MODAL VERBS
A. Modals and Related Expressions
may had better have got to shall
1. I know it's rather rude, but ________ I ask you where you purchased that pocket watch? I have been looking for one like that for my father.
2. You ________ look good for your interview if you want to get the sales job. You ________ wear the white shirt and the maroon tie. I think that'll look really professional.
3. I ________ be at work tomorrow by 7:00. I ________ give a marketing presentation to one of our clients.
4. It's pretty hot in the desert at this time of year. If we are going to do some hiking, we ________ take at least two or three quarts of water with us. Actually, it ________ be hotter than we expect out there - maybe we should take a gallon or more.
5. You ________ leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused yourself.
6. I can't stand these people - I ________ get out of here. I'm going to take off for awhile while you get rid of them. When I get back, they ________ be gone.
7. ________ I try a little of your Black Forest cake? I looks absolutely delicious - I ________ taste it!
8. You ________ take along some cash. The restaurant ________ not accept credit cards.
9. You ________ take along some cash. The restaurant doesn't accept credit cards.
10. ________ we move into the living room? It's more comfortable in there and there's a beautiful view of the lake.
11. I'm not really sure if Susan is going to go snow boarding with us or not. She ________ decide to stay here and study for her Japanese final. She ________ get a good score on the test if she wants to qualify to study abroad in Tokyo next semester.
12. ________ I have a look at that necklace there in the display case. It's exactly what I've been looking for.
13. We ________ no longer suffer the injustice of oppression. We ________ never give up the struggle for freedom!
14. You ________ be joking! If you think I'm going to give you a tip after you mixed up the meal orders, spilled wine on me and insulted my wife, you ________ get your head examined!!!
15. Ian, Evelyn and Deborah will be attending the conference. I ________ be attending as well.
B. Modals and Related Expressions
might should must
1. Nancy said you didn't need to buy her anything for her birthday, but I really think you ________ at least get her some flowers or a nice bottle of wine.
2. Debbie said she was really busy this week, but I think she ________ show up at the party if she doesn't have to work overtime on Friday.
3. Nina said she would come over right after work, so she ________ be here by 6:00.
4. Oh my God, he's unconscious. Don't move him - he ________ have internal injuries. Somebody call an ambulance.
5. You ________ be kidding! That can't be true.
6. A: Where's the remote control? I want to change the channel.
B: I don't know. It ________ be under the couch. Or, perhaps I absent-mindedly took it into the kitchen. I'll check in there.
7. For most people, learning a language is a challenging undertaking. Experts agree that to make the most of your language learning experience, you ________ practice the language regularly and push yourself to maintain old vocabulary while acquiring new words and expressions.
8. New research suggests that exercise can reduce the chance of heart disease as well as cancer. That's why I told my father that he ________ start walking once a day.
9. We should invite Sally and her husband to come to the picnic on Saturday. We haven't seen them in weeks, and they ________ really enjoy a nice day at the beach.
10. A: While I was a student, I spent a year and a half studying pygmy culture in the Central African Republic. My research focused on unique aspects of the their social structure and religion.
B: That ________ have been absolutely fascinating!
11. We had better call Tony to see if he's at home before we go over to his house. He ________ be there and we don't want to drive all the way over there for nothing.
12. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told my boss that he ________ take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the position.
13. You ________ worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.
14. I would love to go on the cruise to Tahiti with Robin and Michelle. But such a luxurious trip ________ cost a fortune. I doubt I could afford something like that.
15. The book recommends adding fresh soil and using plant food to make your garden flowers grow. Since some people might be allergic to chemicals in artificial plant foods, the book says that you ________ use an organic brand to avoid skin irritations.
C. Modals and Related Expressions
couldn't might not
1. Unfortunately, James and Michelle had already made plans, so they ________ come with us to the exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
2. They have had several major snow storms in the mountains during the last month. We had better call the highway patrol to check road conditions. The road to Smithsville ________ be passable.
3. We should call Tim before we go over to his house; he ________ be there. I don't want to drive all the way there for nothing.
4. In order to win the pie eating contest, Norman would have to eat sixteen pies in ten minutes. He ________ possibly eat that many pies - he would explode!
5. I know Eve wants to go to the ballet with us , but we'd better call her before we get her ticket. She works Wednesday nights, and she ________ be able to get time off that evening.
6. Susan ________ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.
7. It ________ be a bad idea to take some snacks along while we're hiking. Last time, we got so hungry we had to come back early without finishing the hike.
8. Jerry might be angry, or he ________. You never really know with him because he's so temperamental.
9. Jerry ________ be angry at me. I've never done anything to upset him.
10. The lamp ________ be broken. Maybe the light bulb just burned out.
11. When you were a child, you could swim from here to the little island in the middle of the river, ________ you. At least, that's what your father told me.
12. She ________ possibly be the winner of the talent show! The other acts were much better than her's.
13. Frank and Sarah ________ get tickets to the concert. The concert was sold out a little over an hour after tickets went on sale.
