Auxiliary verbs – find the mistakes

Each sentence given below contains a mistake. Find the mistake and correct it.

Example

Sentence: ‘Could I ask you something?’ ‘Yes, of course you could.’

Correction: ‘Could I ask you something?’ ‘Yes, of course you can.’

1. When I was a child, I should watch TV whenever I wanted to.

2. Peter wouldn’t watch TV yesterday because he was naughty.

3. He would borrow my car if he asked.

4. I should have married her if I had wanted to.

5. I wish you must not keep making that stupid noise.

6. It is important that she would talk to me when she gets here.

7. It must not be the postman at the door. It’s only seven o’clock.

8. ‘Look at those tracks. That must be a fox.’ ‘It must not be – it could be a dog.’

9. In my job I must travel a lot.

10. You should be Jane’s sister – you look just like her.

Answers

1. When I was a child, I could watch TV whenever I wanted to.

2. Peter couldn’t watch TV yesterday because he was naughty.

3. He could borrow my car if he asked.

4. I could have married her if I had wanted to.

5. I wish you would not keep making that stupid noise.

6. It is important that she should talk to me when she gets here.

7. It can’t be the postman at the door. It is only seven o’clock.

8. ‘Look at those tracks. It must be a fox.’ ‘Needn’t be – it could be a dog.’

9. In my job I have to travel a lot.

10. You must be Jane’s sister – you look just like her.