1. My grandfather traveled a lot. He c o u ld speak five languages. 2. I looked everywhere for the book, but I co u ld n t find it.
3. They didn’t w ant to come w ith us at first, but we m a n a g e d to persuade them . 4. Laura had h u rt h er leg a n d _________________________ walk very well.
5. Sue wasn’t at hom e w hen I called, bu t I ____________________contact her at her office. 6. I looked very carefully, and I _________________________ see som eone in the distance.
7. I w anted to buy some tom atoes. The first store I w ent to didn’t have any good ones, but I ________________________ get some at the next place.
8. My grandm other loved music. S h e _________________________ play the piano very well. 9. A girl fell into the river, but fortunately w e _________________________ rescue her. 10. I had forgotten to bring my camera, so I take any photos.
U N I T
26
Could (do) and could have (done)
W e use c o u ld in a n um ber of ways. Som etim es c o u ld is the past o f c a n (see U nit 25C): ■ Listen. I ca n h e a r som ething, (now)
■ I listened. I c o u ld h e a r som ething, (past) B ut c o u ld is not only used in this way. W e also use c o u ld to talk about possible actions now or in the future (especially to m ake suggestions). For example:
■ A: W hat w ould you like to do tonight?
B: We c o u ld go to the movies.
■ A: W h en you go to N ew York next m onth, you c o u ld stay w ith Candice.
B: Yes, I guess I co u ld .
C a n is also possible in these sentences (We ca n go to the movies, etc.). C o u ld is less sure than can.
What would you like to do tonight?
We could go to the movies.
W e also use c o u ld (not can) for actions w hich are not realistic. For example: ■ I’m so tired, I c o u ld sleep for a week. (not I can sleep for a week) C om pare ca n and c o u ld :
■ I c a n stay w ith Candice w hen I go to N ew York, (realistic)
■ Maybe I c o u ld stay w ith Candice w hen I go to N ew York, (possible, b u t less sure) ■ This is a w onderful place. I c o u ld stay here forever, (unrealistic)
W e also use c o u ld (not can) to say that som ething is possible now or in the future. T he m eaning is similar to m i g h t or m a y (see U nits 2 8 -2 9):
■ T he story c o u ld b e true, b u t I don’t think it is. (not can be true) ■ I don’t know w hat tim e Liz is coming. She c o u ld g e t here at any time. W e use c o u ld h av e (done) to talk about the past. Com pare:
■ I’m so tired, I c o u ld sleep for a week, (now) I was so tired, I c o u ld h av e s le p t for a week, (past) ■ T he situation is bad, bu t it c o u ld b e worse, (now)
T he situation was bad, bu t it c o u ld h av e b e e n worse, (past) Som ething c o u ld h av e happened = it was possible b u t did not happen:
■ W hy did you stay at a hotel w hen you w ere in N ew York? You c o u ld h ave stayed w ith Candice, (you didn’t stay w ith her)
■ I didn’t know that you w anted to go to the concert. I c o u ld h av e g o tte n you a free ticket. (I didn’t get you a ticket)
■ Dave was lucky. H e c o u ld have h u r t him self w hen he fell, b u t he’s OK. W e use c o u ld n ’t to say that som ething w ould no t be possible now:
■ I c o u ld n ’t live in a big city. I’d hate it. (= it w ouldn’t be possible for me) ■ Everything is fine right now. Things c o u ld n ’t b e better.
For the past, we use c o u ld n ’t h av e (done):
■ W e had a really good vacation. It c o u ld n ’t h av e b e e n better.
■ T he trip was canceled last week. Paul c o u ld n ’t h av e g o n e anyway because he was sick. (= it w ould not have been possible for him to go)
ercises
U N I
* ' -nswer the questions with a suggestion. Use could and the words in parentheses.
W here would you like to go on vacation? W hat should we have for dinner tonight? W hen should I call Angela? W hat should I give Ana for her birthday? W hen should we go and see Tom?
s r
(to San Diego) W e co u ld go to S a n Diego.
