Fill in the gaps with the missing modal verb. Sometimes more than one option is possible. a) I was born in Germany, so I ______ speak German when I was a kid, but now I ______. b) You ______ wear a helmet when you ride your bike to school. c) The lesson has finished. You ______ leave the classroom. d) Sorry, Cassie, you definitely ______ use my lipstick! You ruined my last one! e) Take warm clothes; the temperature is dropping and it ______ even snow. f) If you are interested in animals and plants, you ______ study biology.
Questão
Fill in the gaps with the missing modal verb. Sometimes more than one option is possible.
a) I was born in Germany, so I ______ speak German when I was a kid, but now I ______.
b) You ______ wear a helmet when you ride your bike to school.
c) The lesson has finished. You ______ leave the classroom.
d) Sorry, Cassie, you definitely ______ use my lipstick! You ruined my last one!
e) Take warm clothes; the temperature is dropping and it ______ even snow.
f) If you are interested in animals and plants, you ______ study biology.
Resposta
a) I was born in Germany, so I could speak German when I was a kid, but now I can’t.
b) You must wear a helmet when you ride your bike to school. (também pode ser have to, dependendo se é regra/lei da escola)
c) The lesson has finished. You can leave the classroom. (também pode ser may, mais formal/“permissão”)
d) Sorry, Cassie, you definitely can’t use my lipstick! You ruined my last one!
e) Take warm clothes; the temperature is dropping and it might even snow. (também pode ser may)
f) If you are interested in animals and plants, you should study biology. *(também pode ser could: sugestão mais “leve”/opção)
Explicação
Ideia central: escolher o modal que expressa a noção pedida em cada frase (habilidade passada, proibição, obrigação, permissão, possibilidade, conselho).
a) could / can’t
- “when I was a kid” pede habilidade no passado → could.
- “but now I …” contrasta com o passado: hoje não consegue → can’t.
b) must (ou have to)
- Frase de obrigação/regra (usar capacete) → must.
- Se a ideia for “regra externa/lei”, have to também é correto.
c) can (ou may)
- Aula terminou: agora existe permissão/possibilidade de sair → can.
- May é alternativa mais formal para permissão.
d) can’t
- “definitely … use my lipstick” com tom forte de proibição → can’t.
e) might (ou may)
- “it … even snow” indica possibilidade (não certeza) → might / may.
f) should (ou could)
- Sugestão com base no interesse da pessoa: conselho → should.
- Could também funciona como sugestão mais fraca (“uma opção seria…”).
Alternativa correta: não se aplica (questão discursiva, sem alternativas).