Unit
14. Power and Politics
Grammar
may,
might, must, can’t
|
Modal Verbs |
Uses |
Guessing Words |
Examples |
|
may/might |
possibility of something |
Perhaps, doubt |
She's not here yet.
She might be stuck in traffic. |
|
must |
to express certainty |
Sure |
He must live near here
because he always walks to work. |
|
can't |
something is not possible |
Sure ... not |
It can't be easy for
him, looking after three kids on his own. |
A. Study the following sentences.
a.
She may/might be in France.
b.
You've had a long journey. You must be tired.
c.
Niraj can't be in Gorkha - I saw him this morning.
We
use may or might to talk about the possibility of something in
the present or in the future.
We use must and can’t to
express certainty in the present.
|
Modal Verbs |
Uses |
Guessing Words |
Examples |
|
may/might |
possibility of something |
Perhaps, doubt |
She's not here yet.
She might be stuck in traffic. |
|
must |
to express certainty |
Sure |
He must live near here
because he always walks to work. |
|
can't |
something is not possible |
Sure ... not |
It can't be easy for
him, looking after three kids on his own. |
B. Fill in the blanks with may, must or can’t.
a.
Matthew …… be at home. I can see his bike in front of his home.
Matthew
must be at home. I can see his bike in front of his home.
b.
They …… be coming tomorrow.
They
may be coming tomorrow.
c.
She …… speak French very well. She's only lived in Paris for two weeks.
She
can’t speak French very well. She's only lived in Paris for two
weeks.
d.
My key is not in my pocket or on my desk so it …… be in the drawer.
My
key is not in my pocket or on my desk so it must be in the
drawer.
e.
I saw him yesterday. He …… be abroad.
I
saw him yesterday. He can’t be abroad.
f.
You got the job? That's great. You …… be very delighted.
You
got the job? That's great. You must be very delighted.
g.
I …… finish it by tomorrow if I stay at work all night, but I'm not sure.
I
may finish it by tomorrow if I stay at work all night, but I'm
not sure.
h.
Somebody is knocking on the door. It …… be Sabina – she promised to come today.
Somebody
is knocking on the door. It must be Sabina – she promised to come
today.
C. Rewrite the following sentences using may/might, must or can’t.
Example: May be they went away. They may/might have gone away.
a.
I’m sure he’s not going to the cinema today.
He
can’t be going to the cinema today.
b.
Perhaps she knows the answer.
She
may know the answer.
c.
I’m sure he has a car.
He
must have a car.
d.
I doubt if it rains later on.
It
may rain later on.
e.
Perhaps she wants to be alone.
She
may want to be alone.
f.
I’m sure Harina is in her office.
Harina
must be in her office.
Extra Questions
1. Fill in the blanks with
appropriate modals or from the brackets.
1)
......... we leave now or do you want to
wait? (Will/Mightn't/Shall)
2)
......... you go already? You only
arrived an hour ago! (must/should/can)
3)
......... you have a cup of tea?
(would/can/must/might)
4)
......... you like to come with me?
(would/should/could/can)
5)
......... you wait for some time ?
(should/could/can/must)
6)
.…………….. I watch television when I
finish my homework? (will/might/could/shall)
7)
………….. you live happily and long!
8)
…………you speak French?
(need/should/can/may)
9)
A judge......... be upright.
(must/should/could/can)
10)
A rat......... not eat a cat.
(can/will/must/might)
11)
A son......... obey his father.
(can/must/should/might)
12)
After the death of her grandma, Lalita
………… sit on that rock and gaze down into the water. (could/would/may/can)
13)
Anupama ............ certainly attend
the conference.
14)
Anyone ......... make mistakes.
(can/must/should/may)
15)
Asha asked if she…….. bring her dog in.
(can/may/might/should)
16)
Do you……….. cook your own meal?
(should/have to/must/had to)
17)
Drivers ......... stop when the traffic
lights are red. (should/could/must/may)
18)
Every evening Neeraj ........ go for a
long walk
19)
Had he worked hard, he ......... have
passed. (might/must/would/could)
20)
He ......... be over fifty, he was born
in 1960. (should/have to/must/is)
21)
He ......... not to sing song for so
long.
22)
He must ......... the garage. It is full
of rubbish. (cleaning/clean)
23)
He works hard lest he………… fail.
(should/must/has to/would)
24)
He works hard so that he......... pass.
(will/shall/may/might)
25)
He……….. not buy a car. (has
to/needs/must/should)
26)
Hurry up lest you ......... miss the
train. (must/will/should/might/)
27)
I ......... swim across the river when I
was young.
28)
I ............ get back to my work.
29)
I ............ need the book today.
30)
I ............. be twenty-five next
birthday.
31)
I excepted that I ........... get a
first class.
32)
I left my purse at home. Lily, .........
you lend me ten dollars? (may/could/shouldn't)
33)
I think I ......... have failed the
test, but I'm not sure. (ought to/might/shall)
34)
I think that sign means we .........
enter the building. Look, there's a security guard too. (won't/have to/mustn't)
35)
I wish it......... clop raining.
(could/would/should/can)
36)
I wish you ......... write to me more
often.
37)
I......... climb a tree when I was
young. (could/should/would/can)
38)
I......... rather die than beg.