(fish) W e __________________________________ (now) Y o u _________________________________ (a b o o k )___________________________________ (on Friday)________________________________
n some of these sentences, you need could (not can). Change the sentences
..here necessary.
The story can be true) bu t I don’t think it is. co u ld b e tr u e ____________
It’s a nice day. W e can go for a walk. O K (could go is also possible)
I’m so angry I can scream._________________________ ___________________________ If you’re hungry, we can have dinner now.__________ ___________________________ It’s so nice here. I can stay here all day,
but unfortunately I have to go._____________________ ___________________________
A: W h e re’s my bag. Have you seen it?
B: N o, bu t it can be in the car.____________________ ___________________________
Peter is a good musician. He plays the flute,
and he can also play the piano._____________________ ___________________________
A: I need to borrow a camera.
B: You can borrow m ine._________________________ ___________________________
The w eather is nice now, bu t it can change later. ___________________________
Complete the sentences. Use could or could have + appropriate verbs.
. A: W hat should we do tonight?
B: We could go to the movies.
A: I spent a very boring evening at hom e yesterday.
B: W hy did you stay at hom e? Y o u out w ith us.
A: T here’s a jo b advertised in the paper that I think you are really qualified for. B: I guess I for it, but I like my present job. - A: H ow was your test? Was it hard?
B: It w asn’t so bad. I t ________________ ~ __________worse. 5. A: I got very w et w alking hom e in the rain last night.
B: W hy did you walk? Y o u _______________________________a taxi. A: W here should we m eet tom orrow ?
B: W ell, I ______________________________ to your house if you want.
Complete the sentences. Use couldn't or couldn't have + these verbs in the correct form:
-be- b e c o m e f in d g e t live w e a r I couldnt live in a big city. I’d hate it.
W e had a really good vacation. It couldn't h ave been better.
I _______________________________ that hat. I’d look silly, and people w ould laugh at me. - W e m anaged to find the restaurant you recom m ended, bu t w e ________________________
it w ithout the map that you drew for us.
5. Paul has to get up at 4:00 every m orning. I don’t know how he does it. I ______________________________ up at that tim e every day.
The staff at the hotel was really nice w hen we stayed there last summer. They ____________________________ m ore helpful.
7. A: I tried to call you last week. W e had a party, and I w anted to invite you.
B:_T h at’s nice of you, bu t I _______________________________ anyway. I was away all
last week.
U N I T
27
it
Must (You must be tired, etc.)
M u st (n o t)
My house is next it m ust be very noisy, to the freeway.
We use m u s t to say that we feel sure som ething is true: ■ You’ve been traveling all day. You m u s t b e tired.
(Traveling is tiring and you’ve been traveling all day, so you m u s t b e tired.) ■ “Jim is a hard w orker.” “Jim ? You m u s t b e joking. H e ’s very lazy.” ■ I’m sure Sally gave m e her phone num ber. I m u s t hav e it som ewhere. W e use m u s t n o t to say that we feel sure som ething is not true:
■ T heir car isn’t outside their house. They m u s t n o t b e hom e. (= They m u s t b e out) ■ Brian said he w ould be here by 9:30. It’s 10:00 now, and he’s never late. H e m u s t
n o t b e c o m in g .
■ They haven’t lived here very long. They m u s t n o t k n o w many people. Study the structure:
I/y o u /h e (etc.) m u s t (n o t)
b e (tired / hungry / hom e, etc.) b e (d o in g / c o m in g / jo k in g , etc.) d o / g e t / k n o w / have, etc.
M u st (n o t) h av e d o n e
For the past, we use m u s t (n o t) hav e d o n e :
■ “W e used to live close to the freeway.” “D id you? It m u s t h av e b e e n noisy.” ■ T h ere’s nobody at hom e. They m u s t h av e g o n e out.
