ModalVerbsofAbilityandPermissionExercise

Checkthroughthedifferentuses.
TYPE USE

MODALVERBS

EXAMPLE
Maracandrive.

expressingability

CAN

askingforpermission

MAY,CAN,COULD CouldIborrowyourpen?

givingpermission

MAY,CAN

refusingpermission,prohibition CAN'T,MAYNOT

Youmaynottalkintheexam

requests

Canyoupassmethesalt?

CAN,COULD

Youcanusemyphone.

Lookatthefollowingphrasesandwriteinwhichtypeyouthinkitis.Thenuseoneofthemodal
verbsinbracketstofillthegaps.
TYPE
1

You(may/could)...............................leavenowifyouwish.

(Could/May)...............................youopenthewindowabit,please?

(May/Can)...............................youplaythepiano?

Listen,please.You(maynot/couldnot)...............................speakduringthis
exam.

You(can't/mightnot)...............................smokeonthebus.

(Can't/May)...............................Imakeacallonyourmobile?

DoyouknowifMark(can/may)...............................sing?

(Can't/May)...............................Isithere,please?

Caroline,yourfriends(can/could)...............................staythenightiftheywant
to.They'reperfectlywelcome.

10

I'msorrybutyou(can't/may)...............................usethecomputeruntilafter
I'vefinished.

11

(May/Could)...............................youlendme40EurostilMonday?

12

Listen,please.Students(may/could)...............................studyinthelibrary
fromfivetonineintheevening.

www.autoenglish.org

WrittenbyBobWilsonRobertCliffordMcNairWilson2007

Answers
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TYPE3Youmayleavenowifyouwish.
TYPE5Couldyouopenthewindowabit,please?
TYPE1Canyouplaythepiano?
TYPE4Listen,please.Youmaynotspeakduringthisexam.
TYPE4Youmaynotsmokeonthebus.
TYPE2MayImakeacallonyourmobile?
TYPE1DoyouknowifMarkcansing?
TYPE2MayIsithere,please?
TYPE3Caroline,yourfriendscanstaythenightiftheywantto.They'reperfectlywelcome.
TYPE4I'msorrybutyoucan'tusethecomputeruntilafterI'vefinished.
TYPE5Couldyoulendme40EurostilMonday?
TYPE3Listen,please.Studentsmaystudyinthelibraryfromfivetonineintheevening.

www.autoenglish.org

WrittenbyBobWilsonRobertCliffordMcNairWilson2007