Basic English Grammar p.55
It is April and an open-air concert has been ruined by rain. Complete the dialogue using the past form of the verbs in the following table (can't, don't have to, must, have to, have got to, mustn't, schould(n't), need, needn't, don't need to
(7 verbforms marked on 6 points, -1 per mistake, -2 per double mistake)
A: You .............. tried to do something like this now. It would have been much better in July.
B: No, we ................. have it in April. It was the only time we could get the big stars.
a: Big stars are not so omportant for this kind of concert. You ................. worried about that . It's more impor¬tant that the kids have a goo time.
B: No, we.................... the TV companies to help pay and they said we ... have some big names.
A: Why didn't you put up a marquee then?
B: Unfortunately, we ..................... The police thought it would be a fire risk.
A: You're crazy. You ..................... ask the police. This is private property. You ..................... put one up in that field over there.
UNDERLINE THE CORRECT ALTERNATIVES
marked on 6, -2 per mistake
- It's a terrible job. I must/have to work at the weekends.
- I don't think you should/must wear a pink tie. The party's quite formal.
- You needn't/mustn't bother to vote. The Conservatives have almost certainly won.
- I do think Keith mustn't/ shouldn't be so sensitive about what people say.
- What a fool I was! I needn't worry/needn't have worreid. Tracy was at home all the time.
- You mustn't/don't have to keep your money in the bank but it' much safer.
Two sentences are wrong. Find them, correct them and explain.
- I took a long time but eventually we could climb over the fence and escape.
- The strikers won't get back to work until they get a wage increase.
- Will you come and see us again? I'd like that very much.
- We mustn't do this exercise. Our teacher told us we had plenty of work already.
- I will be a pilot later on
- Did you have to pay for your second cup of coffee?
- My wife is waiting for me. I had better not be late.
What 's the difference between:
- May I take a photo of you
and
- Am I allowed to take a photo?
DEDUCTIONS ABOUT PRESENT AND PAST
Rewrite the following sentences using must, can't or might
1. I'm sure he hasn't retired yet. He still leaves the house every morning.
2. I'm sure he isn't very well off. His house is in a ter¬rible mess.
3. Perhaps he spent all his money when he was younger.
4. I'm sure he does a lot of gardening. His garden looks beautiful.
5. I'm sure he's read a lot of books about gardening. He' s certainly an expert.
6. I'm sure he's working in his garden now. I can hear someone digging.
7. Now I can hear voices. Perhaps he's talking to Miss Ap¬pleby.
8. No, I'm sure it isn't Miss Appleby. It's two men's voices.
9. They're shouting. Perhaps they are having an argument.
10. They're talking about money. Perhaps Harry owes the other man some money.
11. Now I can't hear anything. I'm sure they've gone inside.
12. My god! A gun shot! I'm sure Harry has killed him.
13. No, there's Harry outside, so it wasn't Harry who was shot.
14. There's a siren. I'm sure this is the police arriving.
15. Look at all those lights and cameras. Ah! Now I understand. They were making a film.
EXPRESSING PROBABILITY
Write will, won't, can't or should and an appropriate infinitive (present or past, simple or continuous) in each gap. Change the verb in brackets as necessary.
O.K. Don't worry about the phone. I'll answer it. It ... (be) David ringing me about tonight's meeting.
'Hello, 37885'
'Hello John. It's David. I tried ringing you earlier, but I got no reply. You ... (be) out.
'I haven't been out all morning. You ... (get) the right num¬ber. Never Mind. what about the meeting?f How many people can we expect?"
'There ...(be) quite a few, judging by the number of enquiries we've been having. One thing's worrying me. I haven't heard from the speaker, Joan Bakewell. I'm sure she ... (forget) but it isn't like her not to get in touch. shall I give her a ring?'
'Not now, no. She ... (teach). You'd better wait an hour or so.'
'I've bought twenty bottles of wine for the party afterwards. That ... (be) enough, don't you think?'
'Yes, plenty. I'll see you later then, Bye'
'Bye'
'You ... (be) very excited about your new book.'
'Yes, I am. It ... (sell) quite well if the publishers' research is accurate.'