■ I’ve lost one o f my gloves. I m u s t h av e d r o p p e d it som ewhere. ■ She walked past m e w ithout speaking. She m u s t n o t h av e seen me.
■ Tom w alked into a wall. H e m u s t n o t h av e b e e n lo o k in g w here he was going. Study the structure:
I/y o u /h e (etc.) m u s t (n o t) h ave
b e e n (tired / hungry / noisy, etc.) b e e n (d o in g / c o m in g / lo o k in g , etc.) g o n e / d r o p p e d / seen, etc.
C a n ’t and m u s t n o t
It c a n ’t b e true = I believe it is impossible:
■ H ow can you say such a thing? You c a n ’t b e serious! C om pare c a n ’t and m u s t n o t:
A: Joe wants som ething to eat.
B: B ut he ju st had lunch. H e c a n ’t b e hungry already. (= it’s impossible that he is h u n g r
because he ju st had lunch)
A: I offered Bill som ething to eat, but he didn’t w ant anything.
H e m u s t n o t b e hungry. (= I’m sure he is not hungry - otherw ise he w ould eat something)
Can't {I can't sw im , etc.) U n it2 5 A , B M u st (I m ust g o , etc.) U n it3 0 B ,C British English A ppendix 7
■ A:
■ B:
■ A: B:
►-t ,n must or m ust not.
I V u've been traveling all day. You m u s t be tired.
1. That re sta u ra n t________________________ be very good. It’s always full o f people. That re sta u ra n t_________________________ be very good. It’s always empty.
* Y o u _________________________ be looking forw ard to going on vacation next week. ■ 'ain e d every day during their vacation, so th e y _________________________ have had
try nice time.
a got here very quickly. Y o u have w alked very fast.
I : -plete each sentence with a verb (one or two words) in the correct form.
I've lost one o f my gloves. I m ust h a v e d r o p p e d it som ewhere. They haven’t lived here very long. They m ust no t k n o w m any people. Ted isn’t at w ork today. H e m u s t __________________________sick.
- Ted wasn’t at w ork last week. H e m u s t__________________________sick.
~ Sarah knows a lot about movies. She m u s t_________________________ to the movies a lot. Look. Jam es is putting on his hat and coat. H e m u s t_________________________ out. I left my bike outside last night and now it is gone. Som ebody m u s t___________________ it. I Sue was in a difficult situation w hen she lost h er job. It m ust n o t ________________________
easy for her.
There is a m an w alking behind us. H e has been w alking behind us for the last 20 m inutes. H e m u s t__________________________us.
■ rsd the situations and use the words in parentheses to write sentences with m ust have
z-d m ust n o t have.
- The phone rang, but I didn’t hear it. (I / asleep) / m u s t h a v e b e e n asleep._____________ I Julie walked past m e w ith o u t speaking, (she / see / me) S h e m u s t n o t h a v e s e e n me.
The jack et you bought is very good quality, (it / very expensive)
tise s
u
n i
t j y
- I can’t find my um brella. (I / leave / it in the restaurant last night) Dave passed the exam w ithout studying for it. (the exam / very difficult) She knew everything about our plans, (she / listen / to our conversation)
Rachel did the opposite o f w hat I asked her to do. (she / understand / w hat I said) W hen I w oke up this m orning, the light was on. (I / forget / to tu rn it off)
. I was awakened in the night by loud music next door, (the neighbors / have / a party)
Complete the sentences with m ust n o t or can't,
H ow can you say such a thing? You c a n t be serious! T heir car isn’t outside their house. They m u s t n o t be hom e.
I ju st bought a box o f cereal yesterday. I t _________________________ be em pty already. The Smiths always go on vacation this tim e o f year, but they are still hom e.
T h e y _________________________ be taking a vacation this year. 5. You ju st started filling out your tax forms 10 m inutes ago.
Y o u _________________________ be finished w ith them already! Eric is a good friend o f A nn’s, bu t he hasn’t visited her in the hospital. H e _________________________ know she’s in the hospital.