Worksheet with grammar exercises and a cartoon of a tiger in a zoo cage.

Let’s go through each sentence carefully and choose the correct word: can, could, or the correct form of be allowed to (including negative forms like *can’t*, *couldn’t*, *wasn’t allowed to*, etc.).

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Sentence 1:

> A: ______ I take two bags into the plane?
> B: Sorry, passengers ______ take only one bag onto the plane, so you ______ take both the bags.

- First blank: Asking for permission → “Can I...” is natural here. (“Could” is also possible but less direct; since it’s a simple question about rules, “can” fits best.)
- Second blank: Stating a rule → “passengers can take only one bag” — this is what’s permitted.
- Third blank: So you are NOT allowed to take both → “you can’t take both”

✔ Answers: Can / can / can’t

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Sentence 2:

> It’s difficult to live with my uncle because he’s really strict. I ______ watch TV until I’ve done all my homework, I ______ bring my friends home, and I ______ phone my friends. It’s only on Saturdays that he doesn’t care what I do. I ______ do what I like. If I ______ visit my friends, I ______ go to the cinema if I like, and if I so wish, I ______ have parties at home too.

This whole paragraph talks about restrictions during the week, and freedom on Saturdays.

We’re talking about what the speaker is allowed or not allowed to do.

So we should use “am not allowed to” or “can’t” for negatives, and “am allowed to” or “can” for positives — but note: the text says “he’s really strict”, so most blanks will be negative.

Let’s break it down:

- “I ______ watch TV until I’ve done all my homework” → Not allowed before homework → can’t or am not allowed to
- “I ______ bring my friends home” → Also not allowed → same as above
- “I ______ phone my friends” → Again, not allowed → same
- “It’s only on Saturdays... I ______ do what I like.” → Now positive → can or am allowed to
- “If I ______ visit my friends” → On Saturday, yes → want to or feel like? Wait — actually, looking again: “If I ______ visit my friends, I ______ go to the cinema...” — this is conditional, but still under Saturday freedom → probably “if I want to visit...” but the grammar structure suggests we need a modal verb. Actually, re-reading: “If I ______ visit my friends” — likely meaning “if I am allowed to” — but no, context is: on Saturdays, I’m free. So maybe “if I decide to” — but the exercise wants modals. Let’s think differently.

Actually, look at the pattern: The first three blanks are things he CANNOT do during the week. Then on Saturday, he CAN do them.

So:

First three: can’t (or am not allowed to) — let’s pick can’t for simplicity unless specified otherwise.

Then: “I ______ do what I like.” → can

“If I ______ visit my friends” → This is tricky. Maybe it’s “if I want to” — but the instruction says to use can/could/be allowed to. Perhaps it’s “if I can visit” — but that doesn’t fit well. Wait — perhaps it’s “if I feel like visiting” — no.

Alternative interpretation: Maybe the sentence is saying: “On Saturdays, I can do what I like. If I [choose to] visit my friends, I can go to the cinema...” — but again, we need a modal.

Wait — perhaps the blank is for “can” — as in “If I can visit my friends” — but that implies ability, not permission. Hmm.

Actually, let’s read the full sentence:

> “It’s only on Saturdays that he doesn’t care what I do. I ______ do what I like. If I ______ visit my friends, I ______ go to the cinema if I like, and if I so wish, I ______ have parties at home too.”

The key is: On Saturdays, there are no restrictions. So:

- “I can do what I like.”
- “If I want to visit my friends…” — but “want to” isn’t in our list. We must use can/could/be allowed to.

Perhaps it’s: “If I am allowed to visit my friends” — but that contradicts “he doesn’t care what I do” — meaning he allows everything.

Another idea: Maybe the blank is for “can” — as in “If I can visit my friends” — meaning if it’s possible — but that’s weak.

Wait — perhaps the intended answer is using “can” for ability/permission freely on Saturday.

Let me try filling with “can” where permitted:

“I can do what I like. If I can visit my friends, I can go to the cinema... I can have parties...”

That works grammatically and logically — on Saturday, everything is possible/permitted.

But the first part: during the week, he can’t do those things.

So:

Blank 1: can’t (watch TV)
Blank 2: can’t (bring friends)
Blank 3: can’t (phone friends)
Blank 4: can (do what I like)
Blank 5: can (visit friends — meaning if I choose to, I’m able to)
Blank 6: can (go to cinema)
Blank 7: can (have parties)

Alternatively, some might prefer “am not allowed to” for the negatives to emphasize permission, but “can’t” is acceptable and simpler.

Since the instruction says “you may have to use negative forms sometimes”, and “can’t” is a negative form of “can”, it’s fine.

✔ So: can’t / can’t / can’t / can / can / can / can

But wait — let’s double-check. Is there a better fit?

For example, “I am not allowed to watch TV...” — that’s more precise for permission. But the exercise allows either.

However, in many textbooks, for daily routines and rules, “can’t” is commonly used.

To be safe, let’s consider: if we use “be allowed to”, we need conjugation.

“I am not allowed to watch TV...” — that’s correct.

Similarly, “I am not allowed to bring...” etc.

Then on Saturday: “I am allowed to do what I like.” — but that sounds a bit formal.

“Can” is more natural in spoken English.

Given that, and since the exercise doesn’t specify which to prefer, I’ll go with “can’t” for negatives and “can” for positives for simplicity and flow.

Final decision for sentence 2:
can’t / can’t / can’t / can / can / can / can

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Sentence 3:

> A: How was your visit to the zoo?
> B: It was interesting.
> A: I’ve heard the tiger there has got new cubs. ______ see them?
> B: Yes, we ______ see them, but we ______ go close to them.
> A: Did you see the chimps?
> B: Yes, and I even gave them some bananas.
> A: But I think people ______ feed the chimps.
> B: The rule says, ‘You ______ feed the animals’ but I asked the guards and I ______ feed them after they had inspected the bananas.

