Underline the most suitable modal verb form in each sentence. 1 The average temperature on Earth can increase/may increase/must increase by as
much as 7°C by the end of the 21st century.
2 Governments cannot assume /could not assume /might not assume that the laws
they make will always be enforced.
3 The crisis must have been/should have been/could have been much worse, but
fortunately the authorities acted in time. .
4 Their slogan was 'Things should only get/can only get/must only get better'.
5 We're running out of time, I'm afraid. It can he/must he/should he nearly three
o'clock by now.
6 You won't have to wait for long. There should he/must he/may he another bus along
in about fifteen minutes, with any luck.
7 You could try looldng for the book in that secondhand shop. They might have/
must have/ought to have a copy, I suppose.
8 The burglars can't have got in/must have got in/might have got in through the
window. It's still locked.
9 Hello! You ought to he/must he/could be Diane Black. Pleased to meet you.
10 There's no point waiting here any longer. We could as well/should as well/might as
well go home.
Choose the answer (A, B or C) that best explains the meaning of each sentence.
1 They can't have realized what would happen in that case.
A Perhaps they didn't realize.
B We can be sure they didn't realize. J
C They were not allowed to realize.
2 There can't be two stations with exactly the same name!
A I suppose it's possible.
B I'm certain there are.
C I'm sure there aren't.
3 New technology might provide a solution to these problems.
A I'm sure it will.
B I suppose it's possible.
C It's important to do this.
4 You could have ended up in serious difficulties.
A You didn't do this.
B You did this.
C You wanted to do this.
5 Somebody must know the truth about this matter.
A It's important to do this.
B I suppose it's possible.
C I'm sure this is true.
Someone might have started the fire deliberately.
A I suppose it's possible.
B Luckily it didn't happen.
C We know this is true.
2. He said he would come to the station to see me off.
3. I was sure he had posted the letter.
4. I think the weather will be fine next week. I hope it will not change for the worse.
5.I knew that he was a very clever man.
6. I want to know what he has bought for her birthday.
7. I asked my sister to tell me what she had seen at the museum.
8. He said he was staying at the Ritz Hotel.
9. They realized that they had lost their way in the dark.
10. He asked me where I studied.
11. I thought that I should finish my work at that time.
12. He says he worked at school two years ago.
13. Victor said he was very busy.