(would/could/may/might)
39)
I’ve lost one of my gloves. I …………. it
somewhere. (must drop/must have dropped/must be dropping/must have been
dropping)
40)
If anybody ………… for us, tell them we be
in the cafeteria. (see, could/sees, may/look, may/looks, will)
41)
If people …………. live forever the world
be………… overcrowded. (may, must/will, could/must, should/could, would)
42)
If there is an age restriction then you
......... go in as you are too young. (should/shouldn't/shall not)
43)
If you had let me know earlier, I
......... have been able to come. (would/will/shall)
44)
If you step on a dog, it ............
bite you.
45)
If you work hard, you ......... pass.
(could/will/would/should)
46)
It got so dark we......... not see the
path. (can/will/could/should)
47)
It is cloudy. It ......... rain soon.
(may/can/might/could)
48)
It's late. You ......... make so much
noise. (must/don't have to/should/mustn't)
49)
It's wet and windy outside today. You
......... go out without an umbrella. (shouldn't/won't/don't have to)
50)
Jessica……….. work hard to crack her CA
Exam. (has to/had to/have to/none of the above)
51)
Lindsay watched the movie in French and
......... understand very much of it. (didn't have to/can't/couldn't)
52)
My son ......... be sixteen next month.
(will/shall/can/must)
53)
No one knew whether he......... come or
not. (can/shall/would/must)
54)
Nowadays the women have dual
responsibilities as they……….. work at home and office as well. (have to/had
to/has to/ought to)
55)
People………… walk on the grass.
(couldn’t/mustn’t/needn’t/may not)
56)
Ramesh said that they………… report for
duty on Monday. (should/can/ought to/must)
57)
She ………….. finish this work before I go.
(has to/must/should/have to)
58)
She was driving so fast that she ………….
stop in time. (can’t/needn’t/couldn’t/shouldn’t)
59)
She………… finish this work before I go.
(has to/must/should/can)
60)
She………… pass this time. (ought to/has
to/have to/has to)
61)
Since she left town, her brother……….
clean and cook for the family. (had to/need to/have to/has to)
62)
Students ......... answer all the
questions.
63)
Students ......... leave bicycles here.
(doesn't have to/mustn't/isn't/has to)
64)
Students in many schools ......... have
chewing gum.It is against the rules. (mustn't/don't have to/shouldn't/aren't)
65)
Take an umbrella. It ......... rain
later. (need/mustn’t/should/might)
66)
The animal……….to be put to sleep as
it……….. be dangerous later on. (had, will/would, can/has, may/could, won’t)
67)
The company ......... go bankrupt if
they don't find a lot of money quickly! (should/shouldn't/might)
68)
The government ......... vote on the
issue tomorrow. It's scheduled for 10am. (will/may/would)
69)
The old lady………….. take a bath every day
before taking meals. (ought to/should/must/had to)
70)
The rain has stopped so you………….. put on
your raincoat. (needn’t/can’t/couldn’t/shouldn’t)
71)
The rules say that you …………… bring along
your identity card to the examination hall. (will/used to/would/need to)
72)
The villagers………… use kerosene lamps a
few years ago. (must/had to/should/ought to)
73)
There are plenty of tomatoes in the
fridge, you ......... buy any. (needn’t/shouldn’t/mustn’t/can’t)
74)
This ............ be the book you want,
I suppose.
75)
This chair is very light. Even a small
boy......... lift it. (can/could/must/should)
76)
To join this table tennis academy,
students ......... be 16 years old. (are/must/has to/shouldn't)
77)
Walk slowly lest you......... fall.
(should/could/may/must)
78)
We ...... to help the poor.
79)
We ......... honest under all
circumstances. (should/must/could/can)
80)
We ......... serve our country.
(must/should/could/can)
81)
We …………..prepare our lessons well before
examination. (ought to/must/should/have to)
82)
We have to rush. We ......... miss the
last bus home. (needn't/couldn't/mustn't)
83)
We......... obey our elders.
(could/may/should/would)
84)
We......... respect our parents.
(can/may/should/must)
85)
We………. obey our teachers. (have
to/must/should/has to)
86)
We……….obey our teachers. (have to/ought
to/should/must)
87)
We………….prepare our lessons well before
the examination. (must/should/ought to/none of the above)
88)
When he was young, he ......... swim
very well. He won medals and championships! (had to/can/could)
89)
Why did you push her? She ………….. have
fallen and hurt herself. (can/could/shall/should)
90)
Work hard lest you ......... fail.
(must/will/should/can)
91)
You ......... do more exercise to stay
fit. (must/are/don't have to/shouldn't)
92)
You ......... finish your essay today.
It has to handed by tomorrow. (don't have to/has to/are/must)
93)
You ......... have bothered coming. I've
done it already. (wouldn't/mightn't/needn't)
94)
You ......... have worked so hard last
week. You look so tired now. (must not/ought not to/can't)
95)
You ......... help me! (must to/should
to/have to)
96)
You ......... not speak so loudly.
(must/will/may/can)
97)
You ......... obey the rule of the road.
(should/can/may/might)
98)
You ......... touch that plate, it's too
hot. (don't have to/have to/should/mustn't)
99)
You are not allowed to enter. So you
......... wait outside. (don't have to/should/must/has to)
100)
You look very confused by the homework,
Clive. ......... I help you? (will/can/must)
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