First Year English Second Semester
[Modal Verbs] Common Mistakes with Can and Could
He could swim when he was five. He could swim when he was five.
—Can you drive a car? Can you drive a car?
—Yes, I can. Yes, I can./No, I can’t. No, I can’t.
2. Indicating Speculation
Today is Sunday. He can’t be at school. Today is Sunday. He can’t be at school.
You can use my bike this time. You can use my bike this time.
You can’t take the book out of the room. You can’t take the book out of the room.
Can I go swimming today, please, mum? Can I go swimming today, please, mum?
Could you tell me how I can get to the railway station? Could you tell me how I can get to the railway station?Could you please?Could you please?
He _____ speak English very well although he has studied it for only one year.
A. mustn’t B. can’t C. must D. can
[Error Analysis]The key to this question is understanding the context. If you do not understand the meaning of the clause introduced by although, it will affect your ability to correctly judge the meaning of the modal verb needed in the blank. Additionally, students often confuse the usage of must and can.
[Thought Guidance]First, you must understand the meaning of the sentence in the question, then clarify the usage of the modal verbs in the four options, and finally, combine the sentence meaning to determine that the blank should express the meaning of “can”, leading to the correct answer.
[Correct Answer]The correct answer isD. The meaning is: Although he has only studied English for one year, he speaks it very well.A. mustn’tprohibition; B. can’tcannot; C. mustmust; D. cancan. According to although he has studied it for only one year, the answer isD.
1. —________you tell me the differences between these two photos?
—No. They look quite similar, nearly the same.
[Explanation]:The meaning is:——Can you tell me the differences between these two photos?——No, they look quite similar, nearly the same.can can; may may; must must; Based on the sentence meaning, the answer isA.
2.—Could you go to the new movie with me now?
—Sorry, I ______. Look, it’s time for me to watch The Readers on CCTV.
A. can’t B. can C. needn’t D. must
[Explanation]: The meaning is“——Could you go to the new movie with me now?——Sorry, I can’t. Look, it’s time for me to watch The Readers on CCTV.
A. can’tcannot; B. cancan; C. needn’tneedn’t; D. mustmust. Based on the context, it indicates“cannot”, thus usingcan’t.
3. Nowadays, some robots are very human-like. They _____ walk and dance.
A. can B. must C. need D. have to
[Explanation]: The meaning is: Nowadays, some robots are very human-like. They can walk and dance. To express“can”, we need to use the modal verbcan, so the answer isA.
[Practice to Improve Scores] Modal Verbscan and could
1. I ______ follow you. Would you please repeat it?
A. can’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t D. shouldn’t
2. —Whose T-shirt is this?
—It ____ be John’s. It’s much too small for him.
A. might B. can’t C. needn’t
3. —Could I use your bike?
—Yes, you ______. But you ______ keep it clean.
A. could; can B. can; must C. must; can D. could; must
4. —Can you stay here for the party?
—Sorry, I _________. I have to go to a meeting.
A. can’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t D. shouldn’t
5. —Helen, who ________ fix up(fix) the computer in our class?
A. shouldB. would C. must D. can
6. —Can you and Tom draw?
A. Yes, I can B. No, he can’t
C. Yes, we can’t D. No, we can’t
—______. But he wants to learn it.
A. No, he can’t B. Yes, he does
C. No, he doesn’tD. Yes, he can
8. —Can you play the piano?
—No, I ______. But Frank ______ play the piano.
A. can, can’t B. can’t, can C. can, canD. can’t, can’t
9. —_____ you help me with my math?
—Of course, it’s my pleasure.
A. CanB. MustC. NeedD. May
10. Excuse me. Could you read the story aloud(aloud), please? I ____ hear you.
A. can’t B. mustn’t C. have to D. needn’t
11. —What can you do, Lin Tao?
A. I like sportsB. I am well
C. I can tell English storiesD. I can’t play the drum
12. —Can Lily sing English songs?
— ______. She can also sing French songs.
A. Yes, she does B. Yes, she can
C. No, she doesn’t D. No, she can’t
13. —Can you come and play basketball with us?
—______. I have a lot of homework to do.
A. Sure B. Yes, I do C. No, I don’t D. I’m sorry, I can’t
14. My brother can _____ the violin and he plays it _____.
A. play; wellB. plays; goodC. play; goodD. plays; well
15. Sorry, you _______ play basketball in the classroom.
A. can’t B. don’t C. don’t have to D. aren’t
16.— ______ you go to the concert(concert) with me tonight?
A. CanB. MustC. MayD. Should
17. —Could I look at your picture?
—Yes, of course you _____.
A. couldB. canC. willD. may
18. We can eat in the dining hall at school. But we ______ eat in the classroom.
A. can B. can’t C. have to D. don’t have to
19. （2017秋虹口区期末）—Can I fish here?
—No, you ______. The sign says “No fishing.”
A. mustn’tB. needn’tC. may notD. shouldn’t
20. You ______ play computer games on Fridays. This is a rule.
A. aren’tB. don’tC. can’tD. didn’t
1. A 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. D 6. D 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. A
11. C 12. B 13. D 14. A 15. A 16. A 17. B 18. B 19. A 20. C
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Middle School U Classroom
