Modal Verbs and Infinitive Constructions

I. Translate into English, using Infinitive Constructions:

1. Este improbabil ca ei s reueasc s se neleag cu directoarea colii.
1. It is unlikely for them to get along with the school principal.
2. Se bnuiete c Harry a jefuit aceast banc.
2. Harry is said to have robbed this bank.
3. Se bnuiete c Harry repar maini.
3. Harry is said to fix cars.
4. Se tie c noi avem note bune.
4. We are known to have good grades.
5. Se tie c noi am avut note bune anul trecut.
5. We are known to have had good grades last year.
6. Eu tiu c el e un om cinstit.
6. I know him to be an honest man.
7. Eu tiu c el era un om cinstit n tineree.
7. I know him to have been an honest man early in his life.
8. Se spune c Preedintele ascult muzic n fiecare diminea.
8. The President is said to listen to music every morning.
9. Se spune c Preedintele plnuiete invazia acestei ri.
9. The President is said to plan/ to be planning the invasion of this country.
10. Se spune c portarul a dezvluit misterul acestui castel.
10. The doorman is said to have unravelled the mistery of this castle.
11. Se spune c majordomul se uita la televizor n timp ce proprietarul atepta la u.
11. The butler is said to have been watching TV while the owner was waiting/ waited
at the door.
II. Underline can/ could expressing permission with one line and can/ could
expressing possibility with two lines:
1. You can ski in the Romanian mountains from October on.
2. On Sundays the students could stay in bed till nine.
3. You could bathe here in summer.
4. Can you lend me your typewriter for a week?
5. Im afraid you cant stay any longer.
6. One couldnt cross the street. They were taking pictures in front of the concert hall.
7. That child can be very naughty sometimes.
8. It can rain quite often in Scotland.
III. Use can, could, or be able to in the following sentences, as necessary:
1. David can speak Italian now. He wasnt able to speak it three years ago.
2. Mary can read German. She was able to read German when she was 11 years old.
3. Could you speak English well last year? You can speak English now, cant you?
(tag question)
4. I couldnt find the tin-opener yesterday, and I still cant find it today.
5. He can learn foreign languages easily.
6. Could you let me have a room for the night?
7. You can travel from Bucharest to Tg. Jiu in four hours.
8. We regret we couldnt agree to your requests; they were not within our power.
9. He cannot finish reading the book before he went to bed.

10. Jane can tell the name of all the capital-cities in Europe.
11. An orange can be very refreshing on a hot day.
12. As I was not interrupted, I can finish my work in due time.
13. When she was a young woman she could sing prettily.
14. Ruxandra P was able to speak French before she went to France for the first time.
15. The boat overturned, but, fortunately, we were able to swim back to the bank.
16. As Helen and Bobby are able to speak good English, they can explain to the
English tourists their itinerary.
17. He can catch the bus as he could run fast.
18. Oana said she could solve all the exercises in Chemistry she was given before her
summer holiday.

IV. Fill in the blanks with could or be able to:

1. When the coach plunged into the river, only the driver was able to get out.
2. He was as strong as a horse; he could work all day and dance all night.
3. I could mumble a few Hungarian words when I was a teenager.
4. She was able to reach the shore before she fainted.
5. I could type when I was sixteen.
6. Could you walk after the accident or did they have to carry you?
7. Although a long way from the door, they were able to get out very quickly.
8. The man asked me the way, but as he was able to only speak Italian, I couldnt help
him.
V. Translate into English using modal verbs wherever possible:
1. Cnd era elev, el putea scrie s scrie cte trei pagini pe zi.
1. When he was a pupil, we could write 3 pages a day.
2. n seara aceea, prizonierul a putut/ reuit s evadeze.
2. That evening, the prisoner was able to escape
3. mi dai voie s sting lumina? Da, i dau voie/ Nu, nu i dau voie.
3. May I turn off the light? Yes you may. No, you may not.
4. Jane tie s picteze.
4. Jane knows how to paint.
5. Ieri am aflat c Jane tie s picteze.
5. Yesterday I found out that Jane knows how to paint.
6. Cnd a vzut fantoma, Jill s-a speriat foarte tare, dar, cu toate acestea, a reuit s se
stpneasc i s i continue treaba.
6. When he saw the ghost, Jill freaked out so much, but, nevertheless she was able to
control herself and continur her job.
7. Nu pot s nu-l ajut s i repare maina.
7. I cant help him to not fix his car.
8. Cnd am vzut-o, am intrebat-o dac pot s particip la orele ei.
8. When I saw her, I asked her if I can participate in her classes.
9. Este imposibil ca ei s te trdeze.
9. It is impossible for them to betray you.
10. Este imposibil ca ei s te fi trdat sptmna trecut.
10. It is impossible for them to have betrayed you last week.
11. I-am spus c nu are cum s fie John criminalul.

11. I told him John couldnt be the killer.

12. Aceast main se poate strica oricnd.
12. This car might break anytime.
13. Tu vei putea participa la aceast competiie sptmna viitoare.
13. You could participate to this competition next week.
14. Era imposibil ca ei s i dea seama de adevr.
14. It is impossible for them to figure out the truth.
15. Doctorii au recunoscut c era imposibil ca ei s fi salvat pacientul.
15. The doctors admitted that it was imposible that they had saved the pacient.
16. Pot s vin cu tine la acest concert?
16. Can I come with you at this concert?
17. A putea s vin cu tine la acest concert?
17. Could I come with you at this concert?
18. O asemenea tragedie se poate ntmpla din nou.
18. A similar tragery can happen again.
19. Ali turiti se pot neca in acest golf oricnd.
19. Other tourists can drown in this golf anytime.
20. Ali turiti s-ar putea ineca n aceast piscin n viitorul apropiat.
20. Other tourists could drown in this pool in the near future.