'It ...(take) you a long time to write.'
'About three years, yes.'
'What about your first book?'
'I'm not terribly sure, but it ... (do) very well, because it hasn't been reprinted and the first print run was only five hundred copies.'
'Better luck with this one!"
'Thanks!'
'My bank statement says I'm overdrawn. There ... (be ) some mistake. I ...(get) through a whole month's salary already!'
'We ... (spend) too much money on the house lately.'
'It ... (be) the desk we bought. it was over eight hundred pounds.'
'How much have you got?'
'About four hundred pounds.'
'Oh well. that ...(get) us through the end of the month if we're careful.'
'Do you think Joey ... (get) my letter yet?'
'She ... (receive) it by now. I haven't heard of any holdups with the post. when did you send it?'
'Last week. I just wonder why she hasn't rung to tell us how she intends to pay us back the money she owes us.'
'She ... (think up ) a good excuse as to why she can't, I bet.'
EXPRESSING ABILITY
Write could wherever you can; use an appropriate form of able to in the other situations
- What's forty-eight divided by eight? I ... never ... to do sums in my head.
- ... drive has changed my whole life. Now I can go wherever I want without having to worry about public transport.
- I had a row with Sheila last night about nuclear arms. I ... understand the point she was trying to make, but I still didn't agree.
- A girl was drowning, but I jumped in and I ... saver her. I ... swim since I was six.
- The view was breathtaking. You .. see right across the valley to the hills in the distance.
- Why don't you stop smoking? You ... do it if you tried.
- Anna's operation was very successful. The doctors say she ... walk again in a few weeks.
EXPRESSING OBLIGATION
Write must, need, or a form of have to in each gap. Ques¬tion forms and negatives are also included.
- 'What time ... we... leave for the airport?'
'It's only a thirty-minute-drive, so we .. go until about 3.30. I ... do my packing. I haven't started yet.
- I have an interview for a job next week, but before the interview I .. have a medical examination.
- How did you damage your bike? You ... learn to look after your toys! When I was your age, I ... clean my bike every night.
- There's a new Indian restaurant just opened that you ... go to. It's wonderful! You ... book, though, because it's so popular already.
- I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you. You ... take things so personally.
- I hate ... get up on cold, winter mornings.
- I hate .. tell you this, but you've just got a parking ticket.
- I have perfect teeth. I ... never ... have a single fil¬ling.
- I think I 've put on weight. I ... watch what I eat in future.(future tense)
- I don't think a career in the army would suit me I ... wear a uniform, for a start.
- You ... worry about me. I can look after myself.
MODALS (5)
1. Give all possibilities
John is going away on holiday and explains his friend Mike
what to do during his absence.
- About the garden. If the weather is very sunny for more
than a couple of days, you certainly ......... water these
flowers. They can't do without water for a long time.
O must O have to
O might O may
O can O mustn't
O needn't O don't have to
- About the dog. The dog has a large plot of grass to play
on. It can get rid of its energy on that plot of grass. So
you ............ make walks with the dog every day.
O mustn't O may not
O needn't O might not
O aren't allowed to O don't have to
O must O have to
- About the front door. It don't want any thieves in the
house. So you ............. forget to close that door.
O mustn't O don't have to
O needn't O may not
O must O haven't
O might not O couldn't
OBLIGATION/PROHIBITION/NO-OBLIGATION/PERMISSION
1. Indicate alle possibilities. More than one possibi¬lity may be correct. /10
DOCTOR: Well, I'm going to give you some medicine.
You .... it four times a day before meals.
O must take it O mustn't take it
O have to take it O needn't take it
O don't have to take it O may take it
And go on taking it until you feel better. You ... stop taking it until you've finished the bottle. Drink all of it!
O have to stop O don't have to stop
O mustn't stop O should stop
O needn't stop O must stop
Stay in bed today. It's the best place for you at the moment. You ......stay in bed all the time when you start to feel better.
O mustn't stay O needn't stay
O don't have to stay O should stay in bed
O may not stay O have to stay
But you .... go outside this week. It's too cold.
