ABILITY
Complete: “She ___ speak French.”
She CAN speak French
Complete: “You ___ study more for the test.”
You SHOULD study more for the test.
Change to external obligation: “You must submit the form today.”
You have to submit the form today.
Complete: “It ___ rain later.”
It MIGHT rain later.
Complete: “___ I go to the bathroom?”
MAY/CAN I go to the bathroom?
"When he was a child, he ___ memorize entire chapters of books after reading them once."
When he was a child, he COULD memorize entire chapters of books after reading them once.
Explain the difference between should and had better
Had better implies a negative consequence; should is general advice.
Give an example of negative lack of necessity
You don’t have to / neen´t attend the seminar if you’re not interested.
Explain the difference between “may” and “might.”
May suggests a more formal possibility.
Might suggests weaker possibility.
Give an example denying permission politely.
I’m afraid you may not enter this area without authorization.
Explain why could cannot be used for specific achievements.
Because “could” expresses general past ability and sometimes for hypothetical ability.
Rewrite giving more formal advice: “You should reconsider your plan.”
You ought to reconsider your plan.
Explain why mustn’t ≠ don’t have to.
Mustn’t = prohibition.
Don’t have to = it’s not necessary, optional.
Write three different levels of certainty.
– might (low possibility)
– could (possible)
– may (high possibility)
Transform to a more formal request:
“Can I have a look at the documents?”
May I examine the documents?
Create a sentence using past ability, but without using could or couldn't.
Despite the heavy load, she was able to / managed to finish all the reports before the deadline."
Give advice in the past: “It was a mistake not to call her.”
You should have called her.
Create a sentence expressing past external obligation.
We had to follow strict procedures during the inspection.
Rewrite making the possibility weaker:
“She could have misunderstood the instructions.”
She might have misunderstood the instructions.
Rewrite informal: "Can I use your phone for a second?→ formal.
Would it be okay if I used your phone for a moment?
Rewrite the sentence without changing the meaning:
“She could have solved it earlier, but she didn’t try.”
She would have been able to solve it earlier if she had tried
Write advice using inversion (formal style).
Should you need help, you should contact the support team.
Rewrite formality shift:
“We have to reduce costs immediately.” → more strong.
We must reduce costs immediately.
Imagine a problem in a supermarket and suggest a solution that is possible but not certain. Use a modal verb of possibility in the present.
"If the supermarket introduces self-checkout machines, it could reduce waiting times for customers, but some people might prefer paying at the counter."
Give 3 ways to ask for permission.
– Can I…?
– May I…?
– Would you mind if I…?