Modal verbs (модальные глаголы)

Exercise 1. Read and learn.

This Can’t Be Right

This can’t be right.

It has to be wrong.

This trip can’t possibly

take this long.

Can’t we ask somebody where we are?

Can’t we take a rest? Can’t we stop the car?

We don’t have to stop.

I know the way.

I take this road almost every day.

Exercise 2. Ask your partner if he/she can do these things.

1. говорить по-английски; 2. водить автомобиль; 3. печь пироги; 4. кататься на лыжах; 5. играть на каком-либо музыкальном инструменте; 6. пользоваться компьютером; 7. плавать; 8. играть в футбол; 9. ездить на велосипеде; 10. готовить.

Exercise 3 . Complete the sentences with can, can’t, could, couldn’t.

Example: I ___ on my hands. → I can’t stand on my hands.

1. I ___ on my hands. 2. I ___ English ten years ago. 3. I ___ a truck. 4. I ___ pictures when I was a child. 5. I ___ coffee without sugar. 6. I ___ trees when I was small. 7. I ___ very well without glasses. 8. I ___ tennis ten years ago.

Exercise 4. Answer the questions about the rules in our country.

1. When can you start school? 2. When can you get married? 3. When can you drive a car? 4. When can you have your own passport? 5. When can you vote? 6. When can you leave school?

Exercise 5. Find someone in the group who can:

1. swim a hundred metres 2. speak a foreign language (not English) 3. drive a car 4. stay awake all night 5. write with their left hand 6. ride a bicycle 7. use a computer 8. cook 9. play a musical instrument

Exercise 6. Say that you will be able to do this in future.

Example: I can’t do it now. (tomorrow)

I’ll be able to do it tomorrow.

1. He can’t speak to you now. (in an hour) 2. They can’t buy a new car. (in May) 3. We can’t play football now. (on Sunday) 4. Tom can’t leave hospital. (in an hour) 5. She can’t write the letter tonight. (tomorrow) 6. They can’t speak English well now. (after a year or two) 7. Ann can’t finish her work now. (at 2 o’clock) 8. I can’t clean the room now (tomorrow afternoon) 9. Granny can’t read to the child now. (a bit later) 10. We can’t visit you now. (in summer) 11. He can’t pay the bill now. (in a week) 12. Students can’t do this exercise now. (next year)

Exercise 7. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. She doesn’t feel well, she can’t leave her room. 2. My grandfather could speak three foreign languages. 3. He will be able to eat everything when the doctor allows him. 4. It was a fine day, so we could have a picnic. 5. I can understand what he means. 6. They didn’t want to come with us at first but we were able to persuade them. 7. Could you help me with this work? 8. The boy is able to read easy texts without a dictionary. 9. This is a very difficult problem. I think you won’t be able to solve it without help. 10. At the end of his speech he could hardly stand.

Exercise 8. Talk about computers. What can they do and what can’t they do?

Example: Computers can’t smell. Computers can correct mistakes.

Smell, see, write books, translate, forecast the weather, count, check spelling, think, hear, play chess, make music, have conversations, speak foreign languages, do crosswords.

Exercise 9. Change the sentences according to the model.

Example: Change seats during the lesson.

We may not change seats during the lesson because we are not

allowed to.

1. Prompt each other. 2. Leave the classroom without permission. 3. Shout. 4. Write on the walls. 5. Keep the tape another week. 6. Open windows when it is cold. 7. Take this article for my report. 8. Talk during the play in the theatre. 9. Come home late. 10. Stay outdoors for a long time. 11. Listen to loud music. 12. Bring animals home. 13. Smoke in public places.

Exercise 10. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Cyril was allowed to cook herself. 2. Children will be allowed to watch TV until 10 o’clock. 3. We are allowed to use dictionaries at our lessons. 4. He was very weak and was not allowed to leave his bed. 5. He is allowed to play computer games for two hours a day. 6. They will be allowed to swim if the weather is fine. 7. Workers were allowed to rest for a while. 8. Students are allowed to read mystery for their home reading. 9. Children will be allowed to play outdoors during the next break. 10. They were not allowed to use notes during the test.