Let’s fill step by step.

First blank: “______ see them?” — asking if it was possible to see the cubs → “Could we see them?” (past tense, since the visit happened) — “Can” is present, so “could” is better for past possibility.

Second blank: “Yes, we ______ see them” → past ability → “could”

Third blank: “but we ______ go close to them” → couldn’t go close → “couldn’t”

Fourth blank: “people ______ feed the chimps” — general rule, present tense → “shouldn’t” or “aren’t allowed to” — but we must use can/could/be allowed to. So “can’t” (present prohibition)

Fifth blank: “You ______ feed the animals” — quoting the rule → “must not” or “cannot” — again, “can’t” or “are not allowed to”. Since it’s a sign, often “Do not feed” — but we need modal. “You cannot feed” → “can’t”

Sixth blank: “I ______ feed them after...” — past action, and he did feed them with permission → “was allowed to” or “could”. Since he asked and got permission, “was allowed to” is perfect.

Let’s confirm:

- Blank 1: Could (asking about past possibility)
- Blank 2: could (we were able to see)
- Blank 3: couldn’t (not allowed to go close)
- Blank 4: can’t (general rule now — people aren’t permitted)
- Blank 5: can’t (the rule prohibits feeding)
- Blank 6: was allowed to (specific past permission)

Note: For blank 6, “could” might work, but “was allowed to” emphasizes that permission was granted, which matches “I asked the guards”.

Also, for blank 4 and 5, “aren’t allowed to” could be used, but “can’t” is shorter and common.

In blank 5, the sign says “Do not feed the animals” — so in reported speech, “You must not feed” or “You cannot feed” — “can’t” is fine.

✔ So answers:
Could / could / couldn’t / can’t / can’t / was allowed to

Wait — blank 1: “______ see them?” — subject is implied “we” or “you”? In conversation, often “Could we see them?” or “Were we allowed to see them?” — but the blank is at start, so likely “Could we” — but the blank is just for the modal. Looking back: “______ see them?” — probably expects “Could we” but the blank is only for the modal verb. In such exercises, sometimes the subject is omitted in the blank, but here it’s clear from context.

Actually, reading: “I’ve heard the tiger there has got new cubs. ______ see them?” — this is A asking B, so it’s “Could we see them?” or “Were you allowed to see them?” — but the blank is for the modal, and subject is implied.

In standard fill-in-the-blank, we assume the subject is included in the sentence structure. Here, the blank is before “see them”, so likely the subject is missing too? No, in English, we say “Could you see them?” or “Were you able to see them?”

Looking at the sentence: “______ see them?” — it’s incomplete without subject. But in dialogue, it’s understood as “Could we see them?” or “Did you get to see them?”

Given that, and since the next line is “Yes, we ______ see them”, it’s clear that the question is “Could we see them?” — so blank 1 is “Could”

Similarly, blank 2: “we could see them”

Blank 3: “we couldn’t go close”

Blank 4: “people can’t feed” — present general rule

Blank 5: “You can’t feed” — quoting the rule

Blank 6: “I was allowed to feed” — specific past permission

Perfect.

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Now, compiling all answers:

Final Answers:

1.
A: Can I take two bags into the plane?
B: Sorry, passengers can take only one bag onto the plane, so you can’t take both the bags.

2.
It’s difficult to live with my uncle because he’s really strict. I can’t watch TV until I’ve done all my homework, I can’t bring my friends home, and I can’t phone my friends. It’s only on Saturdays that he doesn’t care what I do. I can do what I like. If I can visit my friends, I can go to the cinema if I like, and if I so wish, I can have parties at home too.

3.
A: How was your visit to the zoo?
B: It was interesting.
A: I’ve heard the tiger there has got new cubs. Could see them?
B: Yes, we could see them, but we couldn’t go close to them.
A: Did you see the chimps?
B: Yes, and I even gave them some bananas.
A: But I think people can’t feed the chimps.
B: The rule says, ‘You can’t feed the animals’ but I asked the guards and I was allowed to feed them after they had inspected the bananas.

Wait — in sentence 3, blank 1: “______ see them?” — should it include the subject? In the original, it’s written as “______ see them?”, so probably the expected answer is just the modal, assuming the subject is understood. But in standard English, we need a subject. However, in many textbook exercises, they omit the subject in the blank if it’s clear from context. To match the format, I’ll keep just the modal.

But let’s check: in sentence 1, it’s “______ I take...” — so subject is given. In sentence 3, “______ see them?” — no subject. That might be an oversight, but likely it’s meant to be “Could we see them?” so the blank is for “Could”, and “we” is implied.

Similarly, in some contexts, “See them?” alone is informal, but with modal, “Could see them?” is awkward without subject.

Perhaps it’s “Were you allowed to see them?” — but again, we must use can/could/be allowed to.

Another possibility: “Can we see them?” — but the visit is in the past, so “could” is better.

I think it’s safe to put “Could” for blank 1, understanding that “we” is implied.

To be precise, let’s write the answers as per the blanks.

Final Answer:

1. Can, can, can't
2. can't, can't, can't, can, can, can, can
3. Could, could, couldn't, can't, can't, was allowed to

But for sentence 3 blank 1, if we must have a complete phrase, but the blank is only for the modal, so "Could" is fine.

Some might argue for "Were we allowed to" but that's longer and not fitting the blank size.

I think "Could" is acceptable.

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Final Answer:
1. Can, can, can't
2. can't, can't, can't, can, can, can, can
3. Could, could, couldn't, can't, can't, was allowed to