Modal verbs expressing certainty, possibility & ability (B2) | Baamboozle - Baamboozle

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What modals do you use to express ability?

can / *be* able to

Were _______________ my books from the library? (PICK)

Were you able to pick up my books from the library?

What modal do you use when you are certain something is true?

must

succeed in + verb -ing = manage __ + _________

to + infinitive

Mara has not been ______________ on the amount she spends. (CUT)

Mara has not been able to cut down on the amount she spends.

What modals do you use when you are certain something is not true?

can't / couldn't

I was able to finish my homework = I managed __ _____ my homework.

to finish

My brother __________________ out that I have borrowed his bike. (MAY)

My brother may have found out that I have borrowed his bike.

What modals and form can you use when you think something is possibly true in the past?

may / might / could + have + past participle

You were lucky because _______________ an accident - you were driving so fast. (COULD)

You were lucky because you could have had an accident - you were driving so fast.

Annabel _________________ in London the whole weekend. (HAVE)

Annabel can't / couldn't have been in London the whole weekend.

What modals and form do you use when you are certain something is not true in the past?

can't / couldn't + have + past participle

The shop _______________ a large number of customers at the same time. (CATER)

The shop can't cater for such a large number of customers at the same time.

I was able to finish my homework = I succeeded __ _______ my homework.

in finishing

What modal and form do you use when you are certain something is true in the past?

must + have + past participle

Eva _______________ up the parcel from the post office. (MAY)

Eva may have picked up the parcel from the post office.

We walked all day, and at five o'clock we (could / were able to) reach the top of the mountain.

were able to

manage to + infinitive = succeed __ + _______

in + verb -ing

Although the shop was very crowded, we (could / were able to) get the shopping done quite quickly.

were able to

What three modals can you use when you think something is possibly true?

may / might / could

What modal do you use to express GENERAL ability in the past?

could

I was so worried that I (couldn't sleep / couldn't have slept) and I lay awake all night.

couldn't sleep

When I was a small child, I (could / was able to) sing beautifully, but my voice isn't so good now.

could

I (could buy / could have bought) my tablet PC more cheaply online, but in fact I bought it from my local computer shop.

could have bought

What modal do you use to express ability on a SPECIFIC occasion in the past?

was / were able to

Modal verbs expressing certainty, possibility & ...