A. Fill in: can / could / can't / couldn't / be able to
(1)
John: Can you ski?
Dave: Yes, I --can-------. I went skiing last year and I-----was able to------go down the learner's slope easily.
John: I---could-----ski when I was younger but since I hurt my leg I---haven't been able to------.
Dave: Actually, I think ice-skating is much easier. I--could-------ice-skate when I was five years old.
John: Really? I tried ice-skating once, but I--couldn't / wasn't able to---stand up at all!
(2)
Dear Mary,
I'm very pleased you --can---come and stay at the weekend. I'm sorry I--couldn't------- talk to you on the phone yesterday, but I---couldn't-----leave the baby. I----was able to-----get tickets for the theatre on Saturday - I--can't----wait to go. Mum says that when she was young you--could------have tickets for £2! You certainly--can't-----now! We ---haven't been able to---- fix the car yet but mum says we -can------ borrow hers. By the way, the baby -can----- say three new words! See you on Friday.
Love,
Anna
(B) Fill in: may / might / could / must / can't
(1)
Dear "Unhappy",
You --can't----be serious about leaving home! There --may/might---- be some problems with your family but there -must----- be another solution. You -could----- try talking to a friend or a relative. You--must----have some aunts or cousins who can help you. You---may/might-----find that discussing the problem all together is better. Your parents...can't.....really be as angry as you think; they -may/might-----be upset but they--must------realise why you're so unhappy. I suggest you try talking to them again - you---could/may/might----be surprised.
(2)
Sue: How old do you think Steve is?
Mary: He ----must/may----be a bit older than we are, but he certainly ---can't-----be more than 25.
Sue: I don't know. He---may/might/could ------be older than you think. He takes very good care of himself, you know. He---could/might/may-----be as old as thirty.
Mary: No, he --can't----be. I know because he left school just before I did.
Sue: You--may/might/could-------be right, but I'm still not really convinced.
C. Fill in: mustn't, needn't or can't
John, I want you to look after your brother this evening. He --mustn't----- go out and he --mustsn't----- forget to do all his homework. You---mustn't-----let him watch TV until he's finished it. He--can't/mustsn't-------- watch the film either - it starts very late. He ---needn't--------have a bath; he had one in the morning. There's a cake in the cupboard but you ---mustn't------eat it all! Leave some for your sister. You --needn't------do the washing up: I'm going to do it tomorrow. You---mustn't-----make too much noise. We might be quite late home because we ----can't------leave the party tonight until most of the guests have left. And you --mustn't------go to bed without having a wash and brushing your teeth. But you --needn't----wait up for us.
Source: Round-Up 4 by Virginia Evans- Longman Editions
