Test – key word transformation

Marcel couldn't read or write until he started school.

UNABLE

Besides ........................................ , Marcel couldn't write either until he started school. 'able' and 'unable' are adjectives, so they are often preceded by some form of 'BE' and followed by 'to + 1ºv'. 'Besides' is an addition linker which is followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Driving without wearing your safety belt was a mistake.

OUGHT

You ........................................ your safety belt while you were driving. Remember that 'ought to' is a synonym of 'should' and is used in the same way both in the present and past.

We weren't allowed to cross the main square because of the dance exhibition.

LET

Due to the dance exhibition, security wouldn't ........................................ the main square. Remember that 'let' (meaning to permit), like 'make' (meaning to obligate) is followed by a unique verb pattern.

It might not be hot enough to spend the day at the beach tomorrow.

COULD

It ..................... to spend the day at the beach tomorrow. Remember that 'may', 'might', and 'could' can all be used to express possibilities, speculation, or deduction and are more or less synonymous in their affirmative form. However, they are not synonymous in their negative form. Also remember how to use 'too' and 'enough' with adjectives.

It was up to the boss whether we would be able to take the afternoon off.

MAKE

The boss had ..................... about whether he would let us take the afternoon off. The one test your knowledge of expressions as well as modals. Do you know what it means when we say 'something is UP TO someone' in English? If so, you should know how to do this one.

If I were you, I wouldn't wear jeans to work.

OUGHT

In my view, ..................... to work wearing jeans. Remember that 'ought to' is a synonym of 'should' and is used in the same way both in the present and past.

It's possible that Joe hasn't finished the project yet.

MIGHT

Joe ..................... the project yet. Remember that 'may' and 'might' can be used to express possibilities, speculation, or deduction and are more or less synonymous in their affirmative and negative forms.

We've got a housekeeper, so it wasn't necessary for you to make the bed.

MADE

You needn't ..................... as we've got a housekeeper. Remember that there are two ways of expressing necessities in English, one with the semi-modal 'have to' and the other with the modal 'needn't'. Also remember that in their negative forms they are slightly different in meaning.

I'm sure it was a disappointment when you failed the test.

BEEN

You ..................... fail the test. Remember that 'must' can be used to express certainty and has the same present and past forms as other modals.

I was obliged to stay at work late by my workmates.

MADE

My workmates ..................... at work late. Remember that 'make' can mean to 'obligate', and that like 'let' (meaning to permit) is followed by a unique verb pattern.

We expected you to prepare the room for the event.

SUPPOSED

You ..................... the room for the event. 'Supposed' has its own meaning as a separate word, but when used with to+infinitive, it takes on a modal meaning similar to 'have to' or 'be intended to'.