Practice with Modal Verbs – Possibility
Exercise 1
The task here is to "translate" each of the sentences given below into sentences in
which the idea of possibility is expressed by modal verbs. For example,
It is possible that we’ll go to Toronto on Friday.
could be “translated” as
We may go Toronto on Friday.
Use the TAB key to go from field to field and Shift-TAB to go back.
Note that you can put more than one word in a single space.
Include in your answers any words given in parentheses (putting them into the
correct form, where necessary).
1. Please be quiet. Perhaps the children are sleeping.
Please be quiet. The children
.
2. Perhaps Peter knows a good broker.
Peter
a good broker.
3. If I don’t write down his phone number, perhaps I'll forget it.
If I don’t write down his phone number, I
it.
4. Maybe I’ve won the lottery!
I
the lottery!
5. It’s very likely that John will be accepted at Harvard.
John
be accepted at Harvard [three words are needed].
6. Where is Jacksonville? Perhaps it’s in Florida.
Where is Jacksonville? It
in Florida.
7. Maybe they’ve already returned the books.
They
(already/return) the books.
8. It's possible that you’ve already met Prof Brighton.
You
(already/meet) Prof Brighton.
9. Maybe I'll have to go to a conference next week.
I
to a conference next week.
10. I think I hear one of the children talking. Perhaps they aren’t sleeping.
I think I hear one of the children talking. They
.
11. Maybe the gang bought their guns in Arkansas.
The gang
their guns in Arkansas.
12. Listen to all that noise! It's not possible that the children are sleeping!
Listen to all that noise! The children
!
13. Perhaps Alice went to Nivelles this morning.
Alice
to Nivelles this morning.
14. Richard is giving a lecture in Breda tomorrow.
Richard
a lecture in Breda tomorrow.
15. If reinforcements hadn't arrived early in the morning, perhaps we
would have lost the battle.
If reinforcements hadn't arrived early in the morning, we
the
battle.
16. Perhaps my flight leaves before yours.
My flight
before yours.
17. Where is Jackson? Perhaps it’s not in Florida.
Where is Jackson? It
in Florida.
18. Perhaps it’ll rain tomorrow.
It
tomorrow.
19. Don’t call me between 6:00 and 7:00 pm—maybe we’ll be eating.
Don’t call me between 6:00 and 7:00 pm—we
.
20. Trying phoning me after 4:30 pm. It's possible that the meeting will
have finished by then.
Trying phoning me after 4:30 pm. The meeting
by then.
21. Perhaps Jimmy can help you with that.
Jimmy
you with that.
22. It’s likely that Alice will win the context.
Alice
win the contest [two words are needed].
23. If I hadn't have noticed the clock in the shop window, it's possible that I
would have missed my flight.
If I hadn't have noticed the clock in the shop window, I
my flight.