Are You a Good Roommate?

Take this short quiz and find out.

1 You want to use your roommate's computer.

You say:

О a. I may use your computer tonight.

О b. May I use your computer tonight?

О с. I'm using your computer tonight.

2 You don't have any food in the house. You say:

О a. Can you make dinner for me?

О b. I don't mind eating some of your food.

О с. Do you mind if I have some of your food?

3 You may not have time to wash the dishes tonight. You say:

О a. Could you wash the dishes?

О b. I can't wash the dishes.

О с. Can I wash the dishes tomorrow?

4 Your roommate asks you: "Could my best friend stay overnight?" You answer:

О a. Can she stay in a hotel instead?

O b. Sure.

О с. I'm sure she could, but I don't want her to!

5 You can find nothing to wear to the party next Friday. You say:

О a. May I please borrow your new sweater?

О b. I may borrow your new sweater.

О с. You could lend me your new sweater.

6 You and your roommate need the dorm counselor's permission to have a party in your room. You say:

О a. Could we have a party in our room on Saturday?

O b. Maybe we could have a party in our room on Saturday.

О с. Could you have a party in your room on Saturday?

Exercise 27 Complete each conversation with modal verbs and expressions from the given below

can can’t may must should not allowed do you mind if

1

JEAN-PlERRE: __________ I eat my lunch here while I get on the Internet?

lab assistant: Sorry, but I do . Look at the sign. You __________ bring food here.

2

emil: Wow! Those guys next door sure are making a lot of noise!

tory: Well, they __________ play music now. It's8:00 A.M.

emil: I know. __________ I borrow your earplugs? I have to study for my English test.

3

carmen: __________ we ride our bikes here?

guard: It’s here.

4

donovan: __________ Ibringmy dog next semester? My roommate doesn't mind.

counselor: ______ . But some of the other dorms allow pets.

5

gabrielle: __________ I use my cell phone in here?

librarian: ___________ . Cell phones __________ be switched off here.

Exercise 28 Kate and her roommate Ann are planning a party. Use modal verbs or “do you mind if” to ask for permission. Answer the questions

1 Ann's friend Nick is in town. She wants him to come to the party.

Ann: __________ if Nick comes to the party?

Kate: Not at all. I'd love to meet him.

2 Kate wants to borrow her roommate's black sweater.

Kate: I have nothing to wear. __________ .

Ann: __________ I'm planning to wear it myself!

3 Ann's sister is coming from out of town.Ann wants her to stay in their room.

Ann: __________

Kate: __________ She can sleep on the couch.

4 Kate andAnn would like to have the party in the dormitory lounge. Heather asks her dormitory counselor for permission.

Kate: __________

counselor: __________ It's available next Friday.

5 Kate andAnn would like to hang decorations from the ceiling of the lounge.

Kate: __________

counselor: __________ Fire regulations won't allow it.

6 Kate andAnn want to party until midnight.

Kate: __________

counselor: __________ Quiet hours start at11:00 on Friday.

7 Ann wants to play some of her friend Erica's CDs at the party.

Ann: ___________

erica: __________ Which ones should I bring?

8 It's Friday night. A student wants to study in the lounge.

student: __________

Kate: __________ We're having a party. Want to join us?

Exercise 29 Complete each sentence with one of the expressions from the list in a suitable form. Use the verb given. There may be more than one possible answer

(not) be allowed to can can't had better had to didn't have to have to don't have to should should have shouldn't have

a She spent all yesterday listening to music because she (go) __________ to school.

b Sorry, I'd like to help you, but I (give) __________ students advice while they are actually taking the examination.

c I know it's a long time in the future, but the airline is very busy in the summer, so I think you (buy) __________ your ticket now.

d Now it's raining, and we're going to get wet. We (bring) __________ an umbrella with us.

e Sorry, but I can't stop and talk any longer. I (be) __________ at the station by half past two.

f Excuse me, but have you read the notice? You (not bring) __________ dogs into the supermarket.

g We're going the wrong way, I think. You (not turn) __________ left at those traffic lights back there.

h Sorry Fm late. I (buy) __________ some food for lunch, and so I missed the train.

Exercise 30 Which do you think is better – must or should?