14. I heard that band is really popular, and tickets sell out quickly. You ________ get tickets if you wait too long.
15. That concert has been sold out for weeks. You ________ get tickets even if you knew the band personally. It's impossible!
16. It ________ be a bad idea to get a car alarm for your new sports car. New cars tend to attract thieves.
17. That ________ possibly be Mr. Jones. He's lost so much weight that he looks like a completely different person.
18. You ________ do the job if you didn't speak Arabic fluently.
19. Jane and Bill ________ have gotten the invitation to the party. Perhaps, that's why they didn't show up. I doubt they would actually skip your birthday party - they're your best friends!
20. I ________ have left my keys at Simon's house. I wouldn't have been able to drive home if I had done that. They must be somewhere here in the apartment. Let's keep looking.
D. Modals and Related Expressions
would could should might
1.
Donna: If I won the ten million dollar lottery jackpot, I ________ afford to quit my job and travel the world.
Sam: Where ________ you go if you had that much money?
Donna: I don't know, I ________ choose to spend a year in Paris - or perhaps I ________ go to Kenya.
Sam: How often do you buy lottery tickets?
Donna: Never... I guess if I want to win the lottery, I ________ try buying some tickets.
Sam: That ________ help.
2.
Waitress: Hi, my name is Sandy - I'll be your waitress tonight. What can I get for you?
Tony: I haven't decided yet. Is there anything you ________ recommend? Is there anything you think I ________ try?
Waitress: You ________ try the Cajun catfish - or perhaps the Gumbo. They're both delicious.
Tony: That sounds wonderful, but that ________ be a little too spicy for me. Actually, the prawns sound good. ________ I have the barbecued prawns?
Waitress: Sure, ________ you like a salad with that?
3.
Jan: What ________ we look for in a candidate when we vote in a presidential election?
Peter: I think citizens ________ vote for a President who has the ability to improve the quality of life in the United States.
Jan: What ________ you do if you were President of the United States?
Peter: I ________ focus on environmental pollution.
Jan: Every candidate always says he's going to do that, but it's a really complicated problem - it's not one which is easily solved. What makes you think you ________ actually stop pollution?
TENSES
A. Simple Present / Simple Future/ Present Continuous / Future Continuous
1. Right now I am watching T.V. Tomorrow at this time, I (watch) ________ T.V. as well.
2. Tomorrow after school, I (go) ________ to the beach.
3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do) ________ paperwork and (talk) ________ to annoying customers on the phone, I (lie) ________ on a sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?
4. We (hiding) ________ when Tony (arrives) ________ at his surprise party. As soon as he opens the door, we (jump) ________ out and (scream) ________, "Surprise!"
5. We work out at the fitness center everyday after work. If you (come) ________ over while we (work) ________ out, we will not be able to let you into the house. Just to be safe, we (leave) ________ a key under the welcome mat so you will not have to wait outside.
6. While you (study) ________ at home, Magda (be) ________ in class.
7. When I (get) ________ to the party, Sally and Doug (dance) ________, John (make) ________ drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss) ________ something controversial, and Mary (complain) ________ about something unimportant. They are always doing the same things. They are so predictable.
8. When you (got) ________ off the plane, I (wait) ________ for you.
9. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) ________ up tomorrow morning, the sun (shine) ________.
10. If you (need) ________ to contact me sometime next week, I (stay) ________ at the Sheraton in San Francisco.
B. Simple Present / Simple Future
1. Today after I (get) ________ out of class, I (go) ________ to a movie with some friends.
2. When you (arrive) ________ in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He (show) ________ you around the city and help you get situated.
3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate) ________?
B: After I (receive) ________ my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go) ________ to graduate school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) ________ to complete a Ph.D. in cognitive science.
4. If it (snow) ________ this weekend, we (go) ________ skiing near Lake Tahoe.
5. Your father (plan) ________ to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock. He (meet) ________ you across the street near the ice cream shop. If something happens and he cannot be there, I (pick) ________ you up instead.
6. If the people of the world (stop, not) ________ cutting down huge stretches of rain forest, we (experience) ________ huge changes in the environment during the twenty-first century.
7. If Vera (keep) ________ drinking, she (lose, eventually) ________ her job.
8. I promise you that I (tell, not) ________ your secret to anybody. Even if somebody (ask) ________ me about what happened that day, I (reveal, not) ________ the truth to a single person.
9. She (make) ________ some major changes in her life. She (quit) ________ her job and go back to school. After she (finish) ________ studying, she (get) ________ a better paying job and buy a house. She is going to improve her life!
10. Tom (call) ________ when he (arrive) ________ in Madrid. He (stay) ________ with you for two or three days until his new apartment (be) ________ available.
C. All of the following sentences should be completed using the Simple Past or the Past Continuous. You must use the words in the parentheses to fill in the blanks. Hint: remember Non-continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous form.
