CAN or MAY
Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks with can or may in the correct form.
1. David ... do the work. He is competent enough. 2. You ... take the last copy if nobody needs it. 3. ... I ask you to look after the child? 4. ... you tell us of the final diagnosis? 5. You ... never tell what ... come to her mind. 6. A fool ... ask more questions than a wise man ... answer. 7. You ... trust me, and who knows you ... need me one day. 8. Helen ... not grasp the idea. She ... have been thinking of something else. 9. I never thought that they ... get lost in the area. 10. Alexei ... sometimes forget things, but he ... always admit his fault. 11. – ... I smoke here? – No doubt you ..., but you certainly ... not! 12. ... you lend me your bicycle for today? 13. You ... read this paper, it's not secret. 14. – Why ... she agree to join our party? – She ... be busy or unwell. 15. ... you please open the door? ... I ask you for such a small service? 16. You ... never go back to your past; you have got to move on.
Ex. 2. Paraphrase the following, using can or may in the necessary form.
1. I wish you would mind your speech. 2. We are upset that he didn't apologize. 3. Daniel wished you had warned him. 4. Nancy's mother wishes her daughter were not so messy. 5. I'm annoyed she didn't offer to help. 6. He wished she would remember to write down his address. 7. I think it was wrong of them not to invite us. 8. Nobody believes that he built the house all by himself. 9. Would you mind my using your fax? 10. I don't believe that he is so sensitive. 11. Is it in your authority to cancel the flight? 12. Dick thinks it was wrong of her not to consult him. 13. I think you would remember to send Christmas cards. 14. Evidently they didn't notice us, or they would have greeted us. 15. Is it possible that he should have been so tough? 16. She is crying, perhaps the boss was rude to her. 17. Nobody believes that they have left the country for good.
Ex. 3. Fill in the blanks with may/might or can/could and make all necessary changes.
1. You ___ (warn) me about it beforehand. 2. The weather is changing. It ___ (start) raining. 3. No, he ___ (not hear) your name. We tried to speak in a whisper. 4. He ___ (not hear) your name. That's why he did not say anything. 5. She ___ (not notice) us. We were standing too far away. 6. She ___ (not notice) us though we were standing beside her. 7. ___ I use your name as a referee? 8. She ___ (not hear) the news, that's why she looks as if nothing had happened. 9. She ___ (not hear) the news, nobody ___ tell her about it. 10. The professor says that I ___ (rewrite) the essay. 11. ___ I use your phone? 12. He ___ (help) them when they were in trouble. 13. ___ he (say) it? No, it's not like him. He is a man of few words.
Ex. 4. Choose the most appropriate answer.
1. I don't like the way you study. I think you ___ harder!
a) might have worked c) could work
b) might work d) could have worked
2. Let's wait a little. He ___.
a) may have come c) may come
b) could have come d) might have come
3. She ___ of the plan herself. Somebody has suggested it to her.
a) can't have thought c) can't think
b) may not have thought d) may not think
4. They ___ our telegram, that's why they did not meet us.
a) couldn't have received c) may not have received
b) can't have received d) may not receive
5. She ___ my letter! – Don't be so angry with her. She ___ it by mistake.
a) may not read, may do c) might not have read, can't have done
b) cannot read, can do d) can't have read, might have done
6. He ___ it. I don't believe you.
a) is not able to say c) can't have said
b) might not say d) might not have said
Ex. 5. Paraphrase the following sentences using the modal verbs can or may in the correct form.
1. I don't believe that he has done the work carelessly. 2. Perhaps, you changed at the wrong station, that's why it took you so long to get here. 3. I think he will be able to substitute for you in case you're ill. 4. Is it not in your power to change the timetable? 5. Most probably he did not see you, otherwise he would have come up to you. 6. Perhaps, I shall have to take him to hospital; it is possible that he has broken his arm. 7. Why do you blame her? Maybe she did not know it was so urgent. 8. It is impossible that she has wrongly interpreted your words. 9. I suppose they were unable to get in touch with you. 10. Would you mind my smoking here?
Ex. 6. Fill in the blanks with may, might, can or could.
