Open Cloze Exercises: Choice of Modal Verbs
Patricia Fabiano
03/07/2023
Learn when to use each Modal Verb on the Open Cloze exercises of the Cambridge Exam.
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Let's learn what it the Open Cloze exercise
There is an important exercise on the Cambridge exams called the Open Cloze. In this exercise students are asked to fill in the gaps with the best choice of words to make a sentence work.
Let us show you an example of this type of exercise:
I’m very busy, but maybe I ____ go to the party if I finish my work early.
Here, we are going to work with the Modal Verbs and what would be the best option among them for a certain phrase.
Now, let’s begin with the use of each modal verb:
In the exercise, there are four possibilities, but only one will be the best for it to make sense and send the message the speaker wants to.
I can go to the party if I finish my work early – If the person finishes work, he/she will be able to go.
I could go to the party if I finish my work early – There is a possibility that the person will attend the party if something happens.
I might go to the party if I finish my work early – Even though the person was at work, it might be possible that they go to the party.
I may go to the party if I finish my work early – Even though the person is busy with work, it is possible that after it they will go to the party.
Since we know that the person is busy with work, the correct option would be to know that there is a possibility that they will show up at the party. Therefore, the best choice of modal verb would be COULD.