(Must is used for orders and for strong suggestions, advice and opinions. Should is used for less strong suggestions, advice and opinions. Orders and instructions can be made more polite by using should)

1 You know, I think you __________ take a holiday.

2 Tell Mark he __________ tidy his room at once.

3 Visitors are reminded that they __________ keep their bags with them.

4 I’m sorry, but you __________ go. We don’t want you here.

5 I really __________ go on a diet. I’ll start today.

6 I suppose I __________ write to Aunt Rachel one of these days.

7 You absolutely __________ check the tyres before you take the car out today.

8 All officers __________ report to the Commanding Officer by midday.

9 You __________ have your hair cut at least once a week.

10 I think men __________ wear jackets and ties in restaurants.

Exercise 31 Put in must or have/has (got) to

(Must usually expresses the feeling and wishes of the speaker (hearer). Have (got) to often expresses obligations that come from somewhere else)

1 I’m tired. I __________ go to bed early.

2 John __________ go to school on Saturdays.

3 We __________ get another dog soon.

4 This is a great book. I __________ read it.

5 A soldier __________ obey orders.

6 We __________ go to London for a meeting.

7 I think we __________ pay in advance.

8 You really __________ visit us soon.

9 I __________ try to spend more time at home.

10 You __________ go through Carlisle on the way to Glasgow.

Exercise 32 Complete the sentences, using must not or do not have to

(We use must not in prohibitions (negative orders). We use do not have to, do not need to or need not to say that something is unnecessary)

1 Campers __________ play music after 10 p.m.

2 Students __________ ask permission to stay out after midnight.

3 Bicycles __________ be parked in the front courtyard.

4 Residents __________ hang washing out of the windows.

5 British subjects __________ get visas to travel in Western Europe.

6 Passengers __________ lean out of the windows.

7 You __________ pay for your tickets now.

8 It’s rained a lot, so we __________ water the garden.

9 You __________ disturb your sister while she’s working.

10 You __________ knock before you come into my room.

Exercise 33 Put in can or can’t if possible; if not, use will be able to.

(We can use can if we are deciding now what to do in the future. In other cases, we have to use will be able to)

1 I __________ pick it up tonight, if that’s convenient.

2 I think I __________ speak English quite well in a few months.

3 “We need some more oil”. “OK, I __________ let you have some this week”.

4 Dr Parker __________ see you at twelve on Tuesday.

5 She __________ walk again in a few weeks.

6 Do you think one day people __________ travel to the stars?

7 This week’s no good, but I __________ bring the car in next week.

8 In a few years, computers __________ think better than we do.

9 She __________ give you a lesson this evening.

10 I’m free at the weekend, so the kids __________ come around.

11 I’ll post your letter, but I don’t think the postman __________ read the address.

12 I __________ do your job with no trouble at all.

13 We’re busy this week, but we __________ repair it by next Thursday.

Exercise 34 Choose the best form. (Sometimes both may be possible)

1 We __________ win, but I think there’s much chance. (may, can)

2 I __________ ask you to help me later. (may, can)

3 That __________ be her daughter – they’re nearly the same age. (can’t, mustn’t)

4 We __________ decide to go camping again at Easter. (can, may)

5 There __________ be enough room for everybody on the bus – we’ll have to wait and see. (may not, can’t)

6 You __________ get in without a ticket – not a chance. (may not, can’t)

7 You absolutely __________ go and see Liz. (should, must)

8 I think you __________ try to relax more. (should, must)

9 You __________ pass a special exam to be a teacher. (must, have to)

10 In this country, boys __________ do military service. (must not, don’t have to)

11 I __________ see you at eight tomorrow. (can, will be able to)

12 One day, everybody __________ say what they like. (can, will be able to)

13 When I was younger I __________ sing quite well. (could, was able to)

14 At what age __________you get a driving licence? (can, may)

15 I promise I __________ smoking. (stop, will stop)

16 I don’t know why she’s not here. She __________ have got my message. (may not, can’t)

17 He’s not answering the phone. He __________ have got home yet. (may not, can’t)

18 When I was eighteen we __________ two years in the army. (had to do, must have done)

19 See __________ very quietly – I didn’t hear her go. (had to leave, must have left)

Exercise 35 Complete these sentences with needn’t, using a verb from the box

come

get

laugh

phone

ring

take

think

try

worry

write

1 You __________ – my haircut’s not as funny as all that.

2 You __________ up yet, because there’s no school today.

3 He __________ everything down. Just the name and phone number will do.

4 She __________ and see me if she doesn’t want to; I don’t mind.

5 You __________ about me. I’m fine.

6 You __________ I care about you, because I don’t.

7 Tell him he __________ the bell; he can just walk straight in.

8 I’d like to see her today, but it __________ very long.

9 Just come when you like, any time. You __________ first.

10 You __________ to explain. I’m not interested.

Exercise 36 Put each verb in brackets into the most suitable tense form

a If you (see) __________ Julie, would you tell her that I (phone) __________ her as soon as I can.

