Complete the sentences with the verbs in parentheses. Write if I + the past tense or the -ing form of the verb. In some sentences, either response is possible, but the meaning is different.

1.  A: It's cold in here. Would you mind (close) if I closing             the window?

B: Not at all. I'd be glad to.

2.  A: It's cold in here. Would you mind (close) if I closed     the window?

B: Not at all. Go right ahead. I think it's cold in here too.

3.  A: You're going to the library? Would you mind (take) if I taking         this book back to the library for me?

B: Not at all.

4.  A: I'm not feeling well at all. Would you mind (go) if I going    home now?

B: Oh, I'm sorry. I hope you can come back when you feel better.

5.   A: I'm not feeling well at all. Would you mind (leave) if I                    now before the visiting hours are over?

B: Oh, of course not. We shouldn't stay more than a short time for a hospital visit anyway.

6.   A: I'll be working late tonight, honey. Would you mind (cook)                   dinner tonight? I'll clean up after dinner.

B: I'd be happy to. About what time do you think you'll be home?

7.  A: We have a lot of chicken left over from dinner last night. Would you mind (make)

                          a chicken salad from the leftovers for dinner tonight? B: No, that'll be good. You make a great chicken salad.

8.  A: I'm feeling kind of worn out. Chopping wood in the hot sun is hard on me. Would you mind (finish)                                the work yourself?

B: No problem, Grandpa. Why don't you go in and rest? I'll finish up.

9.  A: Would you mind (use)                   your name as a reference on this job application?

B: Not at all. In fact, ask them to call me.

10.     A: I'd like to apply for the job as department manager. Would you mind (recommend)                                me to the boss?

B: No. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of recommending you myself.

1.   - Is Jeff a good student?

-  He               . I don't know him well, but I heard he got a scholarship for next year.

a. must be                  b. could be                c. is

2.   - Do you know where Eva is?

-  She                     at Barbara's house. She said something about wanting to visit after work today, but I'm really not sure.

a. must be                  b. could be                c. is

3.   - I stayed up all night finishing this report for the boss.

-  You                      really tired.

-  I do.

a. must feel               b. might feel             c. feel

4.   - Where's the leftover chicken from dinner last night?

-  I just saw it when I got some ice cubes. It                    in the freezer.

a. must be                  b. might be                c. is

5.   - It's supposed to rain tomorrow.

-  I know, but the forecast                  wrong. Weather forecasts are far from 100 percent accurate.

a. must be                  b. could be                c. is

6.  - I heard that Junko has received a scholarship and will be able to attend the university in the fall.

-    Wonderful! That's good news. She                       very happy to have the matter finally settled.

a. must be                  b. may be                  c. is

7.   - Excuse me. Could you tell me which bus I should take to the City Hall?

-  Hmmm. Bus number 63                  there. But you’d better ask the driver.

a. must go                 b. might go               c. goes

8.   - Which bus should I take to get to the main post office?

-  Bus number 39. It                           right to the post office.

a. must go                 b. could go                c. goes

9.   - Do you suppose Mrs. Chu is sick?

-   She                        . I can't think of anything else that would have kept her from coming to this meeting.

a. must be                  b. may be                  c. is

10.   - Is that Adam's brother standing with him in the cafeteria line?

-  It                          , I suppose. He does look a little like Adam.

a. must be                  b. could be                c. is

11.   - Let's be really quiet when we go into the baby's room. The baby               , and we don't want to wake her up.

-  Okay.

a. might sleep            b. might be sleeping             c. might have been sleeping

12.   - I wonder why the radio is on in the den. No one's in there.

-  Grandma                   to turn it off. She was in the den earlier and was probably listening to it.

a. must forget            b. must have forgotten         c. must be forgetting

13.   A: Where's Angie? Didn't she come back after lunch?

B: I'm not sure where she is. But she                     the presentation that Human Resources is giving right now.

a. is attending           b. could attend                     c. could be attending

14.   A: You're taking Spanish at 8:00 A.M. every day? Why did you choose such an early class?

B: Because Ms. Cardenas is the teacher. She                      excellent. I've been in the class for a month now, and I don't mind the early hour.

a. should be               b. must be                            c. is

15.   A: The meteorologists predicted five major hurricanes for this hurricane season.

B: They                   wrong, you know. Sometimes they make mistakes.

a. must be                  b. might be                           c. are

16.   A: Is this chicken in the refrigerator still good?

B: I don't think so. It's been in there for over a month! It               spoiled by now

a. may be                   b. must be                            c. could be

17.   A: Can you tell me if Flight 86 is on time?

B: It is on time, sir. It                      at Gate B21 in about five minutes.

a. might arrive           b. might be arriving              c. should be arriving

18.   A: Did you know that Mike got a scholarship to State School of Engineering?

B: Yes, I know that! I was the first one he told about it. He                 very happy.

