Modal Verbs/Prepositions

Excercise 1. Modals of Ability. Put in ‘can’ / ‘can’t’ / ‘could’ / ‘couldn’t’. If none is possible, use ‘be able to’ in the correct tense:

1. _________________ you swim when you were 10?

2. We _________________ get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train was delayed by one hour.

3. He _________________ arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he was very pleased.

4. He’s amazing, he _________________ speak 5 languages including Chinese.

5. I _________________ drive a car until I was 34, then I moved to the countryside so I had to learn.

6. I looked everywhere for my glasses but I _________________ find them anywhere.

7. I searched for your house for ages, luckily I _________________ find it in the end.

8. She’s 7 years old but she _________________ read yet – her parents are getting her extra lessons.

9. I read the book three times but I _________________ understand it.

10. James _________________ speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he’s forgotten most of it now.

11. I _________________ understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was so difficult.

12. I _________________ lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you help me?

13. Lucy _________________ make it to our meeting after all. She’s stuck in traffic at the moment.

14. John _________________ play tennis really well. He’s champion of his club.

15. Unfortunately, I really _________________ sing at all! No-one in my family is musical either.

16. When the car broke down I was really pleased because I _________________ solve the problem.

17. Julian _________________ play excellent golf when he was only ten.

18. My grandmother _________________ use a computer until last month. Since then, she’s been taking lessons at the library.

19. I _________________ open this window. I think it’s stuck!

20. Gill _________________ play the piano. She’s never studied it.

Exercise 2. Modals of Obligation. Put in ‘mustn’t’ or ‘don’t / doesn’t have to’:

1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _______________ be late.

2. You _______________ tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.

3. The museum is free. You _______________ pay to get in.

4. Children _______________ tell lies. It’s very naughty.

5. John’s a millionaire. He _______________ go to work.

6. I _______________ do my washing, because my mother does it for me.

7. We _______________ rush. We’ve got plenty of time.

8. You _______________ smoke inside the school.

9. You can borrow my new dress but you _______________ get it dirty.

10. We _______________ miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.

11. She _______________ do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.

12. I _______________ clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.

13. We _______________ forget to lock all the doors before we leave.

14. We _______________ stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.

15. I _______________ spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.

16. They _______________ get up early today, because it’s Sunday.

17. I _______________ eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!

18. We _______________ be late for the exam.

19. You _______________ tidy up now. I’ll do it later.

20. He _______________ cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.

Exercise 3. Modals of Probability. Put in ‘must + infinitive’ or ‘must + have + past participle’:

1. Keiko always does really well on exams. She _____________ (study) a lot.

2. That woman drives a very expensive car. She _____________ (have) a lot of money.

3. You _____________ (practise) a lot before you gave your speech. It was really great.

4. When Lizzie got home yesterday, there were flowers on the table. Her husband _____________ (buy) them.

5. Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it _____________ (be) in this room.

6. Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she _____________ (leave) them at her office.

7. It _____________ (be) cold outside. That man in the street is wearing a coat.

8. All my plants _____________ (be) dead! I forgot to water them before I left for my holiday.

9. Susie is so late! She _____________ (miss) the train.

10. There’s rubbish all over my garden! A fox _____________ (be) in the bin.

11. Anna has a huge library in her house. She _____________ (love) books.

12. Oh no, I don’t have my keys! I _____________ (leave) them in the taxi.

13. When Lucy got home she found the ice cream had melted. It _____________ (be) too hot in the car.

14. If you haven’t eaten all day, you _____________ (be) hungry.

15. Jimmy and Louisa _____________ (be) very tired. They have a new baby.

16. It _____________ (rain) a lot in the night. There are puddles everywhere.

17. David _____________ (be) happy. His girlfriend just agreed to marry him.

18. What an amazing kitchen you’ve got! You _____________ (like) cooking.

19. John _____________ (eat) all the biscuits! There are none left.

20. When I got up this morning, the kitchen was spotless. Lily _____________ (tidy) it before she went to bed last night.

Exercise 4. Modals of Probability. Put in ‘can’t’ or ‘must’:

1. Why is that man looking around like that? He _____________ be lost.

2. That woman _____________ be a doctor! She looks far too young.

3. John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He _____________ study enough.

4. The food is really good at that restaurant. They _____________ have a great chef.

5. Who’s that at the door? It _____________ be Susie – she’ll still be at work now.

6. This _____________ be John’s house. This house has a red door, and it’s number 24, just like he said.

7. Julie _____________ have much money, or she would buy a new car. Her old one is falling apart.

8. He _____________ be at work now, can he? It’s nearly midnight.

9. What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You _____________ really like gardening.

10. David _____________ drink a lot of coffee. He’s finished two packets already this week!

11. This _____________ be Jamie’s coat. He’s very tall, and this is tiny.

12. Her life _____________ be easy. She has four children and very little money.

13. Where’s Lucy? She _____________ be at the library, as she often goes there at this time.

14. This bill _____________ be right! £50 for two cups of coffee!

15. Emma’s amazingly good at the piano. She _____________ practise a lot.

16. The car in front is driving so slowly that I think they _____________ be looking for something.

17. You’ve already eaten enough for three people! You _____________ still be hungry!

18. This book _____________ belong to the library. It’s certainly not mine.

19 . It only takes three hours to fly from London to Sydney? That _____________ be correct!

20. There _____________ be something wrong with the fridge! It’s making a very unusual noise.

Exercise 5. Prepositions of Place.

1. He’s swimming ______ the river.

2. Where’s Julie? She’s ______ school.

3. The plant is ______ the table.

4. There is a spider ______ the bath.

5. Please put those apples ______ the bowl.

6. Frank is ______ holiday for three weeks.

7. There are two pockets ______ this bag.

8. I read the story ______ the newspaper.

9. The cat is sitting ______ the chair.

10. Lucy was standing ______ the bus stop.

11. I'll meet you ______ the cinema.

12. She hung a picture ______ the wall.

13. John is ______ the garden.

14. There's nothing ______ TV tonight.

15. I stayed ______ home all weekend.

16. When I called Lucy, she was ______ the bus.

17. There was a spider ______ the ceiling.

18. Unfortunately, Mrs Brown is ______ hospital.

19. Don't sit ______ the table, sit ______ a chair.

20. There are four cushions ______ the sofa.