1. Modal verb review.

An illustration of Manuel Segovia , and Isidro Velazquez, the last surviving speakers of Ayapaneco.

There are five modal verbs in these extracts. (Some of them are repeated.) Can you find them? Select the words to underline them.


2. Modal verb review.

Which meaning do these examples express: probability (what is likely),  theoretical possibility (what can happen), obligation (what is necessary, permitted or forbidden) or ability?

3. Modal verb review.

Now classify more examples. Remember, obligation refers to what is necessary, permitted or forbidden.

4. Probability.

Ayapaneco could well die out with the passing of Segovia and Velazquez.

Remember, to express past probability we use the following forms:

must have been = it was very probable
may / might / could have been = it was probable
can't have been = it was very probably NOT

Rewrite these sentences using the words provided. First check whether the original sentence refers to the present or the past, and use contractions when possible.

For more information about probability see the Grammar Reference.

5. Other ways of expressing probability.

What probability does each sentence express? Choose the correct option.

6. Other ways of expressing probability.

Can you remember? Put the words in order to complete sentences from the previous exercise.

7. Frustrated plans.

Look at the example sentence below describing a frustrated plan.

Past efforts to save this language have been made, but many of these failed due to lack of funding.

Choose the correct option to complete more sentences about frustrated plans.


8. Frustrated plans.

Can you remember? Type in the missing words to complete sentences from the previous exercise. In some cases the first letter is given.