Modal Verbs

Exercise 1 - Choose the best alternative for the sentences and

questions below.

a) With early registration, students can/shouldn’t receive

discounts.

b) Because of time and space limitations, international students

will/won’t have more than two elective courses.

c) You can/will choose Pronunciation, TOEFL preparation,

Vocabulary or Writing.

d) The university will/cannot guarantee the approval for a

permanent visa by the US government.

e) Where should/will I ask about visas? At the appropriate U.S.

Embassy or Consulate in your country.

f) If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism but you want to
take a short course, you will/may do so on a visitor visa.

Exercise 2 - Complete the sentences below with a modal verb:

can, may, will, or should. In some cases, there is more than one
choice. What do they mean in each case?

a) Before you make up your mind about where to study, there are
several possibilities. For example, you _______ visit an
International College Fair. You _______ meet college
 representatives there, who _______ give you information about
opportunities for international students.

b) In some countries, if you apply for an undergraduate course, the

university ________ probably invite you to an interview.

c) They ________ surely ask you questions such as: “_______ you
speak English fluently?”

d) If they give you some material to read before the interview, you
________ try to read it critically so that you _________ give your
opinion about the topic.

e) For example: “I think oil companies ________ invest in innovative

sources of energy and the government _________ control the use
of non-renewable sources of energy.”

f) As an option, you _________ prepare a short speech on a subject

of your choice.

g) Before the interview, you ___________ think clearly about the

reasons for choosing that university: interviewers __________
surely ask you that question!

h) If you pass the interview successfully, you ___ be eligible for

admission.

Exercise 3 – A foreign student who wants to apply to study at

UNLaM is at the university to get some information. Read the
dialogues below and complete with a modal verb in the correct
form. In some cases, there is more than one choice.

The student meets a man at the main entrance…

Student: Excuse me. (a) ___________ you please tell me where I

(b) __________ inquire about applying at this university?
Man: Yes, sure! You (c) _________ get all the information you
need at the Students’ Department. Go down this street and
take the fourth door on your left. It’s between the
Auditoriums.
Student: Thank you so much!
At the Students’ Department…

Student: Hello! (d) ________ I ask you some questions?

Clerk: Yes, go ahead!
Student: I want to apply for an undergraduate course at this university.
What (e) ________ I do?
Clerk: Well, first of all you (f) _________ pay a fee at the Treasury,
complete the application form and then hand it in here. You
(g) ________ have to attend any admission interview.
Student: How (h) ________ I learn if I have been admitted to the
university?
Clerk: After taking the admission exams, your marks (i) ______ be
shown in the Courtyard of the Americas where you (j)
_______ learn if you have passed the exams. It (k)
________ depend on your marks! Good Luck!
Student: Thanks a lot!

KEY BELOW
ANSWERS:

Exercise 1

a. can
b. won’t
c. can
d. cannot
e. should
f. will

Exercise 2

a. Can / may
Will / can
Will / can
b. will
c. will
can
d. Should
Can
e. Should / may
Should / may
f. Should / may / can
g. Should / may / can
will
h. will

Exercise 3

a. Can-Could
b. should
c. will-can
d. May-Could-Can
e. should
f. must-should
g. won’t
h. will
i. will
j. could-can
k. will