The table was heavy

Quiz

Decide first which one of the three suggestions can complete each sentence. Select it. Then select the kind of modality expressed in each sentence.

1. In the end, I _____ move the table myself, but it was heavy and I really would have appreciated your help.

  • was able to

  • could

  • can

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

2. He's always struck me as highly incompetent, but he _____ something right: he's just been promoted.

  • has to do

  • had to do

  • has to have been doing

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

3. Why didn't Elisabeth come out with us for drinks last night? – I don't know. She _____. She often stays late at the office on Wednesday nights.

  • may have worked

  • may have been working

  • may work

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

4. You've really outdone yourself this time. How _____ drop your laptop into the kitchen sink?

  • did you manage to

  • may you

  • might you

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

5. They're 50,000 £ over budget. They're six months behind schedule. Municipal elections are in two weeks. _____ I say more? Things aren't looking good for the current majority.

  • Need

  • Would

  • Will

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

6. I'm not going to repeat the instructions again. I've given them to you twice now. You _____ listening the first two times.

  • should have been

  • must have been

  • may have been

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

7. You _____ kidding. The boss expects us to finish the project by the end of the week? That's just not going to happen!

  • should have been

  • could be

  • have got to be

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

Quiz

8. Jenni Smith from the aquarium, said [of the lobster]: ‘He's a fantastic specimen and by his size alone he _____ be at least 50 years old.' (www.bbc.com/news)

  • has got to

  • can

  • might

  • epistemic necessity

  • epistemic possibility

  • non-epistemic necessity

  • non-epistemic possibility > permission

  • non-epistemic possibility > ability

  • non-epistemic possibility > mere possibility

CorrectionRestart