Question

Choose the correct modal verbs to complete the dialogue. Max Something 1 must have / should have happened to my computer. I can’t find some of my icons. Ellie Hmm. I wonder if you’ve got a virus. Max Yes, maybe. But how? It 2 can’t have / must have come in an email because I haven’t checked my emails today. Ellie Well, you 3 should have / may have downloaded something from the internet. Max Hmm. I downloaded a film from a website earlier. Maybe I 4 shouldn’t have / might have done that. Ellie Yes, you 5 should have / could have got a virus from there. But switch off your computer and see if the problem goes away. Maybe it isn’t a virus after all. Max Good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?

Answer 1

Here are the correct modal verbs to complete the dialogue:

Max: Something must have happened to my computer. I can’t find some of my icons.

Ellie: Hmm. I wonder if you’ve got a virus.

Max: Yes, maybe. But how? It must have come in an email because I haven’t checked my emails today.

Ellie: Well, you may have downloaded something from the internet.

Max: Hmm. I downloaded a film from a website earlier. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.

Ellie: Yes, you could have got a virus from there. But switch off your computer and see if the problem goes away. Maybe it isn’t a virus after all.

Max: Good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?

Answer 2

Max: Something must have happened to my computer. I can't find some of my icons. Ellie: Hmm. I wonder if you've got a virus. Max: Yes, maybe. But how? It can't have come in an email because I haven't checked my emails today. Ellie: Well, you may have downloaded something from the internet. Max: Hmm. I downloaded a film from a website earlier. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. Ellie: Yes, you could have got a virus from there. But switch off your computer and see if the problem goes away. Maybe it isn't a virus after all. Max: Good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

In this dialogue, the correct modal verbs used are: 1. must have - Max believes that something must have happened to his computer. 2. can't have - Max believes that the virus can't have come in an email because he hasn't checked his emails. 3. may have - Ellie suggests that Max may have downloaded something from the internet. 4. shouldn't have - Max realizes that he made a mistake by downloading a film from a website and shouldn't have done that. 5. could have - Ellie suggests that Max could have got a virus from the website he downloaded the film from.