Note: Could you please try to do the exercises only after you understood the lessons well and

use the correction to check your answers?

Correction of the practice on ability

Read these sentences. Complete them with can, could, or be able to. Choose between affirmative
and negative.

1. Stefan is enjoying his computer class. Two weeks ago, he couldn’t even use the mouse, but now
he can edit his homework. By next week, he will be able to do research on the Internet.

2. Suzan misses her family in Greece. She hasn’t been able to visit them for years, but they just
got an e-mail account, so now they can keep in touch daily.

3. I can’t understand how to set up a presentation. The software instructions don’t help. I think I’ll
take a professional development course. In a few months, maybe I will be able to make that
presentation.

4. Mike and I haven’t been able to get along since we started this business. He can’t work alone
(he needs people), and I can’t work in a group (I have to work alone). I hope we will be able to
work out our problems soon.

5. When the satellite is launched next week, scientists will be able to investigate the rings around
Saturn in more detail than ever before.

Correction of the practice on ability

Rewrite these sentences using can, could or may.

1. I’d like to talk to you for a minute, Bill. (friendly)

Can I talk to you for a minute?

2. I would like to use your phone. (more polite)

Could I use your phone?

3. I would like to stop work early today. (formal)

May I stop work early today?

4. Take my bike if you want to. (friendly)

You can take my bike.

5. Are the children allowed to go into pubs? (Part of a rule)

Can children go into pubs?

6. I don’t want you to come into my room. (Refuse)

You can’t come into my room.

7. I would like to speak to Jane, if she’s there. (polite)

Could I speak to Jane if she’s there?

8. I would like to have a soda. (friendly)

Can I have a soda?

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9. Are students allowed to use this library? (Rule)
Can students use the library?

10. I would like to pay you tomorrow. (polite)

I could pay you tomorrow.

3. POSSIBILITY.
[Link].

 It can be used for the present or the future to say that something is possible or that it is quite
likely.
-She may know the secret. (Perhaps she knows the secret.)
-This may be his last major speech before the election.
-I may go to the cinema tomorrow. (Perhaps I will go to the cinema)
-I’ll write the date of the meeting in my diary, otherwise I may forget it.
b. Might.

It is used in the same way as may for the present or the future.
-When Frank gets a job, I might get the money back.
-The news might come as a shock to many of the people present.
-There might be some cake left. I’ll go and look.
c. Could.

Could can also be used to say that something is possible.

-The story could be true, I suppose. (Possibly it is true)
-You could win a million dollars. (Possibly you will win …)
-‘Why isn’t Tim here yet?’ ‘It could be because his mother is ill again.

d. Can.

We use can in affirmative sentences when we talk about a more general possibility.
-The temperature can sometimes reach 40 C in August.
-The roads can be blocked if it keeps snowing.

Notice that after may/ might/ or could, we can use a continuous form (be + an ing- form)
-That man may/ might be watching us. (Perhaps he is watching us)
-Sarah may/ might be working late tonight. (Perhaps she will be working …)
-I’m not sure where Said is. He could be playing football. (Possibly he is playing …)
In negative sentences, the meaning of may not and might not is different from that of could not.
-Ann may not get the job.
-I might not finish the work tomorrow. (Something negative is possible)

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 -There are plans to rebuild the town center, but it can’t/ couldn’t happen for another ten
years. (It is impossible that it will happen …)
-There are plans to rebuild the town center, but it may not/ might not happen for another
ten years. (it is possible that it won’t happen …)

We do not use may to ask a question about the possibility of something happening. Instead we use,
for example, ‘could (n’t)’ or the phrase ‘be likely’.
-Could it be that you don’t want to leave?
-Are you likely to be visiting Spain again this summer?
It is possible to use might in this type of question, but it is rather formal.
-Might they be persuaded to change their minds?

Practice.

In which of these sentences is it possible to use can?

1. The butterfly …………… be recognized by the orange streaks on its wings.

2. ‘She’s probably on holiday.’ ‘Yes, you …………… be right.’
3. Peter …………… have a big screwdriver. I’ll go and ask him.
4. Infections …………… sometimes actually be a very successful experience.
5. Moving to a new job …………… be a very stressful experience.
6. I think Michael …………… enjoy himself if he joins the football club.
7. This 17th century chair ………… be of interest to you.
8. The seeds from this plant …………… be up to 20 centimeters long.
9. With the factory closing next week, he …………… lose his job.
10. Around this time of year, eagles …………… sometimes be seen in the mountains.