O don't have to O have to
O may not O mustn't
O should not O needn't
You'll probably be allright again next week, so you ... call me again unless you feel worse. But I'm sure the worst is over.
O needn't call O mustn't call
O don't have to call O have to call
O cannot call O must call
2. Put these sentences in the past. Copy the whole sentence and underline the verbforms. /4
Students may not bring along any alcoholic drinks. They must obey their teachers at all times. They needn't be very intel¬ligent but we appreciate that they can work very hard.
NECESSARY OR NOT NECESSARY (3)
Make sentences using must, have to, should, can (in de positieve, negatieve of vragende vorm) based on the situations below. Give only one sentence!
- It's Simon's first day in a new job. It's late and he's still in bed. What does his mother say to him?
- Susan really hates getting up early and today is Sunday. Why is she happy?
- The restaurant you went to last night was fantastic. Recom¬mend it to your friends.
- Tell your visitor not to drink the water from the tape. It's not safe.
- Your son doesn't want to take the medicine the doctor recom¬mended. You are insistent.
- You are going to a dinner party. Ask someone if it's neces¬sary to take a present for the hostess.
MODALS: INDICATE ALL POSSIBILITIES
MODAL AUX (4) (-1 per mistake)
Write in the past
John is afraid to go to trial. The private detective may discover his gun in the shed. John knows he mustn't have a rifle without a licence. He should tell the court all about it. He must make clear to the jury that it's an accident. That rotten private detective may enter (permission) his house if accom¬panied by a policeman with a search-order. John hopes that this will not happen. He wrote a letter to his wife: no reply. He needn't write to his wife anymore; she never replies since their divorce anyway . She must still be mad.
If only that lawyer stopped harassing him! John wants to beat him up. But his own councillor told him he mustn't do that.
1. 5.
2. 6.
3. 7.
4. 8.
MODAL AUXILIARIES: paraphrase these sentences using a modal auxiliary.(4)
Wonderful, it's Sunday and 1. not necessary for me to get up at 7 o'clock. 2. I'll possibly stay in bed a bit longer although 3. I think the children are probably awake now and I'll 4. be obliged to get their breakfast soon. They refuse to make it for themselves. I had better get up immediately because perhaps they will wreck the house. Janet and Dirk know they 5 may not play in the living- room but they try anyway. 6. It would have been better if I had put out the cornflakes and milk yesterday evening.
Write modal auxiliary + inf/past participle (e.g. I can swim)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. I ...
2. Put in the past.
He knows he may not climb over that fence. He must remain in the camp. He shouldn't run off to the pub in the city. He broke several windshields of parked cars. He needn't be so agressive. The police may arrest him (it’s possible).
.............................................................
.............................................................
.............................................................
.............................................................
.............................................................
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Indicate all the correct possibilities (more than one pos¬sibility may be correct).
IN SOCCER (2)
you ........ touch the balls with your hands
O mustn't O may not
O aren't allowed to O couldn't
O don't have to O won't
O might not O have to
You ........... kick the ball with your right or left foot: you can use your head as well.
O mustn't O may not
O aren't allowed to O needn't
O don't have to O won't
O might not O shouldn't
MODALITY(5, -1 per mistake)
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the original sentence.
Example:
I'm sure she 's French
She must be French
1. I am sorry that I was so rude to her.
I wish ...................................
2. I didn't apologize. This was wrong of me.
I (moral obligation)......................
3. I 'm sure it was Judy that I saw in town this morning.
It (logical conclusion)...................
4. I couldn't speak to her, so I didn't ask her how she was.
If I .....................................
5. Why is the postman ringing the doorbell? Perhaps he's delivering the books I ordered.
Why is the postman ringing the doorbell?
He (probability)..........................
6. No, I'm sure it's not the books. I only ordered them yesterday.
It (negative logical conclusion)...................
7. I hope they come soon
I wish .....................................
8. I have so little time to read.
I wish..........................................
9. James hasn't rung me. Perhaps he tried to get me while I was out.
James hasn't rung me. He (probability)...........
