A. Underline the mistake in each sentence and write the correct words.
1 My older brother can to ride a motorbike, but I can’t. ……………………
2 He’ll has his dinner early today because he’s going out. ……………………
3 Do you can come to my party? ……………………
4 You should to see a doctor about your foot. ……………………
5 I couldn’t bought any bread because the baker’s was closed. ……………………
6 You needn’t to do the washing-up. I’ve already done it. ……………………
7 The school ought listen to pupils’ opinions. ……………………
8 People shouldn’t to drop their rubbish in the street. ……………………
Answer
1 to ride/ride
2 has/have
3 Do you can/Can you
4 should to see/should see
5 couldn’t bought/couldn’t buy
6 needn’t to do/needn’t do
7 ought listen/ought to listen
8 shouldn’t to drop/shouldn’t drop
B. Look at the pictures and complete the sentences using can, could or the correct form of be able to. You may have to use some negative forms.
Amy really loves playing chess and she (1) ……………………… play very well. When she was a baby she (2) ……………………… play chess. She thinks that when she’s older, she’ll (3) ……………………… win the national championships!
Amy has (4) ……………………… ride a bicycle since she was three. She wants to learn to drive when she grows up, though. When she’s eighteen, she hopes she’ll (5) ……………………… do her driving test. She (6) ……………………… drive a car now though. It’s against the law!
Answer
1 can 2 couldn’t 3 be able to
4 been able to 5 be able to 6 can’t
C. Write what they say using the word given.
1 Tony wants to borrow his friend’s pencil. could
‘………………………………………………….?’
2 Alex wants to allow her friend to use her dictionary. Can
‘………………………………………………….?’
3 Julie wants permission from her teacher to leave the classroom. may
‘………………………………………………….?’
4 Lou wants to wear his brother’s new trainers. can
‘………………………………………………….?’
5 Terry wants to ask her boss for permission to take the day off work. could
‘………………………………………………….?’
6 Diane wants to use her dad’s car this weekend. can
‘………………………………………………….?’
7 A teacher wants to give her students five extra minutes to finish the test. may
‘………………………………………………….?’
Answer
1 Could I borrow your pencil
2 You can use my dictionary
3 May I leave the classroom
4 Can I wear your new trainers
5 Could I take the day off work
6 Can I use your car this weekend
7 You may have five extra minutes to finish the test.
D. Rewrite the sentences using should or ought to and the words in brackets. You may have to use some negative forms.
1 ‘I need to earn more money.’ (a, get, job, new, you)
‘……………………………………… . ‘
2 ‘Brenda is angry about what I said.’ (are, say, sorry, you, you)
‘……………………………………… . ‘
3 ‘Tom doesn’t understand his homework.’ (about, ask, it, he, his, teacher)
‘……………………………………… . ‘
4 ‘I’d like to learn to play the piano.’ (having, lessons, start, you)
‘……………………………………… . ‘
5 ‘Tina is often tired at work.’ (at, late, night, she, TV, watch)
‘……………………………………… . ‘
6 ‘I don’t seem to have much energy at the moment.’ (exercise, get, some, you)
‘……………………………………… . ‘
Answer
1 You should/ought to get a new job
2 You should/ought to say you’re sorry
3 He should/ought to ask his teacher about it
4 You should/ought to start having lessons
5 She shouldn’t/oughtn’t to watch TV late at night
6 You should/ought to get some exercise
E. Circle the correct word or phrase.
1 I’ve been having swimming lessons and now I can / could swim really well.
2 Please could / should I use your mobile phone? Mine doesn’t have any power.
3 Sam could / ought to get a job instead of complaining about having no money.
4 Okay, yes – you can / should leave five minutes early today.
5 Do you think I must / should tell Michael the truth about what happened?
6 I can’t / couldn’t read until I was five years old.
7 I’m sorry, but you can’t / couldn’t leave your car there.
8 If you want to pass the exam, you can / ought to do some revision.
9 I know John lived in Tokyo, but I don’t think he can / may speak Japanese.
10 Tracy can / could sing really well now that she’s had a few lessons.
Answer
1 can 2 could 3 ought 4 can 5 should
6 couldn’t 7 can’t 8 ought to 9 can 10 can
F. Match to make sentences.
1 There’s a lot of washing-up; I think we should
2 It’s getting quite late and we ought
3 I don’t have much money, but you can
4 It’s amazing that Andrew could
5 Passengers travelling in first class may
A wait for their flight in the VIP area.
B borrow some if you need it.
C to think about getting a taxi.
D offer to do it.
E walk when he was just six months
Answer
1 D 2 C 3 B 4 E 5 A
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