Max’s father couldn’t work in the garage alone. Was Max able to change the tyre yesterday?

Max’s father could remember changing his first tyre. Example: Max’s father could do everything in the garage. The negative couldn’t can be used in all three cases. 2) We (invite) so many people to our party Im worried that we wont have enough room for everyone. We use was/were able to when we talk about something specific in the past. Make the correct past modal form (use could have / would have / should have + past participle) 1) I (buy) bread but I didnt know we needed it. We use could for general ability and with the verbs feel, hear, see, smell, taste, remember and understand. * We use could and was/were able for the past of can. Of course, we can also use the alternative forms (except for could) in other tenses. Max’s father also was supposed to/was expected to/was to work in the garage often. Max should work in the garage more often. To be supposed to/to be expected to/to be to Max’s father did not have to worry about his future either. Max’s father was allowed to help at the age of 13. Max can help in the garage at the age of 12. His father was not able to/couldn’t change tyres. His father was not allowed to touch anything dangerous. We use will (not)/shall (not) when we make a predicition about the future, or when we are sure about something in the future.Įxample: The car won’t/shan’t be ready tomorrow.

To speculate about something in the past we use can’t/must + have + past participle.Įxample: Max’s father must have worked very hard.

( but not: Max’s grandfather can be retired.)

We use m ust to express something we are 100% sure is true in the present.Įxample: Max’s grandfather must be retired, he’s 90 years old.

We use can’t to express something we are sure is untrue or impossible in the present.Įxample: Max can’t be retired, he’s 12 years old.

Example: Max’s grandfather may/might have wanted to retire when he was 50. To speculate about something in the past we use may/might (not) + have + past participle. Add to my workbooks (10) Download file pdf. We can replace may/might with could in positive sentences, but not with can.Įxample: Max’s father may/might/could retire soon, he is almost 60. School subject: English as a Second Language (ESL) Grade/level: advanced.

We use may/might when we think something is perhaps true, but we are not 100% sure.Įxample: Max may/might not want to work in the garage forever.

May he come to your party? No, he must not. When you use other tenses you have to replace them. You can only use them with the present tense.

Modal verbs don't have a past form (except can) and a past participle (3 rd form). The most common modal verbs are can, may and must. We also use them to make requests and offers. Modal verbs are types of auxiliary verbs which express necessity, ability, permission or possibility.

Modal verbs exercises esl