Example. Molly telephoned and said she sprained her ankle very badly

Molly telephoned and said she sprained her ankle very badly. Look at these two sentences.

1. Molly might not be skiing now.

2. Molly couldn't be skiing now.

Sentence 2 is logically correct in this situation. We know it is impossible for someone to ski with a badly sprained ankle.

• ACTIVITY 6K

Read the descriptions of the following situations and offer several possible solutions using could.

1. Arnold is worried because he never has enough money. His only income is from playing in nightclubs three or four nights a week. What could he do about this problem?

a. He could get a part-time job as a waiter.

b. _____________________________________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________________________________

d. _____________________________________________________________________

2. Yolanda's colleague at the TV station lives in a very expensive apartment. She spends half her salary on her rent. She never has much money left for entertainment. What could she do about this problem?

a. _____________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________

c. ______________________________________________________________________

d. ______________________________________________________________________

3. What is a problem that your hometown or country faces? What are some things that the government could do to improve the situation?

a. ____________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________

c. ______________________________________________________________________

d. ______________________________________________________________________

• ACTIVITY 6L

Think about members of your family or your close friends. What do you think they are doing at this moment? Use the present continuous tense of could for your sentences, but remember that may and might mean the same thing here.

1._______________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________________

• ACTIVITY 6M

Read the following sentences and then decide whether to use may/might, could, or their negatives. In each situation, remember to choose between the base form or the continuous form of the verb after may/might or could.

1.Yolanda is wearing a pretty dress and high heels. She's putting on her best jewelry.

She may be going to a party.

(You would also be correct here if you chose to write, She mightbe going or She could be going.)

2. JACK: Is Yolanda at home?

MOLLY: No, she___________ (negative, be)at home because I just saw her on the street.

3.Molly ate four hot dogs, two bags of popcorn, and some peanuts, and drank five sodas at a baseball game about an hour and a half ago. She _________(negative. be) very hungry right now.

4. MOLLY: Are you going to the nightclub to hear Arnold play tonight?

YOLANDA: I'm not sure. I_____(go). But I______(negative) because I have a lot of work.

5. ARNOLD: Look at those men over there. Why are they digging up the street again? YOLANDA: I don't know. I suppose they_____(put) in a new water pipe.

6. JACK: What am I going to do? I have to hand in this paper tomorrow, and I can't type it myself by then. I type too slowly.

YOLANDA: You _______ (take) it to my friend Susan. She's a good typist, and she doesn't charge very much.

7. ARNOLD: Jack, why don't we all take a drive to the country next weekend?

JACK: That sounds like a great idea, but I __________(negative, have) the car next weekend. I have to take it into the garage for some repairs. They ___________(negative, finish) the repairs before Saturday.

• ACTIVITY 6N

Choose a classmate who comes from a city or country that you have never visited. Make speculations about what you think life might be like there. Talk about the climate, geography, political situation, food, transportation, industry, housing conditions, pace of life, or any other topic that interests you. Try to use may might, must, or could, or their negative forms when you make your speculations. Your classmate will tell you if you are right or wrong.