A practical english grammar - Vyssaja skola 1978
Exercises
Sound symbols
Exercise 1. Short answers with modals. Answer the questions with short answers according to the yes or no after each question. Note that the modals are unstressed in the questions, but you must stress them in your short answers.
Example:
Can Tom hear me? Yes, he can.
1. Can you speak French? Yes, ...
2. Will you bring your friend? Yes, ...
3. Couldn’t Tom find his glasses? No, ...
4. Should the children come home early? Yes, ...
5. May I sit here? No, ...
6. Will they have enough food for everyone? Yes, ...
7. May I open the windows? Yes, ...
8. Must I finish the homework this evening? Yes, ...
9. Can ducks swim under water? Yes, ...
10. Can you remember their phone number? No, ...
Exercise 2. Modals in tag questions. Use the proper tag question.
Example:
They should make less noise, shouldn’t they?
You won’t forget, will you?
1. He won’t remember us, ...?
2. There won’t be enough rice, ...?
3. Robert can’t play the piano, ...?
4. They should take the train, …?
5. The children can play upstairs, ...?
6. The committee will meet next Friday, ...?
7. Dick wouldn’t admit that he was responsible, ...?
8. We can wait a little longer, ...?
9. They shouldn’t wear their new clothes, ...?
10. He could take the bus, ...?
Exercise 3. Indirect speech with modals. Below are bits of direct speech with modals. Change these to reports (indirect speech).
Example:
Dick said, “I will go to Florida.”
Dick said he would go to Florida.
1. Mary said, “I won’t be there until evening.”
2. Mr. Miller said, “I can’t read your writing.”
3. Jack said, “I may do the work myself.”
4. “Can I turn on the radio?” Paul asked.
5. “Shall 1 clear the table?” Mary asked.
6. “I think there will be a storm.” Mr. Perry said.
7. Mrs. Merrill said, “I can’t think of anything else.”
8. “Shall I throw the old magazines away?” Charles asked.
9. Jim said, “Tom may not be at the party.”
10. Mr. Flynn said, “Will you take notes during the meeting?”
Exercise 4. Using the right modal. Complete the sentences below with one of these modals: will, would, shall, should, may, might. Make it negative, if necessary.
1. My pen is out of ink; ... you let me use yours?
2. You’d better bring those clothes inside; it ... rain.
3. I asked him for the keys, but he ... give them to me.
4. That tree is killing the grass; you ... cut it down.
5. She isn’t sure where the scissors are; she thinks they ... be in the kitchen.
Exercise 5. Using the right modal. Complete the sentences with one of these modals: must, can, could, will, would, shall. Make it negative, if necessary.
1. John gets upset when he ... understand the problems.
2. It’s almost time for my train to go; I ... leave.
3. Do you think it ... rain tonight?
4. It got so dark we ... see the path.
5. I’m sure they ... do it, if you ask them nicely.