• It may rain today.

• He may be at home already.

В значении глагола may, а также его недостающих форм может использоваться сочетание to be allowed (permitted) to:

• He was allowed to come any time.

Модальные глаголы 'will' и 'would'

Глагол will выражает желание, волю, решимость, просьбу:

• I will gladly help you.

• Will you come in, please?

Глагол would в отрицательном предложении выражает нежелание выполнить действие в прошлом:

• He wouldn't do it.

В вопросительном предложении would выражает вежливую просьбу:

• Would you lend me your dictionary, please?

Exercise 4.Translate the words or phrases in brackets into English using appropriate modal verbs or their equivalents (modal expressions).

1.The doctor said, "The child is very ill. He (необходимо) be taken to the hospital at once."

2.One (должен) help his parents when they become old.

3.There are no buses or tаxis, so we (придется) walk.

4.Everybody (может) learn a foreign language.

5.We (не можем) live without food and water. We (вынуждены) eat and drink.

6.I (необходимо) get up early tomorrow, so I (должен) go to bed earlier tonight.

7.You (нельзя) drive a car at night without lights.

8.Tom's father told that he (не должен) ask silly questions.

9.Man (не может) live by bread alone.

10.The matter (должно быть) be discussed in tomorrow's debate.

11.You (нельзя) go there in your wet clothes; you'll catch a cold if you do.

12.They (нет необходимости) do all the exercises; it will be sufficient if they do four of them.

13.You (можете) do whatever you like.

14.We (незачем) go away just yet; our train doesn't leave for half an hour yet.

15.I (должен) read to the end of the story because I want to see who gets the treasure.

16.Why (должен/обязан) I go there?

17.She (может) sing quite well.

18.You (не нужно) say anything. Just nod your head and he'll understand.

19."(Можно) I use your phone?" - "You (не нужно) ask for permission, you (можете) use it whenever you like."

20.You (можете) leave your dog with us if you don't want to take him with you.

21.You (можете) take a horse to water but you (нельзя) make him drink.

22.The ice is quite thick. We (можно) walk on it.

23.If you don't know the meaning of a word you (можете) use a dictionary.

Test on modal verbs usage

Choose the only correct variant.

1.You will.....speak Spanish in another few months.

a) can b) have c) be able to d) ought

2.I'd like.....skate.

a) to can b) to be able to

c) to have to d) could

3.Nobody answers the phone. They.....be out.

a) should b) would c) can d) must

4.I'm sorry, I.....have phoned to tell you I was coming.

a) should to b) would

c) had to d) could

5.To my mind, the government.....take care of old people.

a) ought b) need to c) must d) may

6.I.....get up early on Mondays.

a) am able b) have to c) must d) may

7.The policeman told the woman she.....worry.

a) needn't b) needn't to

c) couldn't d) mustn’t

8......you mind passing me the salt?

a) will b) should c) could d) would

9.As you.....remember, I was always interested in scientific experiments.

a) may b) have to c) must d) ought to

10.Little children like books with large print. They.....read

them more easily.

a) should b) must c) can d) have to

11......I speak to Jane, please?

a) could b) shall c) must d) ought

12.My dentist says I.....eat so many sweets.

a) needn't b) mustn't c) ought not d) shouldn't

13.-Why hasn't Mr. Grill got in touch with us?

-I don't quite know. It.....that he has lost our phone number.

a) may b) ought to c) must d) should

14.-Liz seems to be avoiding you.

-I can't tell you for certain. She..... have been hurt by my words about her boyfriend.

a) should b) must c) might d) needn't

15.What time do you think.....go home?

a)we should b) should we

c) we ought d) ought we

16.There was no bus, so we.....to walk home.

a) have b) had c) must d) should

17.I'm afraid I.....to come tomorrow. I'm very sorry.

a) am not able b) couldn't

c) can't d) mustn't

18.I.....speak English quite well now.

a) may b) can c) could d) might

19.In this office you.....wear a tie, it's not necessary.

a) can't b) don't need

c) don't have to d) don't should

20.How much money.....to bring?

a) I need b) do I need c) shall I d) I must

21.Kate likes to relax in the evenings, but sometimes she has a meeting she.....to go to.

a) should b) must c) has d) need

22.I.....go to London tomorrow, but I'm not sure.

a) can b) may c) will d) would

23.Write down two things that you feel you really.....do, but you don't do because you never have the time.

a) can b) should c) have d) ought

24.I really think you.....see the doctor.

a) need b) have c) should d) ought

25.Oh,look!Mr.Thompson.....be here: there's his car.

a) must b) can c) would d) has

26.Why did you carry that heavy box? You.....hurt yourself!

a)may have b)can c)might have d)needn't have

27.-Where are my keys?

-I suppose I.....them in the car.

a) may have left b) may leave

c) might leave d) may be left

28.She had to wait 5 minutes for traffic to stop, but in the end she.....to cross the road.

a) could b) can c) was able d) might

29.I took my umbrella, but it didn't rain, so I.....taken it.

a) needn't b) didn't have to

c) didn't need d) needn't have

30.Everyone understood. The teacher.....to explain it again.

a) may not b) mustn't c) didn't need d) needn't

31.He had an accident in his car. He.....where he was going.

a) should have looked b) should be looking

c) should look d) mustn't have looked

32.-Did she do the exercise?

-No, she said she.....understand it.

a) mustn't b) couldn't c) can't d) should

33.He is very rich. He.....for a living.

a) oughtn't b) mustn't c) doesn't need d) doesn't have to

34.-Did you go to the concert?

-No. We.....have gone but we decided not to.

a) could b) can c) might d) must

35.-Did they find your house?

-Yes, it took them a time but they.....to find it.

a) could b) can c) were able d) have been able

36.-Do you want me to wait for you?

-No, it's okey. You.....wait.

a) mustn't b) needn't c) don't need d) shouldn't to

37.His test is the best in the class. He.....last night.

a) should study b) should have studied

c) must have studied d) must have to study