Exercise 11. Change the sentences according to the model.

Example: It’s necessary for him to hurry home.

He must hurry home.

1. It’s necessary for you to ring her up. 2. It’s necessary for her to leave at once. 3. It’s necessary for the monitor to tell the group the news. 4. It’s necessary for the patient to see the doctor. 5. It’s necessary for the secretary to type the letters in time. 6. It’s necessary for us to leave the house early. 7. It’s necessary for Mr. Brown to be there at six. 8. It’s necessary for you to buy some bread. 9. It’s necessary for students to complete the work this week. 10. It’s necessary for Jim to revise the rules before the test. 11. It’s necessary for him to go to the barber. 12. It’s necessary for the children to wash hands before dinner. 13. It’s necessary for Kate to take this medicine. 14. It’s necessary for me to call on her tonight.

Exercise 12. Look at these safety instructions. Who do you think is speaking and where?

1. You must fasten your seat belt. 2. You mustn’t lean out of the window. 3. You must put out your cigarette. 4. You mustn’t leave them on their own. 5. You must wear strong shoes. 6. You mustn’t play with matches. 7. You must stay in your seat until we stop. 8. You must wear a helmet.

Exercise 13. Explain why can’t (couldn’t) this be done. Follow the model.

Example: Why can’t you do it now? (go home)

- Because I must go home.

Why couldn’t you do it yesterday?

- Because I had to go home.

1. Why can’t she go to the cinema? (stay with the baby). 2. Why can’t you help me? (do some work). 3. Why couldn’t they leave college? (prepare for classes). 4. Why can’t she give me a book? (read it herself). 5. Why couldn’t they translate the text? (write out the new words). 6. Why couldn’t we leave for Moscow yesterday? (wait for our father). 7. Why can’t the man stay longer? (be at his office). 8. Why couldn’t he ride the bike? (mend it). 9. Why couldn’t the plane arrive in time? (make an extra landing). 10. Why can’t they spend all the money? (save some for the next month).

Exercise 14. Read and learn.

When Do We Have to Be Back?

When do we have to be back, Jack?

When do we have to be back?

You have to be back at two, Lou.

You have to be back at two.

How long do we have to wait, Kate?

How long do we have to wait?

You have to wait until ten, Ken.

You have to wait until ten.

How soon do we have to pay, Ray?

How soon do we have to pay?

Pay as soon as you can, Ann.

Pay as soon as you can.

Exercise 15. Give negative and interrogative forms of the sentences.

1. Photography has to reproduce nature. 2. The institute will have to provide residence for all the students. 3. Students had to put questions to the text. 4. The examination papers have to contain ten grammar exercises. 5. He will have to reproduce the teacher’s intonation. 6. We had to start at eight yesterday. 7. She has to help her mother about the house. 8. They had to learn the dialogue by heart. 9. We will have to listen to the tape after classes. 10. Mary has to take her sister to the nursery school. 11. I had to look after an old neighbour. 12. Mr. Brown has to meet the delegation at the station.

Exercise 16. Change the sentences according to the model. Use to be to.

Example: We agreed to have lunch at the café.

We are to have lunch at the café.

1. The son agreed to wash the car in the evening. 2. She agreed to visit her sick friend every day. 3. The manager agreed to have an appointment with me. 4. The doctor agreed to come tonight. 5. He agreed to pay his debts at once. 6. The teacher agreed to listen to the student for a second time. 7. We arranged to have a picnic on Sunday. 8. They agreed to meet on the corner of this street. 9. The expedition was arranged to start at five o’clock. 10. She arranged to hold the meeting on Friday.

Exercise 17. Translate the sentences. Pay attention to different meanings of the verbs to be and to have.