4. OBLIGATION/ NECESSITY.
We use must and have to to say that something is necessary
a. Must.
-To succeed in your exam, you must work hard.
-You’ll be leaving college soon, you must think about your future.
-To stay alive, people must breathe oxygen.

b. Have to.
-Teachers are very busy correcting exams. They have to give marks next week.
-Ahmed has to stay late at work. He has a lot of work to do.
-Everyone has to pass a road test before getting a driver’s license.

Notice that when we use the past or the future with will, we need a form of have to:
-Ann had to stay at home and watch the kids last weekend. (Past tense)
-That wasn’t very good. You’ll have to do better next time. (Future)
In fact, we can use the correct form of have to for all tenses and forms.

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 -Ali has had to take the bus to school for three years. (Present perfect)
We use have to for most questions. We rarely use have got to or must.
-Do you have to do all the exercises on modals?
-What time will Tom have to come to the meeting tomorrow?

Notice the differences in the meaning of must and have to.

We use must when the speaker decides that it is necessary. We use have to when we want to
suggest that someone else or some outside circumstances or authority makes something necessary.
-I must see the headmaster. (I want to discuss something with him)
-I have to see the headmaster. (He has called me to his office)

 Have to is preferred when we talk about an obligation that is part of a habit or that is
characteristic of a person.
-She has to drink two cups of coffee in the morning before she feels really awake.
-I have to take an aspirin whenever I have a headache.
-Ann has (got) to have at least eight hours’ sleep a night.

c. Ought to and should.

These modals are generally used to express a logical necessity, less strong suggestions, advice and
opinion.
-You should/ ought to change your car.
-Students should/ ought to come to class on time.
-You really should/ ought to stop smoking. It’s bad for you.
Notice that the same form is used for present, future or past. The negative of should is should not/
shouldn’t and that of ought to is ought not/ oughtn’t.

Ought to/ Should are used to indicate a correct or logical action.

-They should/ ought to install more street lights in the city.
-The government should/ ought to find solutions for transportation systems.

 Unlike must and have to, ought to/ should are used without necessarily knowing if the
obligation is being or will be fulfilled.
-We must get ready for the wedding party. (more confidence)
-We should/ ought to get ready for the wedding party. (less confidence)

Notice that ought to and should, when used with the continuous infinitive, express the idea that
the subject is not fulfilling his/ her obligation.
-Amina ought to/ should be working hard on her thesis.

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 -The children shouldn’t be spending all their time on TV.
With the perfect infinitive, ought to and should are used to express a necessity that was not
accomplished or an action that was neglected.
-You ought to have brought enough money with you on this trip.
-She should have come to the party with her parents.

Notice that when an outside authority gives an advice or a recommendation, we use should:
-The manual says that the computer should be disconnected from the mains before the
cover is removed. (rather than … ought to be disconnected).
We also use should not ought to when we give advice with I:
-I should revise my lessons regularly, if I were you.

Practice.

I. Put in must or have to. Choose which is best for the situation
1. I …………………go to the airport. I’m meeting someone.
2. You ………………lock the door when you go out. There’ve been a lot of breaks-ins
recently.
3. Daniel ……………… go to the bank. He doesn’t have any money.
4. You really ……………… make less noise. I’m trying to concentrate.
5. I think you ……………… pay to park here. I’ll just go and read the notice.
6. You really ……………… hurry up, Vicky. We don’t want to be late.
7. I ………………put the heating on. I feel really cold.

II. Complete the sentences with should/ ought to + infinitive or should/ ought to have + past
participle. In which one is ought to NOT possible?
1. This medicine …………………… (keep) in a cool place.
2. Here’s someone you really ……………………… (meet).
3. If you’re feeling ill, I …………………… (stay) at home today, if I were you.
4. To have got a better mark, you …………………… (check) your answers more thoroughly.
5. According to the label, the jam ……………………… (refrigerate) after opening.
6. I think you …………………… (listen) to him. He knew what he was talking about.
7. The information you sent …………………… (include) details of courses taken at
university.