Advice, Decisions and Possibilities

You ___ show your ticket; it is required.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: must

You must show your ticket; it is required. Must/have to express strong obligation; should gives advice. Mustn't prohibits, whereas don't have to removes necessity. Use had to for past obligation. Needn't also means no necessity, not prohibition.

You ___ bring food; lunch is provided.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: don't have to

You don't have to bring food; lunch is provided. Must/have to express strong obligation; should gives advice. Mustn't prohibits, whereas don't have to removes necessity. Use had to for past obligation. Needn't also means no necessity, not prohibition.

Choose the word or expression: To receive something temporarily and return it later.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: borrow

borrow: To receive something temporarily and return it later. Example: Can I borrow ten pounds until Friday?

By the age of six, she ___ read.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: could

By the age of six, she could read. Can describes present ability; could often describes general past ability. For one successful past achievement, use was/were able to or managed to, though could is natural with perception verbs and in negatives. Use be able to after modals and in perfect forms.

Despite the jam, we ___ catch the last train. (one achievement)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: managed to

Despite the jam, we managed to catch the last train. (one achievement) Can describes present ability; could often describes general past ability. For one successful past achievement, use was/were able to or managed to, though could is natural with perception verbs and in negatives. Use be able to after modals and in perfect forms.

Choose the word or expression: To give something temporarily expecting it back.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: lend

lend: To give something temporarily expecting it back. Example: Could you lend me your calculator?

His coat is here, so he ___ be nearby. (strong deduction)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: must

His coat is here, so he must be nearby. (strong deduction) Use must for a strong positive deduction, might/may/could for possibility, and can't for a strong negative deduction. These are judgements from evidence, not statements of obligation. Mustn't normally expresses prohibition, not the opposite of deductive must.

That ___ be Eva; she is abroad. (impossible)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: can't

That can't be Eva; she is abroad. (impossible) Use must for a strong positive deduction, might/may/could for possibility, and can't for a strong negative deduction. These are judgements from evidence, not statements of obligation. Mustn't normally expresses prohibition, not the opposite of deductive must.

Choose the word or expression: To have enough money to pay for something.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: afford

afford: To have enough money to pay for something. Example: We cannot afford a new car yet.

You'd better ___ now or you'll miss the train.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: leave

You'd better leave now or you'll miss the train. Had better + base verb gives strong advice, often implying an unwanted consequence. Its negative is had better not. It's time + past form says something should happen now; it's time to + base verb is also possible.

We had better ___ tell anyone.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: not

We had better not tell anyone. Had better + base verb gives strong advice, often implying an unwanted consequence. Its negative is had better not. It's time + past form says something should happen now; it's time to + base verb is also possible.

Choose the word or expression: Money kept rather than spent.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: savings

savings: Money kept rather than spent. Example: She used her savings to pay for the course.

I'd rather ___ here.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: stay

I'd rather stay here. Would rather/sooner + bare infinitive expresses preference. Use not before the bare infinitive for a negative preference. With a different subject, use a past form for a present/future preference: I'd rather you stayed. Compare prefer to do.

I'd sooner walk ___ wait.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: than

I'd sooner walk than wait. Would rather/sooner + bare infinitive expresses preference. Use not before the bare infinitive for a negative preference. With a different subject, use a past form for a present/future preference: I'd rather you stayed. Compare prefer to do.

Choose the word or expression: Money that you owe to someone.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: debt

debt: Money that you owe to someone. Example: He is trying to pay off his debt.