English Grammar Exercises: Could (do) and could have (done)

Exercise 1   

Answer the questions with a suggestion. Use could.

1   Where shall we go for our holidays? (to Scotland) We …………………….

2   What shall we have for dinner tonight? (fish) We …………………….

3   When shall I phone Vicky? (now) You …………………….

4   What shall I give Ann for her birthday? (a book) …………………….

5   Where shall we hang this picture? (in the kitchen) …………………….

Exercise 2   

In some of these sentences, you need could (not can). Change the sentences where necessary.

1   The story can be true but I don’t think it is. …………………….

2   It’s a nice day. We can go for a walk. …………………….

3   I’m so angry with him. I can kill him! …………………….

4   If you’re hungry, we can have dinner now. …………………….

5   It’s so nice here. I can stay here all day, but unfortunately I have to go. …………………….

6   A: Where’s my bag. Have you seen it?

    B: No, but it can be in the car. …………………….

7   Peter is a keen musician. He plays the flute and he can also play the piano. …………………….

8   A: I need to borrow a camera.

    B: You can borrow mine. …………………….

9   Be careful climbing that tree. You can fall. …………………….

Exercise 3   

Complete the sentences. Use could or could have+ a suitable verb.

1   A: What shall we do this evening?

     B: I don’t mind. We ……………………. to the cinema.

2   A: I spent a very boring evening at home yesterday.

     B: Why did you stay at home? You ……………………. out with us.

3   A: Have you seen this job advertised in the paper? You ……………………. for it.

     B: What sort of job? Show me the advertisement.

4   A: How was your exam? Was it difficult?

     B: It wasn’t so bad. It ……………………. worse.

5   A: I got very wet walking home in the rain last night.

     B: Why did you walk? You ……………………. a taxi.

6   A: Where shall we meet tomorrow?

     B: Well, I ……………………. to your house if you like.

Exercise 4   

Complete the sentences. Use couldn’t or couldn’t have+ these verbs (in the correct form):

be    be    come    find    get    live    wear

1   I ……………………. in a big city. I’d hate it.

2   We had a really good holiday. It ……………………. better.

3   I ……………………. that hat. I’d look silly and people would laugh at me.

4   We managed to find the restaurant you recommended, but we ……………………. it without the map that you drew for us.

5   Paul has to get up at 4 o’clock every morning. I don 1t know how he does it. ……………………. up at that time every day.

6   The staff at the hotel were really nice when we stayed there last summer. ……………………. more helpful.

7   A: I tried to phone you last week. We had a party and I wanted to invite you.

     B: That was nice of you, but I ……………………. anyway. I was away all last week.