b If I (earn) __________ more money, I (buy) __________some new clothes, but my boss refuses to give me a rise.

c If the train (not be) __________ late, I (expect) __________ to be home by 8.30.

d If all the people in this country (stand) __________ in a line, the line (reach) __________ from here to New York and back.

e They've cut off the electricity again! If you (pay) __________ the bill on time, this (not happen) __________ so often!

f It's quite safe really. And if anything (go) __________ wrong, this red light (come on) __________.

Exercise 37 In each sentence, choose the correct variant of the italicized part

a If I have a party/If I had a party, I'll invite you both.

b If I know the answer/If I knew the answer, I’d tell you.

c Don't touch the alarm button, or I’d shoot/I'll shoot.

d If you don't want/If you didn't want to put on weight, you shouldn't eat so many sweets.

e If I have a car/If I had a car, I’d give you a lift.

f It won't be/It wouldn't be the same, if you don't come.

g If you send it/if you sent it express, it would arrive sooner.

h If I told you/If I tell you I was in love with you, would you promise not to laugh?

Exercise 38 Put the verb in brackets in each sentence into the most suitable tense. Explain your choice. Translate the sentences

a If we (have) __________ a different government, I'm sure they (find) __________ solutions to our economic problems.

b If there (be) __________ more policeman at football matches, there (not be) __________ so much hooliganism.

c If drivers actually (obey) __________ the law, the number of accidents (probably decrease) __________.

d If more people (give up) __________ smoking, our health services (save) __________ a lot of money.

e Burglars (find) __________ it almost impossible to break into houses if more house owners (fit) __________ locks to their windows.

f Parents (understand) __________ teenagers better if they (try) __________ to remember how they felt at that age.

g If everyone (become) __________ a vegetarian, then the whole population of the world (have) __________ enough to eat.

h If everyone (stop) __________ using cars and (walk) __________ instead, there (be) __________ less pollution and everyone (be) __________ healthier.

Exercise 39 Study these sentences from a letter to a newspaper. Decide what is the correct order of the sentences

Dear Sir,

a There was so much litter on the pavement that I felt I was walking over a rubbish-heap, not along a city street.

b I think that this would be a good job for them to do.

c Then if people have a lot of litter, they can put it in the bins.

d Yesterday I was walking to work, and I noticed that the street was covered in sweet wrappings, cigarette packets and old newspapers.

e It is quite easy to take your rubbish home with you instead of throwing it away.

f We hear on the radio that thousands of people are unemployed.

g I am writing to you because I’d like to say something about the problem of litter in our cities.

h Finally, it would be a good idea if there were more street-cleaners.

i First of all, I think that the public should stop dropping things in the street.

j Secondly, I think that the local council should put more litter-bins in the street.

k What can we do about this problem?

Yours faithfully,

Lionel Haddock-Willis (Captain) (Retired)

Exercise 40 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense.

a If you (wait) __________ here, I (see) __________ whether Mr Jones is in his office.

b If I (have) __________ more time, I (go) __________ to the theatre more often. But I’m very busy.

c If Maria (call) __________, I (tell) __________ her that you want to speak to her.

d Look at this rubbish! If people (put) __________ their rubbish in the rubbish bins there (not be) __________ so much mess.

e It's so cold today! I (stay) __________ at home if I (can) __________, but I have to go out.

f If Spain (beat) __________ England in tomorrow’s match, they (reach) __________ the semi-finals.

g I (not eat) __________ that fish if I (be) __________ you.

h If everybody (know) __________ how to drive, the roads (be) __________ even more crowded with cars.

i If you (decide) __________ to come with us to Norwich, (you give) __________ us a ring?

j If you (leave) __________ your name, I (tell) __________ Mr Jones that you called.

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