PAST ABILITIES
I COULD breakdance when I was a teen.
He ___________ live nearby as he comes to school on foot.
She __________ be hungry. She's just had breakfast!
He MUST live nearby as he comes to school on foot.
She CAN'T be hungry. She's just had breakfast!
I _________ study more if I want to attend the university.
I MUST study more if I want to attend the university.
The doctor told me that I ________________ lose weight or my heart may fail.
The doctor told me that I SHOULD/OUGHT TO lose weight or my heart may fail.
What is the function of the modal verb CAN?
CAN is used to express ability or possibility.
I WAS ABLE TO get some good bargains in the sale.
She _____________ (be) guilty because all the evidence were against her.
You _____________ (see) Oliver! He's in Tokio this month.
She MUST HAVE BEEN guilty because all the evidence were against her.
You CAN'T HAVE SEEN Oliver! He's in Tokio this month.
You ____________ wear seatbelts also in the back of the car.
You HAVE TO wear seatbelts also in the back of the car.
You ___________ forget to bring your homework tomorrow. It's very important!
You SHOULDN'T forget to bring your homework tomorrow. It's very important!
How would you express an obligation in the present using a modal verb?
You would use MUST to express an obligation in the present.
Example: "You must do your homework."
The bank robbers ________________ get away because they had a car waiting outiside the bank.
The bank robbers WERE ABLE TO get away because they had a car waiting outiside the bank.
Is the following sentence correct?
Sea life as we know it could be in danger.
YES
Students ______________ use phones during the exam.
Students MUSTN'T use phones during the exam.
Find the mistake:
My daughter had not better stay out late. She will get in big trouble!
My daughter HAD BETTER NOT stay out late. She will get in big trouble!
What is the difference between MUST and CAN'T when expressing certainty in the present?
MUST is used to express a strong belief or certainty that something is true (e.g., "He must be at home; his car is outside").
CAN'T is used to express certainty that something is not true (e.g., "She can't be at home; the lights are off").
Despite the harsh weather conditions he ________________________ climb Mount Everest.
Despite the harsh weather conditions he MANAGED TO climb Mount Everest.
I _______________ (leave) my headphones at home, but who knows.
I MAY/MIGHT/COULD HAVE LEFT my headphones at home, but who knows.
You ________________ go to the party if you don't want to.
You DON'T HAVE TO go to the party if you don't want to.
Find the mistake:
The team ought to not try that strategy.
The team SHOULD try that strategy.
What is the difference in meaning between SHOULD and OUGHT TO?
Both SHOULD and OUGHT TO are used to give advice or recommendations, but OUGHT TO is considered slightly more formal or stronger in tone, while SHOULD is more common in everyday speech.
The pilot ______________________ landing despite the strong wind.
The pilot SUCCEEDED IN landing despite the strong wind.
Is the following sentence correct?
He couldn't have arrived yet.
NO
He may not have arrived yet.
We can use MUST to talk about all the tenses (past, present and future). True or false?
FALSE
present and future
Marcus ______________ skip school again or his parents will be very angry.
Marcus HAD BETTER NOT skip school again or his parents will be very angry.
How would you use MIGHT to talk about a possibility in the past?
MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE is used to talk about a possibility in the past, indicating that something was possible but did not happen.
Example: "She might have missed the train."