MODAL AUX (5) (-1 per mistake)
Write in the past
John is afraid to go to trial. The private detective may discover his gun in the shed. John knows he mustn't have a rifle without a licence. He should tell the court all about it. He must make clear to the jury that it's an accident. That rotten private detective may enter his house if accom¬panied by a policeman with a search-order. John hopes that this will not happen. He needn't write to his wife anymore; she never replies since their divorce. She must still be mad.
If only that laywer stopped harassing him! This lawyer can't be a human being. John wants to beat him up. But his own councillor told him he mustn't do that.
1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.
WISHES AND REGRETS

5, - 2 per mistake)
use wish 2 times, use cond. type III 2 times, use should have one time and underline.
'I live in a squalid flat. I'm out of work and on the dole. I didn't have a good education; in fact I left school at fifteen without any qualifications. I wrote about fifty job applications and didn't get a single job. I went for a lot of interviews. I can't answer their questions very well.
I sit about at home every day, watching TV, and smoking. I get through about forty cigarettes a day, so I don't have enough money to go to football matches any more. A friend of mine from school has got a job at a travel agent's. he travels all over the world for his holidays, and he's always telling me about wonderful trips to spain and Greece. I've never been abroad! I'm so depressed. I think the worst thing is having nothing to look forward to. I'm nineteen, and I have a lifetime of nothing in front of me.'
MODAL AUXILIARIES
Say in another way, using a modal auxiliary
- It wasn't necessary for you to drive so fast.
- It would have been better for you if you had studied harder.
- It's obligatory for you to mow the lawn.
- Maybe the scud landed in the desert.
- On a notice: It's obligatory to return the glasses to the bar.
- He had the permission to leave school at two o'clock.
- On a notice: It's forbidden to walk on the grass.
- It isn't necessary for you to lock the door; there are no objects of value in this house.
- It's logical that he failed for his exams otherwise he wouldn't have run away in tears.
- It was obligatory for him to clean the playground with a broomstick.
- He didn't have the permission to watch television: he's punished.
- It's impossible that the suspect killed the victim bedause he wasn't at the place of the murder on the moment of the crime.
- You were ordered to shoot the poor little rabbit.
- His father said it was allright if John took his bike and rode to his friend.
- I'm sorry, sir, but our boss asks the visitors to stay
outside.
- It seems like Fiona fell in love with John.
- Perhaps John will marry Fiona.
- We won't have the permission to travel to Sout-america on our own.
- On a notice: it's forbidden to have vistors in your room: we want he visitors to be entertained in the lounge.
MODALS (24 items, 20, - 1)
Nils and Oskar are spies. They are sitting in a car , near the border between Silonia and Omagua. The are waiting for Harry. Put in a modal verb, (positive or negative).
Nils Where’s Harry, then? I … see him.
Oskar Yes we said seventeen hours. He ………….be here by now.
Nils He might not ………… to find the place. He ……….. have crossed the border in the wrong place.
Oskar Impossible! Harry …….. have made a mistake. You know Harry.
Nils Well, I hope he comes soon.
Oskar It’s the most important job he’s ever done for us. He absolutely …… get the information.
Nils I’ve often wondered about Harry. You don’t think he ……… be working for the other side?
Oskar No, I don’t. Harry is one of us.
Nils Well, I just think this job has been easy for him so far. Too easy. Perhaps the Omaguans know all about Harry. Someone …….. have told them about the job. They …… have a man in our organisation.
Oskar I don’t believe it. They are not clever enough. But Harry is very clever.
Nils But you ……… be sure. What if it was true?
Oskar It ……. be the end for us, of course. But it isn’t true.
Nils Harry takes a lot of risks. He does dangerous things. The boss lets him do what he wants. Harry shouldn’t ……… put other people in danger. I told the boss, but he didn’t listen.
He ……… have listened to me.
Oskar Shut up now, will you? Harry is a good man, only Harry …….. do this job.
Nils It’s seventeen oh two. We’re late.
Oskar You’re right. We ………… go at once. We …….. stay here any longer.
Nils We’ve waited and he hasn’t come. We ………… have driven here at all.
