Read the situations and write what you would say

1) You’ve got a pound note but you need some change. You ask somebody to help you. Can you change a pound/Could you change a pound?

2) You want to borrow your friend’s camera: What do you say to him/her?

3) You have a car and you want to give somebody a lift. What do you say?

4) You have to go to the airport but you don’t know how to get there. You ask a passer-by.

5) You are telephoning the owner of a flat which was advertised in a newspaper. You are interested in the flat and you want to come and see it today. (Do you think I…?)

6) You want to leave work early because you have some important things to do. What do you ask your boss? (Do you think I…?)

7) You want to invite someone to come and stay with you for the weekend.

8) The person in the next room has some music on very loud. How do you ask him politely to turn it down? (Do you think you…?)

9) You have to carry some heavy boxes upstairs. Ask someone to help you.

10) You want your friend to show you how to change the film in your camera. What do you say to him/her?

3. Complete these sentences using the modal verbs can/could or to be able to. Sometimes it is possible to use either; sometimes only to be able to is possible.

1) George has travelled a lot. He can or is able to speak four languages.

2) Tom … drive but he hasn’t got a car.

3) I can’t understand Oscar, I’ve never … understand him.

4) He was very strong; he … ski all day and dance all night.

5) The car plunged into the river. The driver … get out but the passengers were drowned.

6) When you have taken your degree you … put letters after your name?

7) Don’t try to look at all the pictures in the gallery. Otherwise when you get home you … remember any of them.

8) Ask Ann about your problems. She should … help you.

9) I was a long way from the stage. I … see all right but I … hear very well.

10) I just seem to know nobody who I … ring and say I just feel awful and I haven’t a penny.

11) We … borrow umbrellas; so we didn’t get wet.

12) … you walk or did they have to carry you?

4. Arrange each of the following comments using the modal verb can’t into 6 groups according to their basic meaning. (One group will have five comments, the others two each). Think of your own examples.

I can’t believe it.	I can’t work it out.
I can’t take it in.	I can’t bear it.
I can’t understand it.	I can’t cope.
I can’t manage.	I can’t take it.
I can’t help it.	I can’t put it out of my mind.
I can’t get over it.	I can’t stand it.
I can’t stop myself.	I can’t face it.
	I can’t put up with it.

5. Fill in the gaps using the modal verbs can/could or to be able to plus a notional verb.

1) Did you persuade Jennifer? ~ We tried hard but we couldn’t persuade her to come with us.

2) I can’t sing now but I … very well when I was a child.

3) He can’t play tennis very well now but he … quite well when he was younger.

4) When she was at school she … faster than anyone else.

5) Did they find your house? ~ Yes, it took them a long time but they …

6) Did you win the match? ~ Yes, it wasn’t easy but I …

7) Ten years ago I … from one side of the lake to the other.

8) Did the thief escape? ~ Yes, the policemen chased the thief but he …

9) I looked everywhere for the book but I …

10) The fire spread quickly but everyone…

6. Fillin the blanks with a modal verb to talk about unrealized past ability.

1) We didn’t go out last night. We could have gone to the cinema but we decided to stay at home.

2) I … to the concert but I changed my mind.

3) He … the examination but he decided not to.

4) Fanny … a new car but she hadn’t got enough money.

5) Frank … me to mend my car but he didn’t want to do it.

6) Why didn’t you stop all that? You …some way.

7) Ken … his aunt to the station but he had no driving licence at that moment.

8) Jack … Edward £50 but he didn’t want to.

7. Use the modal verb can/could followed by the appropriate infinitive.

1) You can’t have done (not to do) it. I don’t believe it.

2) She … not (to stay) at her friends all time.

3) I … (to help) him but I didn’t know he needed help.

4) Such problems … not (to solve) easily.

5) How … she (to work) in the garden now? It is already dark.

6) I simply … not (to refuse). They would have been hurt.

7) He wasn’t old. … he … not (to be) more than forty.

8) They … not (to be) sister and brother.

9) She is too young. She … not (to suffer from) constantly from insomnia.

10) … he … (to be operated) on?