’ll be on call, so I have to remain available.

12.    In a not-so-distant future, scientists ______ determine how these ecosystems function.

13.    I ______ have dinner with you sometime next week, but I’m afraid I’m booked up until then.

14.    Next year’s students ______ afford the textbook you’re suggesting if they raise the price.

 

Exercise 22. (Chapter 5)

Complete the sentences below, making use of one of the verbs from the list. In one sentence, use didn’t need to (+ verb stem); in the other, use needn’t have (+ past participle).

 

show                  work                   read                    do                        pretend

 

1.     (a) You _______ the complete works to understand that Shakespeare is a genius.

(b) I _______ Othello as I had seen the movie with Kenneth Branagh as Iago.

2.           (a)         He was very talented and _______ hard to pass his exams when he was at college.

(b) It’s been a waste of time and energy. We _______ so hard on this project.

3.     (a) I _______ I was a relative to the groom. They just let me walk in without asking who I was.

(b)   Bond _______ he was interested in striking a business deal. The entire party knew he was on a mission for M.

4.     (a) My mum forgot her ID card at home. Fortunately, she _______ it since we were entering a Schengen country.

(b)   My mum always gets out her ID card the moment we approach a border. But since we were entering a Schengen country, she _______ it.

5.     (a) Jennifer had a job as a hostess during the summer. She _______ much ; she just had to be present and welcome the guests.

(b)   You _______ all this running around and getting things ready for dinner tonight. Our guests have just called to cancel off.

 

Exercise 23. (Chapter 5)

Put the verb in parentheses in the correct form: verb base, progressive infinitive or perfect infinitive. Each option will be used only once for each set of sentences. Then determine whether the modal sentences illustrate epistemic or non-epistemic modality, and whether they communicate possibility or necessity.

 

1.           (a) You should (prepare) for tomorrow’s exam.

(b) You should (put) your computer in a safer place when you’re away from home.

(c) You should (back up) that important document. It’s too late now.

2.           (a)         The computer should (have) a full charge. It’s been plugged in for a while.

(b) They should (arrive) by now – maybe they’ve been held up.

(c) They should (arrive) soon if indeed they left on time.

3.           (a)         Swimmers must (finish) within the top 16 in their event to go to regionals.

(b) We all must (work) when the boss walks in. Otherwise, she’ll accuse us of laziness.

(c) You must (be) 18 years old to participate in this study.

4.           (a)         John isn’t home yet. He must (work) late tonight.

(b) They must (finish) by now. They’ve been working for hours.

(c) She’s starting university soon, so she must (be) about 18.

5.           (a)         The bus driver didn’t stop. He must not (see) us.

(b) Rude wait staff must not (realize) that bad service means no tip.

(c) Ben is not in his office. He must not (work) today.

6.           (a)         Marie is unhappy at work. She might (quit) her job.

(b) She never got the package I sent. I might (send) it to the wrong address.

(c) Where’s Sarah? – I don’t know. She might (sleep).

 

Exercise 24. (Chapter 5)

The following examples all contain a conditional clause. Choose the right set of verbs from the list that is given. Specify whether the sentence refers to a possible situation or to a counterfactual situation.

 

1.         If she _____ last year, she _____ wait five years before receiving her annual [. . .] cost of living increase. (But since she retired early), she will only have to wait one year. (www.dailystandard.com)

hadn’t retired / would have had to

didn’t retire / would have to

retires / will have to

2.         If she _____ until next school year to retire, she _____ wait five years before receiving her annual [. . .] cost of living increase. (But since she retired early), she will only have to wait one year. (www.dailystandard.com)

had waited / would have had to

waited / would have to

waits / will have to

3.         3 If she _____ until next school year to retire, she _____ wait five years before receiving her annual [. . .] cost of living increase. That’s why she’s decided to retire at the end of this year. (www.dailystandard.com (adapted))

had waited / would have had to

waited / would have to

waits / would have to

4.         If she _____ until next school year to retire, she _____ wait five years before receiving her annual [. . .] cost of living increase. That’s why she thinks she might retire early. (www.dailystandard.com (adapted))

had waited / would have had to

waited / would have had to

waits / will have to

5.         If we _____ all the ingredients yesterday, we _____ able to make the cake today.

haven’t bought / won’t be

hadn’t bought / wouldn’t be

didn’t / won’t be

6.         If we _____ all the ingredients by tomorrow morning, we _____ able to make the cake tomorrow afternoon.

haven’t bought / won’t be

hadn’t bought / wouldn’t be

didn’t buy / won’t be

7.         If he _____ to our arguments, we might actually manage to convince him.

just listens

will just listen

just listens OR will just listen

8.         If he _____ to our arguments without actually thinking about them, we won’t get anywhere with him.

just listens

will just listen

just listens OR will just listen