Adverbs and modals

Adverbs such as well, easily, obviously, really, just are often used to emphasise modal expressions, in both present and past time.

You could easily have been killed.

I might well decide to come.

She obviously must have left.

You couldn't really have managed without me.

I might just take you up on that.

Activities

1. Choose the most suitable words underlined.

a) That can't have been/shouldn't have been Nick that you saw.

b) You had to give/might have given me a hand!

c) I caught a later train because I had to see/must have seen a client.

d) I suppose Bill should have lost/might have lost his way.

e) I didn't refuse the cake, as it must have been/would have been rude.

f) I don't know who rang, but it could have been/must have been Jim.

g) It was odd that you should have bought/would have bought the same car. h) I asked them to leave but they couldn't/wouldn't go. i) It's a pity you didn't ask because I could help/could have helped you. i) It's your own fault, you can't have/shouldn't have gone to bed so late.

2. Complete each sentence with a suitable word or phrase.

a) Don't worry that Carol is late, she might /could have missed the train.

b) I begged David to accept some money, but he......................... hear of it.

c) That was a lucky escape! You................................................ been killed!

d) It was supposed to be a secret! You............................................ told her!

e) I spent last week at the beach because I didn't.................... go to school.

f) The plane is late. It............................................................ landed by now.

g) You..................................................... met my brother. I haven't got one!

h) There is only one solution. The butler.......................................... done it.

i) It was lovely. We............................................................... a better holiday.

j) So it was you who set off the fire alarm for a joke! I.................... known!

3. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same.

a) It wasn't very nice of you not to invite me to your party! MIGHT You might have invited me to your party!

b) Thank you very much for buying me flowers! SHOULDN'T

c) It wouldn't have been right to let you do all the work COULDN'T on your own.

d) I don't believe that you have lost your keys again! CAN'T

e) Mary was a talented violinist at the age of ten. PLAY

f) Perhaps they didn't notice the tyre was flat. MIGHT

g) The results are expected tomorrow. KNOW

h) They escaped possible injury when the car crashed. HAVE

i) A visa wasn't necessary after all. NEED

j) Apparently someone has borrowed the cassette player. HAVE

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