1. I ... be away from home tomorrow. 2. He ... have been hurt. 3. They ... have said something of the kind, but I hardly believe it. 4. If she ... not call on me, she ... have called me up at least. 5. You ... walk miles in this district without seeing a house. 6. The letters ... have been written in this very house. 7. ... you hear what he is saying? 8. Buy this dictionary. You ... want it one day. 9. I ... not imagine her teaching children, she used to be so impatient; but who knows, time changes people; she ... have become quite different. 10. It was a very popular song at the time, you ... hear it everywhere. 11. Something was wrong with the receiver, I ... not hear you well. 12. I was so angry, I ... have thrown my boots at him.
Ex. 7. Choose the most appropriate answer.
1 They (can/might) ____ be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2 You (may/might) ____ leave now if you wish.
3 (Could/May) ____ you open the window a bit, please?
4 He (can/could) ____ be from Sheffield, judging by his accent.
5 (May/Can) ____ you swim?
6 Listen, please. You (may not/might not) ____ speak during this exam.
7 They (can't/may not) ____ still be out!
8 You (couldn't/might not) ____ smoke on the bus.
9 With luck, tomorrow (can/could) ____ be a cooler day.
You (can/might) ____ be right but I'm going back to check the times.
She (can't/may not) ____ think it's a good idea. It's crazy.
Courses (may/can) ____ begin on the fifth of September.
Are you joking! David (may not/can't) ____ have gone to Paris last week. He doesn’t have enough money.
They (can/could) ____ live in New York, I'm not sure.
Ex. 8. Fill in the blanks with may, might, can or could.
Detectives fear she ... have come to some harm and said they had received hundreds of calls from the public.
A crash on the A9 in which a 64-year-old lorry driver died ... have been avoided.
Snout ... get his cake and eat it, but not before a few answers.
There are restrictions on what we ... and ... not do.
U2 ... be the Kings of rock'n'roll in Ireland – but another band have eyes on their crown.
"It's plain to see I ... be hurt in a fight but which heavyweight ... not?", said the 2006 Commonwealth Game champion.
Head teachers and some teachers in England are threatening to boycott next year's national Sats tests. Schools ... try to boycott Sats.
Also, I have three boys of my own, aged six, 10 and 12, and I wanted to write something they ... enjoy.
The researchers said their findings ... lead to new treatments for such illnesses.
So here's what I ... be writing today if I were a Palestinian living in Gaza.
With the hyphen, Mr Stevenson notes: "It's starting to look a lot like something your grandmother ... write."
If I'd known what sort of psychological toll it would take on me I ... not have done it.
This album is a fine showcase for her gorgeous voice: pure, rich and at the same time, haunting, energising and seductive, but already I'm imagining what she ... be doing in ten years time.
What ... be done to stop people grinding their teeth at night?
The fall in retail sales was unexpected, suggesting the worst ... not yet be over.
Paul Lewis appeared on BBC One to explain what ... happen if inflation falls to zero or goes negative.
Ex. 9. Translate into English.
1. Право же, вы могли бы сделать это для меня. 2. Мне что-то нездоровится. Я, возможно, заболела. Можно мне немножко отдохнуть? – Конечно же. Ты могла бы это сделать давно. 3. Скажи ему, что он мог бы быть более внимательным к своим старым друзьям. 4. Вы не могли бы дать мне его адрес? 5. Она могла уже приехать. – Не может быть, чтобы она уже приехала. Неужели она уже приехала? 6. Похоже, что будет дождь, но, кто знает, может быть завтра будет хорошая погода. 7. Я думаю, что вы сможете уговорить его, если попытаетесь. 8. Я думаю, что вы смогли бы уговорить его, если бы попытались. 9. Почему Питера нет на занятиях? – Он попал в больницу с приступом аппендицита. Его, возможно, уже прооперировали. 10. Ты мог бы сразу сказать, что не хочешь идти в театр. Я бы не покупал билет. 11. Можно мне здесь подождать? – Да, конечно. 12. Tы мог бы остаться дома хотя бы один вечер в неделю. Мама была очень огорчена.
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