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Modal verbs (Ability, permission & prohibition)

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 4mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of these sentences has a non-natural ability meaning?

a)

Our baby is only nine months and he can already stand up.

b)

A good 1500 metres runner can run the race in under four minutes.

c)

Can she speak German very well? No, she can't speak German at all.

2.

We can use COULD to express the successful completion of an action

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

3.

What does this clause decribe?

"When I was younger, I could speak Italian much better than I was able to now"

a)

a successful completion of a specific action

b)

a general past ability

c)

a learned ability

d)

a not successful completion of an action

4.

Choose the correct options

For days the rescuers looked for the lost climbers in the snow. On the fourth day they saw them and________ reach them without too much trouble.

a)

could

b)

were able to

c)

managed to

d)

were unable to

5.

We use BE ABLE TO or MANAGE TO if we want to express the future or the present perfect. (ability)

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

6.

(Permission)

We can use CAN - COULD - MAY - MIGHT in any situation

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

7.

Study this situation:

You're at a party given by people you hardly know. you want to see their garden.

Which request would you use?

a)

Do you think I can see your garden?

b)

I wonder if I might see your garden?

c)

Could I see your garden?

8.

Which of these modal verbs are not use to give/refuse permission

a)

can/ can't

may / may not

b)

must/ mustn't

forbidden to

c)

could /couldn't

might / might not

d)

allowed/ not allowed

permitted to/not permitted to

9.

Situation:

You go to the hospital and find this signal.

Choose the most suitable phrase

a)

you're not permitted to smoke here

b)

you can't smoke here

c)

You mustn't smoke here

d)

They're all suitable

10.

If you finish your homework by 5pm, you can play football with your friends.

Can refers to...

a)

ability

b)

permission

c)

be free to

d)

prohibition