Example: MaxРІР‚в„ўs father could do everything in the garage. The negative couldnРІР‚в„ўt can be used in all three cases. We use was/were able to when we talk about something specific in the past. We use could for general ability and with the verbs feel, hear, see, smell, taste, remember and understand. * We use could and was/were able for the past of can. Of course, we can also use the alternative forms (except for could) in other tenses. MaxРІР‚в„ўs father also was supposed to/was expected to/was to work in the garage often. Max should work in the garage more often. To be supposed to/to be expected to/to be to MaxРІР‚в„ўs father did not have to worry about his future either. MaxРІР‚в„ўs father was allowed to help at the age of 13. Max can help in the garage at the age of 12. His father was not able to/couldnРІР‚в„ўt change tyres.

His father was not allowed to touch anything dangerous. We use will (not)/shall (not) when we make a predicition about the future, or when we are sure about something in the future.Р”В®xample: The car wonРІР‚в„ўt/shanРІР‚в„ўt be ready tomorrow.To speculate about something in the past we use canРІР‚в„ўt/must + have + past participle.Р”В®xample: MaxРІР‚в„ўs father must have worked very hard. ( but not: MaxРІР‚в„ўs grandfather can be retired.) We use m ust to express something we are 100% sure is true in the present.Р”В®xample: MaxРІР‚в„ўs grandfather must be retired, heРІР‚в„ўs 90 years old.We use canРІР‚в„ўt to express something we are sure is untrue or impossible in the present.Р”В®xample: Max canРІР‚в„ўt be retired, heРІР‚в„ўs 12 years old.Example: MaxРІР‚в„ўs grandfather may/might have wanted to retire when he was 50.

To speculate about something in the past we use may/might (not) + have + past participle. We can replace may/might with could in positive sentences, but not with can.Р”В®xample: MaxРІР‚в„ўs father may/might/could retire soon, he is almost 60. We use may/might when we think something is perhaps true, but we are not 100% sure.Р”В®xample: Max may/might not want to work in the garage forever.

Modal verbs exercises basic level