Modal Verbs

Walberto Esteban Ortega Páez

Caribbean University Corporation – CECAR

English Grammar

German Buritica Quintero

10/10/2022
Corporación Universitaria del Caribe (CECAR)

Workshop

1) Mr. Burns is 75 years old now. What could he do when he was young but can’t do

now? Make sentences using the prompts below as in the example.

e.g. He could play volleyball but now he can’t.

a) play volleyball

- He could play volleyball but now he can’t

Modal verbs
b) dive

- He could dive but now he can’t.

c) dance all night

- He could dance all night but now he can’t.

d) eat a lot

- He could eat a lot but now he can’t.

e) walk for miles

- He could walk for miles but now he can’t.

f) lift heavy things

Unit 4
- He could lift heavy things but now he can’t.

2) Fill in the gaps with can, can’t, could or couldn’t.

b) Peter is nineteen. He can drive a car

c) Mr. Thompson is 70 years old. He can’t see very well so he wears glasses

d) When I was 5 years old, I could only count to ten

e) When Kate was two, she couldn’t read a newspaper

f) It was cold yesterday so we couldn’t go out

g) Could /can you answer the phone please?

h) I couldn’t walk when I broke my leg

i) Can I take this pencil, please?

j) Could you sing when you were a small child?

3) Choose the correct answer

• I _C_ climb up a ladder at the age of three.

a) May b) can c) couldn’t

• John can play the Piano very well now

a) May b) can c) could

• May you post this letter for me, please?

a) May b) can c) can’t

• I couldn’t spell my name when I was four years old.

• Can Simon speak Spanish?

a) May b) can c) could

• Cindy could tell the time when she was five.

a) May b) can c) could

4) Read the situations. Make questions with May I… or Can I… as in the example.

a) You want to borrow your friend’s camera. What do you say to him?

Can I borrow your camera please?

b) You want to use the phone in your boss’s office. What do you say to him?

May I use my phone here in the office?

c) You want to invite some friends to dinner. What do you say to your mother?

Mother, Can I invite some friends to dinner?

d) You want to speak to your boss. What do you say to him?

May I speak to you, Sir?

e) You and your brother want to play in the garden. What do you say to your father?

Dad, Can we play in the garden?

f) You and a friend want to go to Helen’s party. What do you say to your parents?

Mom, Dad, Can I go with my friend to Helen's party?

5) Fill in mustn’t or needn’t.

a) You mustn’t play with matches. It’s dangerous

c) I needn’t go to the bank. I have got some money

d) We mustn’t stay out late. We have to get up early tomorrow

e) You mustn’t feed the dog. I’ll do it

f) I mustn’t forget to buy some milk. There isn’t any left

g) You mustn’t talk during the exam

h) You needn’t phone Julia. She’s coming here later.

i) You needn’t take your umbrella. It has sopead raining

j) You mustn’t park here. There is a “No parking” Sign

6) Underline the correct word.

a) I must/mustn’t go to school every day

b) Can/cannot I borrow your pen please?

c) You must/mustn’t go out alone at night

d) I can/can’t show you where the office is. It’s next to my house

e) Can/must Susan come and play with me?

f) I can/Can’t go out tonight. I’m busy.

7) Complete the sentences with shall or will

a) You look tired. Shall I do the cooking tonight? “Oh yes Please”

b) I can’t do this exercise. Will you help me do it, Peter? “yes of course”

c) This room is in a mess. Shall I clean it? “Yes please”

I’ll get one for you”

e) The phone is ringing. Shall I answer it for you? “No thanks. I’ll get it”

8) Correct the mistakes.

a) I must having a bath

I must have a bath

b) You can’t to go out tonight

You can’t go out tonight

c) Shall you water the flowers this afternoon?

Will you water the flowers this afternoon?

d) He must studies hard for his exams

He must study hard for his exams.

e) She must helping her mother today

She must help her mother today.

f) They needn’t to stay here any more

They needn’t stay here any more.

g) I can’t do puzzles when I was four years old.

I couldn’t do puzzles when I was four years old.

place where you work.

1. I must organize my room every day.

2. I must not miss the teleclasses of my university every Saturday.

3. I must do all my homeworks on time to avoid inconvenience.

4. I must help my sister to practice English every Tuesday and Wednesday.

5. I must pick up my mother from work every day in the afternoon.

6. I mustn't miss soccer practices with my coach.

7. I must practice English at least one hour a day.

8. I mustn't use my computer when there is a strong storm.

9. I must not leave my things to do for later.

10. I mustn’t get up very late, since I have to go jogging very early.