Exercises

Exercise 1. Comment upon the meaning of modal verbs. Translate into Russian (can, may).

1. "Can't you sleep, Signor Tenente?" he asked. "No." "I can't sleep, either." 2. Alice: .I'll come too if I may. 3. I said, "I am Martin Lynchgibbon. We have met before, though you may have forgotten. Palmer asked me to meet you. May I carry something?" 4. "She can-not have heard of her father's death," said Braybrooke. "But she had! For I expressed my sympathy and she thanked me." 5. It was not many hours ere he, Esmond, was in London, of that you may be sure, and received with open arms by the old Dowager of Chesley. 6. Darling, I'm sorry I was so drunk yesterday. I may have seemed churlish, but don't think I'm not deeply grateful for your concern. I may yet need your help. 7. Julia: Why is she coming home? Maude: I don't know.. I suppose she got fed up with Paris after five years. She couldn’t have had much fun. 8. Howard: Lieutenant, may I ask a question? 9. "Can I possibly have made a mistake?" she thought. 10. Oh, this house, this house! I come back to it after twenty-three years, and it is just the same really. Someone might at least have been here: some preparation might have been made for me. 11. "He may not even know I'm here." 12. They can't understand the English language, anyway.

Exercise 2. Insert may (might), can (could) or the contracted forms of may not, might not, cannot, could not (mayn't; mightn't; can't, couldn't). Translate into Russian.

1. "There is a man I know," I said; "you ____ have met him, a man named Longrush." 2. He noticed at once that her manner was as natural almost as a frank, manly schoolboy's, there ____ never – he thought – have been a grain of affectation in her. 3. I ____ neither lie comfortably in bed nor find anything to do with myself if I got up. 4. She jumped up when she saw me and said, "Really, I think she ____ have waited a bit before dismantling the house!" 5. I beg the Magistrate's pardon, but ____ I request a few minutes private conversation with him on a matter of deep importance to himself? 6. "You are a sworn constable?" "I be, sir." "Then pursue the criminal at once, with assistance, and bring him back here. He ____ have gone far," (contracted) 7. I said, ": ____ I help you?" 8. "Perhaps," said the Captain, "you ____ have heard your head governor mention my name?" 9. "She's gone, she's gone! Your Heathcliff's run off with her!" gasped the girl. "That is not true!" exclaimed Linton, rising in agitation. "It ____ not be: how has the idea entered your head? Ellen Dean, go and seek her. It is incredible: it ____ not be." 10. "I didn't say he wasn't a colonel," he said, "he ____ have been once for all I know. After all, lie's almost forty." 11. Catherine's cup was never filled: she ____ neither eat nor drink 12. Oh, well, you ____ be right. I don't know. I'm not going to try to explain or adjust myself now. 13. "Old Callendar wants to see me at his bungalow", he said not rising. "He ____ have the politeness to say why."

Exercise 3. Translate into English using the verbs can and may whenever possible.

1. He может быть, чтобы она прочла эту книгу за два дня; она, возможно, только просмотрела ее. 2. «Не может быть, чтобы вы потеряли билет, вы могли положить его в карман». –«Нет, я могла выронить его в трамвае». 3. Не может быть, чтобы он уже приехал, я получила телеграмму только вчера. 4. Неужели он уже получил мое письмо? 5. Неужели он не получил моего письма? 6. Ваши часы, возможно, спешат; не может быть, чтобы сейчас было девять часов. 7. Он не мог получить книгу, потому что библиотека была закрыта. 8. Не может быть, чтобы он полу­чил книгу, ведь библиотека была закрыта. 9. Не могли ли бы вы дать мне эту книгу дня на два? 10. Нет, я не верю этому, не может быть, чтобы она меня обманула. 11. Я останусь дома; она, возможно, будет мне звонить. 12. Право, Джордж, ты мог бы помочь мне нести этот тяжелый чемодан, разве ты не видишь, как мне это тяжело? 13. «Где ключ?»–«Не знаю, Ольга могла взять его с собой по ошибке».–«Не может быть, чтобы она его взяла, у нее ничего не было в руках, когда она уходила». 14. Наконец-то вы пришли! Вы могли прийти пораньше, ведь вы же знали, что я больна.