a. might be                b. must be                            c. is

19.   A: Did you know that Li received a scholarship to the City School of Music?

B: No, I didn't. That's great news! He                         very happy.

a. might be                b. must be                            c. is

20.   A: Who's going to win the election?

B: It's a close call. The senator                         with all his experience, but the opposition candidate is stronger than anyone expected.

a. must win               b. must be winning              c. should win

21.   A: Where's Harold? He's supposed to be at this meeting. Didn't Jim tell him about it?

B: Jim                   to tell him.

a. must forget            b. must have forgotten         c. should have forgotten

22.   A: This soup has an interesting flavor, but there's too much salt in it.

B: Yes, it is too salty. I                         so much salt in it.

a. must not have put             b. shouldn't have put            c. may not have put

Complete the sentences. Use the appropriate progressive forms of must, should, or may/might/could and the verbs in parentheses.

1.  A: Look. Those people who are coming in the door are carrying wet umbrellas.

B: It (rain)                             

2.  A: Why is Margaret in her room?

B: I don't know. She (do)                                      her homework.

3.  A: Do you smell smoke?

B: I sure do. Something (burn)                               in the kitchen.

4.  A: The line's been busy for over an hour. Who do you suppose Julio is talking to?

B: I don't  know. He (talk)                               to his parents. Or he (talk)

                              to his sister in Chicago.

5.  A: What's all that noise upstairs? It sounds like a herd of elephants.

B: The children (play)                               some kind of game. A: That's what it sounds like to me too. I'll go see.

6.  A: I need to call Howard. Do you know which hotel he's staying at in Boston?

B: Well, he (stay)                              at the Hilton, but I'm not sure. He (stay)

                              at the Holiday Inn.

7.  A: What are you doing?

B: I'm writing a letter to a friend, but I (study)                         I have a test tomorrow.

8.  A: Did you know that Majid just quit school and is hitchhiking to Alaska?

B: What? You (joke)                             

9.  A: Did Joe mean what he said about Majid yesterday?

B: I don't know. He (joke)                               when he said that, but who knows?

10.   A: Did Joe really mean what he said yesterday?

B: No, I don't think so. I think he (joke)                             

Write the past negative of an appropriate modal and the verb in parentheses.

1.   ANN: I've called Howard ten times, I'm sure. He doesn't answer his cell phone.

SAM: He (remember)                                                   you were going to call him. He's a little forgetful, you know. I'll bet he forgot to turn his phone on.

2.  LAWYER: Mr. Jones, where were you on the night of June 24th?

MR. JONES: I was at home. I was at home all night.

LAWYER: You (be)                                                   at home on that night, Mr. Jones.

Four witnesses saw you at the victim's apartment.

3.   Jim: Look! There are lights on in the Thompsons' house. Didn't they go away on vacation?

ANN: They (leave)                                                     yet. Or maybe they left the automatic timer on to deter burglars.

4.   Boa: Hey, you guys! You are not supposed to ride your bikes on the sidewalk! You could crash into someone!

SUE: They (hear)                                                     you, Bob. Look! They just kept going.

5.    Scientists are not sure why the Mayan civilization collapsed. The Mayans (have)

                                                  enough to eat, or perhaps their enemies became too strong for them.

6.   After his voyage on the Kon Tiki, Thor Heyerdahl set forth the theory that modern Polynesians descended from ancient South Americans. However, later scientists believe this (happen)     . They believe it was impossible because of recent DNA evidence to the contrary.

Give advice in each situation. Complete each sentence with the present or past form of should and the verb in parentheses.

1.  Travel broadens one's horizons. Everyone (travel) should have traveled/ have traveling

2.     We did not travel to Africa when we had the opportunity last year. We (go)

                                        at that time.

3.   Our house will look much better with a fresh coat of paint. It will look good in a yellow color. I think we (paint) our house, and the color (be)                                             yellow.

4.  We painted our house. Now it's white and has beige shutters. It doesn't look good. We (nor, paint)                                                  our house in such dull colors.

5.  Ernie is allergic to shellfish. Last night he ate shellfish, and he broke out with terrible hives. Ernie (not, eat)                                                    that shellfish.

6.   Some people are sensitive to caffeine. They cannot fall asleep at night if they drink coffee in the afternoon. These people (not, drink)             coffee after 12:00 P.m. They (drink)     decaffeinated coffee or tea instead.

7.  Years ago, people did not realize that some species were dying off because of human activity. For example, many buffalo in North America were killed because of human thoughtlessness. As a result, there are few buffalo left in North America. People (not, kill)        those buffalo.

8.   Today, people are making efforts to save the environment and to save endangered species. We (take)                                                                      strong efforts to recycle, conserve our resources, and nourish endangered species.