Moving into an Apartment

Before this year, I ____ (not) move out of my parents' house because I did not have a job. But
now that I have finished college and have a job, I realize that living at home ____ drive my
parents and me crazy. Unfortunately, it's not so easy to find to find an apartment in the city.
Without an agent, you ___ not be able to find all the available listings. Because of my agent's
help, I found a wonderful condominium this morning and signed the lease. Before now, I
couldn't sign a lease, but now I ___ because I am twenty-one.
I asked my friends to help me move because I knew that I ___ fit all my possessions into my
little car. My best friend said, " I ___ help you move next week." He added, "I ___ help
earlier in the morning than later in the afternoon." My father also offered to help me move.
He ___ be really be eager to have me move out!
Another friend told me that he ___ (help) me move, but he never showed up. What a flake!
With the help of three friends, I ___ get all my possessions into the new condo.
My parents are happy for me, but warned, "You ___ spend all your money each month. Save
a little extra money for unexpected emergencies." I know that everyone ___ save a little extra
money, but it is hard with so many bills to pay. I made a few purchases. The first thing that I
___ (have) was furniture. I ___ (sleep) on the wood floor, but it was too hard, so I bought a
sofa-bed.
It ___ (take) about a year until I am able to completely furnish my apartment. By this time
next year, I ___ (learn) a lot about living independently.
agent (N) a professional (in Real Estate, property)
available (Adj) ready; able to be used, easily be bought or found
condominium (N) an independent living space or unit in a larger building or complex
eager (Adj) be excited about something that will happen
flake (expression) an unreliable person
furnish (V) put furniture and other things into a room or house
lease (N) a legal agreement to pay rent; We have a twelve-month lease.
listings (pl. n.) information about an available places to live, usually in a newspaper or an
online database; We found a list of available apartments.
purchases (pl. n.) buys
show up (verbal expression) appear as expected or agreed

Review pages for quiz: Modal Summary

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1.
Before this year, I __________ move out of my parents' house because I did not have a job.
a. may not
b. cannot
c. should not
d. could not
e. shall not
2.
But now that I have finished college and have a job, I realize that living at home _____ drive
my parents and me crazy. (potentially)
a. could
b. would
c. should
d. would have
e. should have
3.
Unfortunately, it's not so easy to find to find an apartment in the city. Without an agent, you
_____ not be able to find all the available listings. (possibility)

a. ought to
b. must
c. should
d. might
e. can
4.
Before now, I couldn't sign a lease, but now I _____ because I am twenty-one.
a. able
b. can
c. can able
d. can do
e. sign
5.
I asked my friends to help me move because I knew that I _____ fit all my possessions into
my little car. (inability)
a. can't be able to
b. not able to
c. don't be able to
d. couldn't
e. couldn't be able to
6.
My best friend said, " I _____ help you move next week." (an offer)
a. able to
b. would be able to
c. be able to
d. must be able to

e. will be able to
7.
He added, " I _____ help earlier in the morning than later in the afternoon." (preference)
a. would better
b. would like
c. would have
d. would rather
e. would
8.
My father also offered to help me move. He __________ be really eager to have me move
out! (conclusion)
a. must
b. will
c. can
d. ought to
e. have to
9.
Another friend told me that he ______ me move, but he never showed up.
a. would help
b. would have helped
c. will help
d. would helped
e. will have helped
10.
With the help of three friends, I ___ get all my possessions into the new condo. ("managed
to")
a. am able to

b. can
c. could
d. was able to
e. could have
11.
My parents are happy for me, but warned, "You _____ spend all your money each month.
Save a little extra money for unexpected emergencies."
a. mustn't
b. don't have to
c. must not have
d. aren't able to
e. would not
12.
I know that everyone _______ save a little extra money, but it is hard with so many bills to
pay. (customary, expected behavior)
a. must
b. is supposed to
c. has to
d. was able to
e. could have
13.
I made a few purchases. The first thing that I _____ was furniture. (requirement)
a. must have
b. had to have
c. must have had
d. have to have

e. would have had

14.
I _____ on the wood floor, but it was too hard, so I bought a sofa-bed. (option not taken)
a. could sleep
b. couldn't sleep
c. could have slept
d. could of slept
e. couldn't have slept
15.
It _____ about a year until I am able to completely furnish my apartment. (prediction)
a. must take
b. will take
c. would take
d. will have taken
e. must have taken
16.
By this time next year, I _____ a lot about living independently. (time-relative prediction)
a. must learn
b. will learn
c. would learn
d. will have learned
e. must have learned

can

could

have to

must

might

should

Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to
learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.

Modal Use

Positive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. =
Future

Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. =
Past 3. = Future

Also
use:

1. Sarah shouldn't
smoke so much. It's
not good for her
health.
1. People with high cholesterol
should eat low-fat foods.
should
2. Frank should have eaten low-fat
recommendatio foods. That might have prevented his
n, advisability heart attack.

2. Sarah shouldn't have

smoked so much. That's
what caused her health
ought to
problems.

3. Sarah shouldn't
3. You really should start eating better. smoke when she visits
Martha next week.
Martha hates when
people smoke in her
house.
I should be at work before 9:00.

We should return the video before the

video rental store closes.
should
obligation

should
expectation

"Should" can also express something

between recommendation and
obligation. "Be supposed to" expresses
a similar idea and can easily be used
in the past or in negative forms.

NO NEGATIVE
FORMS

1. Susan should be in New York by 1. Susan shouldn't

now.
be in New York yet.

2. Susan should have arrived in New

York last week. Let's call her and see
what she is up to.
3. Susan should be in New York by
next week. Her new job starts on

be
suppose
d to

ought
to,
be
2. Susan shouldn't have suppose
arrived in New York
d to

until yesterday.
3. Susan shouldn't
arrive in New York

Monday.

until next week.

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He

such a long flight. He

be exhausted after

prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.

2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you

walk

downtown and explore the waterfront.

3. Hiking the trail to the peak
dramatic weather changes. You

be dangerous if you are not well prepared for

research the route a little more before you attempt

the ascent.
4. When you have a small child in the house, you
Such objects

5. Dave:

leave small objects lying around.

be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

you hold your breath for more than a minute?

Nathan: No, I can't.

6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It

have cost a fortune.

7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they
die.

8. I

speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we

moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost
everything I knew as a child. Now, I
just say a few things in the language.

9. The book is optional. My professor said we

we

read it if we needed extra credit. But

read it if we don't want to.

10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It

be in this drawer but it's not here.

Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It
in there. That's the only other place it

11. You

be

be.

take your umbrella along with you today. The weatherman on the news

said there's a storm north of here and it

12.

rain later on this afternoon.

we pull over at the next rest stop? I really

don't know if I

hold it until we get to Chicago.

13. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He

14. Ned:

use the bathroom and I

have left it here last night.

I borrow your lighter for a minute?

Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you

keep it if you want to. I've given up

smoking.
15. I

believe she said that to Megan! She

everyone at the party last night. She

insult her cooking in front of

have just said she was full or had some salad if

she didn't like the meal.

16. Do you

chew with your mouth open like that? Geez, it's making me sick

watching you eat that piece of pizza.

17. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still warm!
Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer
be someone in this room. It
be any one of us!!!

18. Ted: I don't know why Denise starting crying when I mentioned the wedding.
Pamela: It
have been what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is just
nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow.
19.

you always say the first thing that pops into your head?

once in awhile before you speak?

you think

20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this room. It
be lying around here somewhere. Where
it be? be swallowed, causing
serious injury or even death.