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Advanced Modals

  •  English    16     Public
    Modal forms for advanced students of English
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  • ABILITY: This book _____ (use) by complete strangers.
    can be used (we don't usually use "be able to" in the passive)
  •  20
  • ABILITY: Do you think he _____ (climb) Mount Everest?
    will manage to climb (this is the best option because it is difficult)
  •  20
  • ABILITY: _____ (I speak) fluently by the end of the course?
    Will I be able to speak (can may not be used for a FUTURE ability)
  •  15
  • ABILITY: I think _____ (I smell) something burning in the kitchen.
    I can smell (we don't use "be able to" with senses)
  •  15
  • ABILITY: Mozart _____ (play) the piano at the age of five.
    could play / was able to play
  •  15
  • ABILITY: Mikes car broke down but fortunately he _____ repair it.
    was able to (can is not used for a single occasion)
  •  20
  • ABILITY: Despite being a mechanic, Mike _____ fix his car when it broke down yesterday.
    couldn't / wasn't able to
  •  15
  • She _____ (pay) by credit card, but she used cash instead.
    could have paid / was able to pay
  •  20
  • ABILITY: They _____ (try) harder to make me feel welcome.
    couldn't have tried
  •  25
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: There _____ (be) life on other planets.
    may / might / could be
  •  15
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: He _____ (not be) at the party, as he was in New York.
    can't / couldn't have been
  •  20
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: My keys aren't in this bag. I ______ (lose) them.
    must have lost
  •  20
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: Who _____ that be at this time of night?
    can / could
  •  15
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: You _____ get blood from a stone.
    can't (can't means "it's impossible" while couldn't would mean "I think it's impossible")
  •  15
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: John isn't here. He _____ (decide) not to come or perhaps he's just late.
    could / may / might have decided
  •  20
  • SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: We _____ travel to the moon and Mars, but we _____ travel to Pluto.
    will/might be able to / won't/might not be able to (we can't use "can" for future speculation)
  •  20