Exercise 1. Change these sentences by putting the modal verb in the past and future tenses.
1) Every engineer must know the properties of the material he works with. 2) You may take these books. 3) Nobody can read in a dark room. 4) We cannot see the moon every night. 5) He must go home after the lecture. 6) We may use a dictionary to translate this text. 7) The lecture must begin at 2 p.m. 8) You may keep this book for 3 days.
Exercise 2. Substitute the modal, verbs by their equivalents.
1) People cannot see well in the evening, in order to see well they must light a lamp. 2) You may come and sit down. 3) At present every post-graduate student can explain this phenomenon. 4) You can investigate the effects of these rays on various materials. 5) No one may enter the laboratory while the test is going on. 6) According to the plan, you must begin the test at 5 sharp. 7) He can walk long distances. 8) You may use the new telescope.
Exercise 3. Bit these sentences into the interrogative and negative forms.
1) His biography may illustrate the conditions of life of the working people in Great Britain. 2) You must do as I tell you. 3) The committee had to discuss a difficult problem. 4) Very soon they will be able to make experiments in the new lab. 5) The professor will need his assistants help. 6) You could find all the information in the hand-book. 7) The head engineer was to make a report yesterday.
Exercise 4. Say it in English. Use modal verbs when they are correct grammatically.
1) . 2) . 3) . 4) . 5) . 6) . 7) , . 8) . 9) . . 10) . 11) .
Exercise 5. Translate these sentences.
1) You should work harder. 2) You neednt disturb him, I can tell you everything. 3) We should work at our English as mush as possible. 4) You neednt take part in this research if you do not want to. 5) You ought to remember the names of the scientists too have already contributed to the development of your speciality. 6) The results of the experiment should be checked very carefully. 7) Every researcher ought to be interested in the results of his work. 8) This scientist would carefully repeat his experiments to be sure of the results.
Exercise 6. Say it in English. Use modal verbs wherever possible.
1) . 2) ? . 3) . 4) , . 5) , . 6) , .
Exercise 7. Read the sentences. Comment on the situations expressing assurance or doubt. Use must or cant + a suitable verb. Pattern: Youve been working all day long. You must be tired.
1) Ronald has bought an expensive personal computer. He... a lot of money. 2) Prof. Page knows a lot about history. His lectures at the University... very interesting. 3) (A knock at the door.) Iwonder who is that. It... Rosy. She said she would come after 7.30 and its only 6 oclock now. 4) I can see a mysterious space object on the horizon. It... UFO. 5) I wonder whos the author of that paper on gene engineering in the Chemical News. It... Miss Dewston. She isnt a specialist in this field.
Exercise 8. You want to ask people to do things or offer then something. Express your request politely. Use Can you?/ Could you/ If I could ask you..?
