Complete the sentences with could(n't) and was(n't) able to. Sometimes there is more than one answer.

1. Eddie broke his leg last summer, so he … swim.

2. Emily's handbag was stolen when she was out yesterday afternoon. Luckily she met a friend, so she … use his mobile to call home.

3. I didn't enjoy the play because I forgot my glasses. I … see the stage properly.

4. Marion's meeting was cancelled at the last moment, so she … come to the sports club with us after all.

5. Robert … speak any Dutch when he moved to Amsterdam last year, but he's almost fluent now.

5 I thought I'd have to get a taxi home from the party, but luckily I … have a lift with Kate.

6. We really wanted to buy a house last year, but we just … afford it.

7. My brother … read well by the age of seven, but he's always had problems with maths.

8. Last night we heard a noise outside our window. When we turned off the light, we … see a deer in the garden.

9. One day last week I locked my husband out of the house by mistake, but luckily he … get in through an open window.

10.He was very strong; he... ski all day and dance all night.

11.The car plunged into the river. The driver... get out but the passengers were drowned.

12.We... borrow umbrellas; so we didn't get wet.

13.... you walk or did they have to carry you?

14.I had no key so I... lock the door, (negative)

15.I knew the town so I... advise him where to go.

16.When the garage had repaired our car we... continue our journey.

17.At five years old he... read quite well.

18.When I arrived everyone was asleep. Fortunately I... wake my sister and she let me in.

19.The swimmer was very tired but he... reach the shore before he collapsed.

20.The police were suspicious at first but I... convince them that we were innocent.

 

4. Fill the spaces in the following sentences by inserting must or the present, future, or past form of have to.

1 She... leave home at eight every morning at present.

2 Notice in a picture gallery: Cameras, sticks and umbrellas... be left at the desk.

3 He sees very badly; he... wear glasses all the time.

4 I... do all the typing at my office.

5 You... read this book. It's really excellent.

6 The children... play in the streets till their mothers get home from work.

7 She felt ill and... leave early.

8 Mr Pitt... cook his own meals. His wife is away.

9 I hadn't enough money and I... pay by cheque.

10 I never remember his address; I always... look it up.

11 Employer: You... come to work in time.

12 If you go to a dentist with a private practice you... pay him quite a lot of money.

13 Father to small son: You... do what Mummy says.

14 My neighbour's child... practise the piano for three hours a day.

15 Doctor: I can't come now.

Caller: You... come; he's terribly ill.

16 English children... stay at school till the age of 16.

17 In my district there is no gas laid on. People... use electricity for everything.

18 Notice above petrol pump: All engines... be switched off.

19 Mother to daughter: You... come in earlier at night.

20 The shops here don't deliver. We... carry everything home ourselves.

21 The buses were all full; I... get a taxi.

22 Notice beside escalators: Dogs and push chairs... be carried.

23 'Au pair' girls usually... do quite a lot of housework.

24 Tell her that she... be here by six. I insist on it.

25 When a tyre is punctured the driver... change the wheel.

26 Park notice: All dogs... be kept on leads.

27 She... learn how to drive when her local railway station is closed.

28 Railway notice: Passengers... cross the line by the footbridge.

29 I got lost and... ask a policeman the way.

30 Farmers... get up early.

 

5. Use the required form of the infinitive after ought to and should.

1.But we ought (to have) your brother here, to tell us exactly how far we can go.

2.Tea is between half past five and six, and it should (to be) ready now.

3.He couldn't see anything. He thought that he ought (to bring) a torch.

4.Should the baby (to play) with a box of matches?

5.If you're in love it ought (to make) you happy. You ought (to laugh).

6.The doctor said it was appendicitis and she ought (to operate) on.

7.You should (to see) him yesterday on horseback.

8.One day the headmaster came on Jack, who should (to sweat) on the sports ground, sitting comfortably in a gardener's shed reading a book and eating a large piece of cocoa-nut ice.

9."Your father and I should (to arrange) everything before I came here," he said.

10.Oughtn't you (to answer) that letter now?

11.Where is his car? He shouldn't (to leave) it unattended.

12.He drove at great speed. He knew that about this hour the guests should (to arrive) at his house.

13."Well, I'm very glad to know at last what it was all about." "You ought (to tell) before."

14.Then he should (to laugh), but instead he heard himself say­ing: "Everything you say is quite true."

15.Anything we can do to clear up this miserable affair ought (to do).

16."I don't think he had the least idea of what I meant." "You should (to be) more explicit, my dear."

 

III. Consolidation.

1. Fill in the blanks with can (be able), may or must:

 

1. "Will you know where to go?" "Yes, thank you. I... always ask my brother."

2. "Didn't she hear our shouting?" "She says she heard nothing." "She... have wandered a long way."

3. What... he have meant when he said it?

4. He hesitated and said, "I... go to South America. As a tea planter." I said,"I... be wrong, Jason, but I don't think they grow tea in South America."

5. He... have flown off after he dropped us. He... not land here. Not in a plane with wheels.

6. "I'd give anything to meet that fellow." "We... see what... be done."

7. Cindy... have laughed aloud. Instead, she nodded.

8. You... hardly have been more surprised than I was.

9. The old man cupped his ear in his palm. "I think I... be getting deaf. I... not hear you."

10. "There was someone on the phone for you," he said. "Oh, who?" "I don't know, he didn't say. Some man." "It... have been Mike." "I know Mike. It wasn't Mike." "Oh. Then I... not think who it... have been."

11. I went straight from the station to the club and played bil­liards. It... have been after eleven when I reached the flat.

12. She was beginning to want to ask him in but she knew that she... not do it yet.

13. It's a most interesting story. He... not possibly have invented it. You... have told him something.

14. I've other things to attend to which... be put through immedi­ately.

15. I admire your mother's looks. She... have been a lovely girl.

16. The apples are very good. You... eat them all.

17. My wife... leave the hospital in a week's time.

18. My wife... to leave the hospital a few days ago.

19. I'm trying to think where he... have gone.

20. Of course it occurred to me that if he had found the watch as he said, it... have been lying in the garden for more than a year.

21. He began absently to eat one of the buttered biscuits. He'd lose his appetite if his wife didn't hurry up. She... be talking to Frau Schmidt.

22. A day or two later Mrs Strickland sent me a note asking if I... go and see her that evening after dinner.

23. "I don't know why he did it." "It... have amused him."

24. "You know, I'm a bit of a writer myself in a small way." "What are you writing? A novel?" "Oh, come off it. I... not write a novel. No, it's a sort of history of the regiment, as a matter of fact."

25. "He's up in Barbie's room. He's decorating it with shells. He... have brought in a ton."

26. "She's gone out. Something awful... have happened." "How... she have got out? The door is locked."

27. I'm going to tell him that he... not do any building here.

28. They say the driver.,. have been going fifty miles round that blind corner for the body to have been thrown and injured like it was.

29. She looked unusually pale and gloomy. I wondered what... have upset her.

30. "... you drive a car, Mooey?" "Yes, indeed I...," he answered.

31. You... be very prosperous, Eustace, to own a car like that,

32. Obviously Haviland had worked late the night before, as he... have done for several nights in a row, because he looked drawn and pale.

33. The water of the pool... have been heated for it steamed gently in the beams of the lamps.

34. Mr Hardy takes a lot of aspirin. He... have had at least twelve tablets during the day.

35. The man danced very well. He... have spent hours taking lessons, Jack thought.

 

2. Must(n't), need(n't)_f should(n't) and don't have to