1. They are students. 2. They have three daughters. 3. The secretary has to answer many letters. 4. We were in London last year. 5. I had some information to study. 6. Students are to study Mathematics for two years. 7. She had to work hard to improve her English. 8. Have a look at the picture. Isn’t it nice? 9. They have just come from abroad. 10. These computers are to replace the old equipment in our office. 11. There are a lot of laboratories in our university. 12. We will have a special building for the library. 13. He was to complete the work as soon as possible. 14. The students will have to make this experiment. 15. They were able to buy a new car. 16. The calculations will be very complex. 17. These devices are designed by our engineers. 18. Our boss has paid much attention to this problem. 19. A new supermarket is being built near our house. 20. You will have to leave at five to catch the train. 21. They were to help in carrying out flights. 22. Why did you have to get up early yesterday? 23. They are to take exams next week.

Exercise 18. Say what you should or shouldn’t do to stay healthy.

1. To eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. 2. To work from morning till night. 3. To do morning exercises daily. 4. To drink spirits. 5. To learn to relax. 6. To go to bed late. 7. To get up early in the morning. 8. To smoke. 9. To watch all TV programs. 10. To spend much time in the open air. 11. To sleep enough. 12. To eat too much fat food.

Exercise 19. Give your partner advice. Use should and the words in brackets.

1. My sister is ill (see a doctor). 2. The boys are lazy (study more). 3. John is very rude (be more polite). 4. Granny is so forgetful (write down the messages). 5. They make a lot of mistakes (work harder). 6. Nick is always late for classes (arrive earlier). 7. His hair is too long (go to the hairdresser’s). 8. Your room is untidy (clean it). 9. There is no one in this room (knock at the next door). 10. Mary isn’t punctual (come on time).

Exercise 20. Translate the sentences with modal verbs and their equivalents.

1. He could ride the bicycle when he was three years old. 2. I had to revise grammar rules. 3. We will be able to do it tomorrow. 4. She has to buy a new book. 5. They had to meet them at the station. 6. George is to visit her tomorrow. 7. Helen must help us. 8. The students may use dictionaries. 9. Bob can play tennis well. 10. The secretary will have to type the letters. 11. Nelly will be able to drive a car in a month. 12. He was to take the boy to school. 13. They needn’t walk up the stairs. 14. You should choose more suitable words. 15. He may get the information. 16. My sister is to make the scheme. 17. She could do it herself. 18. We have to read this article. 19. They will have to pay for tickets. 20. Children had to stay at home.

Exercise 21. Make up sentences with the information given. Add your own information.

I think students

must mustn’t should shouldn’t have to

study several languages do some research work treat teachers with respect wear uniform take part in conferences help each other be allowed to choose subjects to study take part in social activities

Exercise 22. Find the Russian equivalents to the following proverbs and quotations.

1. Important principles may and must be flexible. 2. The longest day must have an end. 3. Little friends may prove great friends (Aesop). 4. They who lose today may win tomorrow. 5. A fool may ask more questions than a wise man can answer. 6. Everything must have a beginning. 7. A man can do no more than he can. 8. The bird that can sing and will not sing must be made to sing. 9. He that can have patience can have what he will. 10. Books and friends should be few but good. 11. He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree. 12. What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing (Aristotle). 13. It has to be seen to be believed. 14. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. 15. Law-makers should not be law-breakers. 16. He that will not work will not eat. 17. You cannot fool all the people all the time. (A. Lincoln) 18. He, who can, does. He, who cannot, teaches. (B.Shaw) 19. A man without a smiling face must not open a shop. 20. Friendship is not to be bought at a fair. 21. The remedy may be worse than the disease. 22. A fair face may hide a foul heart. 23. Men/friends may meet, but mountains never greet. 24. Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm. 25. Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip. 26. Bird may be known by its song. 27. Broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound. 28.Great things may come from small beginnings. 29. What must be, must be. 30. Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. (Confucius)