Z. BEN AMOR

Tenses & Modals - Cumulative Exercises
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GR 2

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Exercise 1: Provide the correct form and tense of the verbs between brackets, then determine the time reference and the meaning of each verb.

1.         Akiko: Hi, Yuri. What (1. do) ------------------- after school today?

           Yuri:      I'm not sure yet, but I think I (2. go) ------------------- to the library to finish my math project.

           Akiko:  What, (3. you /do) ------------------- it yet? It was due two days ago. Mr Henderson will be mad!

           Yuri:      I know, but I (4. have) ------------------- so much work recently. Will you help me?

           Akiko:  Sorry, I can't. I (5. play) ------------------- tennis with Koji. See you tomorrow!

2.         Chiara:           Hi, Maria. What (6. do) ------------------- after school yesterday?

Maria: Something really funny happened. I (7. sit) ------------------- in the library when a dog (8. walk) ------------------- in and started to bark at the students working on the computers. The library teacher tried to catch it, but the dog jumped through the window and (9. run) ------------- off across the playground.

3.         Il-Jung:            Hi, Bo-Sul. Were you in school yesterday? I (10. not / see) ------------------- you.

Bo-Sul:           No, I (11. have to) ------------------- go to the optician to get a new pair of glasses. I (12. have) ------------------- trouble seeing the blackboard recently. I couldn't read what Mr Henderson (13. write) ------------------- on the board in the math lesson last week. I gave a stupid answer and everybody laughed at me. It was so embarrassing!

4.         Rodrigo:         Do you know if Bee-Yun (14. go) ------------------- to the dance on Friday?

Marlene:         I'm not sure. She (15. not /go) ------------------- to the last one and I know she (16. not enjoy) ------------------- the music they play. But I (17. think) -----------------she likes Koshiro, and he will be there, so maybe she (18. go) ------------------- too!

Exercise 2: Provide the correct form of the modals between brackets, then the meaning of each modal verb.

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He (must – can – had better) be exhausted after such a long flight. -------------------------

2. The book is optional. My professor said we could read it if we needed extra credit. But we (Cannot - must not - don't have to) read it if we don't want to. -------------------------

3. The television isn't working. It (must have been – must - must be) damaged during the move.  -------------------------

4. A: (Are you able to - Might you - Can you) hold your breath for more than a minute?

    B: No, I can't.  -------------------------

5. You (can't - don't have to - shouldn't) be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.    -------------------

6. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the answer key. The answer in the book (have to - must – should) be wrong! -------------------------

7. You (can't - won't be able to - couldn't) do the job if you didn't speak Japanese fluently. -------------------------

8. You (should - have to - ought to) be kidding! That can't be true. -----------------------

9. You (would - might – may) leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused yourself. -------------------------

10. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told my boss that he (must - ought to - has to) take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the position. 

11. The machine (may turn - could be turning - can be turned) on by flipping this switch. 

12. I can't stand these people - I (might have got to - had better) get out of here. I'm going to take off for awhile while you get rid of them. 

13. Do you always have to say the first thing that pops into your head?  (Can't -Don't – can) you think once in a while before you speak? 

14. Terry and Frank said they would come over right after work, so they (have to – can – should) be here by 6:00. 

15. Yesterday, I (had to – should – must) cram all day for my French final. I didn't get to sleep until after midnight.

16. We (would – might – shall) no longer suffer the injustice of oppression! Freedom shall be ours! 

17. If I had gone to the University of Miami, I (could - could have - could be) participated in their Spanish immersion program. 

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