EXAMPLE:
A) Sally (make) was making dinner when I arrived.
B) Angered by the comment, John (jump) jumped up and (storm) stormed out of the room.
1. A: What (you, do) ___________________ when the accident occurred?
B: I (try)___________________ to change a light bulb that had burnt out.2. After I (find)__________________ the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) ___________________ to the police and (turn)_______________ it in.
3. The doctor (say)_________________ that Tom (be)__________________ too sick to go to work and that he (need)___________________ to stay at home for a couple of days.
4. Sebastian (arrive)___________________ at Susan's house a little before 9:00 pm, but she (be, not, still)____________________ there. She (study, at the library)______________________ for her final examination in French.
5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also) ______________________ television. That's all she ever does!
6. A: I (call)__________________ you last night after dinner, but you (be, not)______________ there. Where were you?
B: I (work)____________________ out at the fitness center.7. When I (walk)__________________ into the busy office, the secretary (talk)__________________ on the phone with a customer, several clerks (work, busily) ____________________ at their desks, and two managers (discuss, quietly) _____________________ methods to improve customer service.
8. I (watch) _______________________ a mystery movie on T.V. when the electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out how the movie ends.
9. Sharon (be) _____________________ in the room when John (tell) ________________________ me what happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (listen, not) ____________________________.
10. It's strange that you (call)_________________________ because I (think, just) _________________________ about you.
11. The Titanic (cross) _______________________ the Atlantic when it (strike) ________________________ an iceberg.
12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily) ________________________ and (try)_______________________ to sell their goods to naive tourists who (hunt) ______________________ for souvenirs. Some young boys (lead) ______________________ their donkeys through the narrow streets on their way home. A couple of men (argue) _________________________ over the price of a leather belt. I (walk) _____________________ over to a man who (sell)________________________ fruit and (buy) _____________________ a banana.
13. The firemen (rescue) __________________________ the old woman who (be) _____________________ trapped on the third floor of the burning building.
14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) ___________________________ her dirty dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually) ______________________ me to do them for her.
15. Samantha (live) ________________________ in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live)_________________________ there when the Berlin wall came down.
D. All of the following sentences should be completed using the Present Continuous or the Present Perfect Continuous. You must use the words in the parentheses to fill in the blanks.
EXAMPLE
A) I cannot sleep because the baby (cry) is crying.
B) I'm getting a little worried because the baby (cry) has been crying for over half an hour.
1. It (rain)______________________ all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the beach.
2. A: Where is Gary?
B: He (study, at the library)______________________ for his German test on Wednesday. In fact, he (review)__________________________ for the test every day for the last week.3. You look really great! (You, exercise)_______________________ at the fitness center?
4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait)______________________ for you since 1 P.M..
5. A: What is that sound?
B: A car alarm (ring)_____________________ somewhere down the street. It (drive)_____________________ me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring)____________________ for more than twenty minutes.6. Joseph's English (improve, really)________________________, isn't it. He (watch)_____________________ American television programs and (study)______________________ his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.
7. A: You look a little tired. (You, get)_______________________ enough sleep lately?
B: Yes, I (sleep)___________________________ relatively well. I just look tired because I (feel)____________________ a little sick for the last week.
A: I hope you feel better soon.
B: Thanks. I (take, currently)_____________________ some medicine, so I should feel better in a couple of days.E. All of the following sentences should be completed using the Simple Future forms "will" and "be going to". You must use the words in the parentheses to fill in the blanks. Hint: pay attention to word order.
A) I promise that I 'll do my homework everyday.
REASON a promise _____
B) Next week, I am going to fly to Denver to visit a friend.
REASON a plan
1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?
B: I (write)____________________ a letter to my friends back home in Texas.
REASON_____________________2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
B: I (get)___________________ you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.
REASON_____________________3. A: I can't hear the television!
B: I (turn)_______________________it up so you can hear it.
REASON_____________________4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit)_____________________ Paris, Nice and Grenoble.
REASON______________________5. Sarah (come)________________________ to the party. Oliver (be)_____________________ there as well.
REASON______________________6. A: It is so hot in here!
B: I (turn)_________________________ the air conditioning on.
REASON______________________7. I think he (be)______________________ the next president of the United States.
REASON______________________8. After I graduate, I (attend)_______________________ medical school and become a doctor.
REASON______________________9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people.
B: That man at the service counter (help)_____________________ you.
REASON______________________10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk)_____________________ down to the beach and go swimming.
REASON______________________
A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?
The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry.
A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
The third. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto are camping in the desert, set up their tent and are asleep. Some hours later, The Lone Ranger wakes his faithful friend. "Tonto, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."
Tonto replies, "Me see millions of stars."
"What does that tell you?" ask The Lone Ranger.
Tonto ponders for a minute. "Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of
galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.
Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What it tell you, Kemo Sabi?"The Lone Ranger is silent for a moment, then speaks. Tonto, someone has stolen our tent."