1. Choose the appropriate modal. 1) You ___ must/can drive carefully near the crossing. 2) The water ___ was able to/couldn’t be cold. It has been very hot these days. 3) The elephants ___ mustn’t/are not able to stand the mice. 4) My granny ___ could/mustn’t speak several languages. 5) People ___ mustn’t/are not able to litter in the city. 6) He was weak and everybody ___ had to/was able to beat him. 7) ___ Can/Could you hear a strange noise out there? 8) We ___ could/had to smell something burning. 9) The children ___ are able to/mustn’t talk with their mouthful. 10) She is a perfect psychologist. She ___ was able to/had to persuade me to come.

Правило: must выражает необходимость, mustn’t — запрет, can/could — способность или возможность, а be able to употребляется в нужной временной форме.

1. You must drive carefully near the crossing.
2. The water couldn’t be cold. It has been very hot these days.
3. The elephants are not able to stand the mice.
4. My granny could speak several languages.
5. People mustn’t litter in the city.
6. He was weak and everybody was able to beat him.
7. Could you hear a strange noise out there?
8. We could smell something burning.
9. The children mustn’t talk with their mouthful.
10. She is a perfect psychologist. She was able to persuade me to come.

Ответ: 1) must; 2) couldn’t; 3) are not able to; 4) could; 5) mustn’t; 6) was able to; 7) Could; 8) could; 9) mustn’t; 10) was able to.