Show:
Would or Used To
Expressing the Past
Past Ability
Degrees of Certainty
Wild Card
100
Choose the correct sentence: 1. They used to live in the city, but when I was ten, they moved to the coast. 2. They would live in the city, but when I was ten, they moved to the coast.
1. They used to live in the city, but when I was ten, they moved to the coast. To express past situations or states, only used to, not would, is possible.
100
Make the sentences express past necessity. I have to leave now/I must leave now/I've got to leave now. I ____ yesterday.
I had to leave yesterday. Had to is the only past form of must/have got to.
100
Choose the correct verb. Both verbs may be correct. When I was a child, I ____ spend hours climbing trees, but now I have trouble climbing stairs! a. could b. was able to
both a and b could/was able to = past ability
100
Choose the correct sentence(s): 1. John is sick. 2. John can be sick.
Only 1 is correct because can does not express degrees of certainty.
100
How old is Eleanor if her birthday was on September 28th?
33
200
Choose the correct sentence: 1. I used to speak Spanish with them, but now my Spanish is a little rusty. 2. I would speak Spanish with them, but now my Spanish is a little rusty.
Both are correct. Would and used to can be used to express an action that was repeated regularly in the past.
200
Make the sentences express past necessity. Do you have to retake the test? ____ the test this morning?
Do you have to retake the test? Did you have to retake the test this morning? Had to expresses past necessity.
200
Choose the correct verb. Both verbs may be correct. We were late, but we ____ catch the train. It was also late. a. could b. were able to
b For a single action in the past, was able to/were able to/simple past is used
200
Put the following sentences in order from most certain to least certain: A. He is sick. B. He must be sick. C. He may be sick.
ABC is - 100% must be - 95% may - 50% or less
200
What lake is Burlington on?
Lake Champlain
300
Complete the sentences with the given words AND would or used to. Aunt Ella (visit) ____ us often. She (give) ____ me a big kiss when she first saw me.
Aunt Ella used to visit/would visit us often. She used to give/would give me a big kiss when she first saw me. Either would or used to is correct because this sentence expresses a regularly repeated action in the past.
300
Put the following sentence in the past tense: We are supposed to leave now.
We were supposed to leave last week/yesterday/etc. were supposed to expresses an unfulfilled obligation in the past.
300
Choose the correct sentence(s): 1. Last week, Maya could do well on her exam. 2. Last week, Maya did well on her exam. 3. Last week, Maya was able to do well on her exam.
2 and 3 are correct. Could is not used to express past ability.
300
Put the following sentences in order from most to least certain: A. He may be in Paris. B. He might be in Paris. C. He could be in Paris.
Trick question! These sentences have equal certainty.
300
What are the 2 mountain ranges you can see from Burlington?
You can see the Adirondack Mountains across the lake in New York, and you can see the Green Mountains if you look east.
400
Complete the sentence with the given words AND would or used to. I (be) ____ afraid of flying. My heart (start) ____ pounding every time I got on a plane.
I used to be afraid of flying. My heart would start/used to start pounding every time I got on a plane. used to be afraid - a past situation would start/used to start - regularly repeated action in the past
400
Put the following sentence in the past (past expectation): The mail should be here.
The mail should have been here by now. should have + past participle = past expectation
400
Rewrite the following sentence using could: When I was younger, I was able to hold my breath underwater for three minutes.
When I was younger, I could hold my breath under water for three minutes.
400
Answer the question below using a term to express the degree of certainty. Lisa's stomach is growling. Why?
She must be hungry. If her stomach is growling, we can be 95% or more sure that she is hungry.
400
What city and state is Eleanor from originally?
Atlanta, Georgia.
500
Complete the sentence with the given words AND would or used to. My sister (live) ___ in Montana, and when I visited her, we (take) ___ backpacking trips in the mountains for as long as a week. Every morning, we (wake) ____ up to the sound of singing birds. During the day, we (hike) ____ through meadows and beside mountain lakes.
used to live would take/used to take would wake/used to wake would hike/used to hike used to - past situations or states would/used to - regularly repeated action in the past
500
Put the following sentences in the past (past advisability): I should study for the test. I ought to study for the test. I had better study for the test.
I should have studied for the test. I ought to have studied for the test. I had better have studied for the test. (almost never used) should have/ought to have + past participle=past advisability
500
Which sentences describe one action in the past? 1. Most students were able to finish the test in under an hour. 2. When I was younger, I was able to hold my breath underwater for three minutes. 3. We were able to help take care of our grandkids last weekend. 4. My father is a brilliant mathematician. When he was a child, he was able to do complex problems in his head. 5. I was able to give my speech last night without sounding nervous.
Sentences 1, 3, and 5 describe one action in the past (was/were able to). Sentences 2 and 4 describe past ability (could/was/were able to).
500
Answer the question below using an expression of certainty: Eliza is sneezing. Why?
She may/might/could be sick. We use may/might/could because there are many reasons someone might sneeze (sickness/allergies/dust/pepper, etc.).
500
Name a famous Vermont business.
Answers might include Ben and Jerry's, Cabot, Champlain Chocolates, Burton.