MODAL VERBS

1. Make polite requests in the following situations. Choose expressions from the list below.

Open the window Spell that

Say that again Get me an aspirin
Help me Speak a little louder
Lend me 10 Speak more slowly

a. Someone is speaking very fast.

Could you speak more slowly?

b. It is very hot.
c. You want to know how to write a word.
d. You cant hear very well.
e. Your homework is very difficult
f. You havent got money to buy a newspaper
g. You want someone to repeat something.
h. You have a headache.

2. Give advice to a friend of yours. Use should y ought to .

a. I dont understand English people (radio / films)

You should listen to the radio in English.

You ought to watch films in English.

b. My English vocabulary is very poor. (English books / English newspapers)

c. My pronunciation is terrible. (practise with cassettes / repeat the sounds)
d. I am not fluent in English ( English people / Spanish people in English)
e. I find English grammar difficult. (exercises / study harder)
f. I dont know how to say something in English. ( dictionary /use another expression)

3. Match the following dreams with their possible interpretation. Complete the blanks with
one of the expressions below.

I dreamt I was shouting loudly but nobody heard me

I was walking along a corridor and, suddenly, I couldnt move my feet

I was swimming and I felt very tired. Then I found a dolphin that took me to a wonderful
island.

I was climbing and I saw a work mate. I called her name but she looked back and kept
climbing
Perhaps it means that
It could mean that
It might mean that

a. you want to be free but you cant do whatever you want.

b. you think you should get some promotion at work but
someone is interfering.
c. you need more attention from people around you.
d. you are very happy because a friend has helped you a lot.

4. Completa las frases con may. might, must o cant

a. Look! Peter ------------ be at home. His car is here and the kitchen light is on.
Lets go.
b. This man ----------- be English. Hes got an American accent.
c. I ------------- go skiing this weekend, but I dont know yet.
d. Your friend --------------- be 25. She looks older. I think shes lying.
e. I havent seen Laura recently. She --------------- be on holiday or she
-------------- be ill.
f. Extraterrestrials --------------- exist. I dont believe in those things.

5. Say what these people should have done , and why, as in the example

a. Mr Steele went to Norway for his holiday. (Greece, warm)

He should have gone to Greece. Its warmer there.

b. Bruce bought a Ferrari. (Volkswagen, cheap)

c. Peter studied chemistry. (Information Technologies, interesting)
e. I asked Arthur for some money ( Mark, rich)
f. Mr Greames ate a rock cake . (doughnut, soft)

6. Answer these questions with MUST HAVE and the words in brackets.

a. Why is Johns car going again? (buy a new battery)

He must have bought a new battery.

b. Why is Jane walking to work? (miss the bus)

c. Why is there blood on your collar? (cut myself)
d. Why does Mr Steele look so angry? (have a bad day at the library)
e. Why is Mrs Newtons fridge full of cabbages? (grow them in her garden)