Oskar We had to be here. Harry …….. have come. He …….. have done if he’d been able to.
Nils Just a minute. There’s someone behind that tree. Two men, I think. They …….. be watching us. Why else………. they be here?
Oskar Right. Have your gun ready. We may shoot our way out.
Nils OK, I am ready.
Oskar Let’s go then. Come on.
Nils The car …….. start! Oh my God! Where’ smy gun? Give me my gun!
Oskar Put your hands up. Get out of the car! Lie down!
Nils It was you, Oskar. You told the Omaguans about Harry, didn’t you? You …. be mad. Oh, my God!
INDICATE ALL POSSIBLITIES (SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONE)
John: As a child I ……….. smoke cigarettes. And now I smoke two a day.
o wasn’t allowed to o didn’t have to
o might not o mustn’t
Mary: I gave up smoking five years ago. At the time, it was hell. I ……….. chew gum all
day so as to stay off the ciggies.
o didn’t need to o need’t
o had to o wasn’t allowed to
o could o should have
But now it’s allright. I ………………. have any tobacco anymore. I feel free.
o mustn’t o may not
o don’t have to o needn’t
o might not o will not
KEY
It is April
- shouldn't have tried
- had to have it
- needn't have worried
- needed
- had to have / needed to have
- weren't allowed to
- didn't have to ask / didn't need to
- you should have put
Correct alternatives
I have to work
you should wear
You needn’t bother
Keith shouldn’t be
I needn’t have worried
you don’t have to
Two sentences are wrong
we were able to climb
We don’t have to do this exercise
Difference
May I: asking for permission from a person
Am I allowed to: what’s the rule in this place
Deductions about present and past
H can’t have retired
He can’t be well off
He may/might/could have spent
He must do a lot of gardening
He must have read a lot of books
He must be working in the garden
He may/might/could be talking to Miss A.
It can’t be Miss A.
They may/might/could be having an argument
Harry may/might/could owe
They must have gone inside
Harry must have killed him
Harry can’t have been shot
This must/might/could be the police arrving
They must have been making a film.
Expressing probability
It will be David
You must have been out
You can’t have got
There must be quite a few
she can’t have forgotten
She’ll be teaching
that will be enough
you must be very excited
it will sell
it must have taken you a long time
can’t have done
there must be some mistake
I can’t have got
we must have spent
It may/might/could
that’ll get us through
Do you thin Joey will have got
she must have received
She’ll think up
Expressing ability
I have never been able
Being able to drive
I could
I was able to save. I have been able to swim
You could see
You could do it
she’ll be able to walk
Expressing obligation
Do we have to leave
we don’t have to go/don’t need to go / we needn’t go
I have to do / must do my packing
I have to have a medical examination
You must learn to look…
I had to clean my bike
you must go to
you have to book though
mustn’t take things so personally
I hate having to get up..
I hate having to tell you this
I have never had to have a single…
I ‘ll have to watch
I’d have to wear a uniform
You don’t have to worry/ you needn’t worry/ you don’t need to worry
Modals: give all possibilities
have to water/ must water
you needn’t take/ don’t have to take
you mustn’t forget, you may not forget
Obligation/prohibition/no-obligation/permission
1. Indicate all possiblities
You have to take it (must take it)
You mustn’t stop
You don’t have to stay/ you needn’t stay
you mustn’t go outside/you shouldn’t go outside/ you may not go outside
So you don’t have to call me/ you needn’t call me
2. Put these sentences in the past
Students were not allowed to bring along any alcoholic drinks.
They had to obey their teachers. They didn’t need to be very intelligent but we appreciated that they could work very hard.
Modal auxiliaries
You didn’have to drive so fast
(‘needn’t have driven’ or ‘didn’t need to drive’ afhankelijk van de context ook juist)
You should have studied harder
You had to mow the lawn
The scud may have landed in the desert
Glasses must be returned to the bar
He was allowed to leave school
Visitors mustn’t walk on the grass
you don’t have to lock the door (needn’t, don’t need to)
he must have failed his exams
he has to clean
he wasn’t allowed to watch television
the suspect can’t have killed the victim