Fill in the blanks with an appropriate auxiliary verb.
1. Anyone ………………………. do this. (Ability)
We use can to express ability.
2. I ……………………….. have married her if I had wanted to. (Unrealized past ability)
Could have + past participle can be used to talk about past events that did not happen.
3. We ………………………. go swimming on the weekend. (Possibility)
May is used to indicate possibility.
4. I was so angry I ………………………… have slapped him.
Could have + past participle can be used to talk about past events that did not happen.
5. One day, it ………………………. be possible to live on other planets. (Future prediction)
We use will to simply predict future.
6. Tropical areas ………………………… be very warm throughout the year. (Possibility)
We use can to talk about theoretical possibility.
7. Epidemics ……………………….. break out any day. (Theoretical possibility)
We use can to talk about theoretical possibility.
8. ‘There is the doorbell.’ ‘Who ……………………………. it be?’
9. ‘Where is Janet?’ ‘She ………………………… be in the basement.’
Please select 2 correct answers
Can is not used to talk about logical possibility in affirmative sentences.
10. ‘What ………………………….. we do now?’
Shall is used to ask for suggestions.
11. I ……………………….. see something over there.
12. I ………………………. help but laugh.
Answers
1. Anyone can do this.
2. I could have married her if I had wanted to.
3. We may go swimming on the weekend.
4. I was so angry I could have slapped him.
5. One day, it will be possible to live on other planets.
6. Tropical areas can be very warm throughout the year.
7. Epidemics can break out any day.
8. ‘There is the doorbell.’ ‘Who can it be?’
9. ‘Where is Janet?’ ‘She may be / could be in the basement.’
10. ‘What shall we do now?’
11. I can see something over there.
12. I couldn’t help but laugh.
