A2 — Lesson 09

The Restaurant

Modal Verbs · Can / Could / May / Might · Ability · Possibility · Will Be Able To
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Vocabulary: Fine Dining

British restaurant vocabulary for adult learners. Listen and repeat each word.

Table & Service — Маса и обслужване

Cutlery/ˈkʌt.lə.ri/Прибори (нож, вилица, лъжица)
Serviette/ˌsɜː.viˈet/Салфетка (британски вариант)
The bill/bɪl/Сметката (британски — не check!)
Receipt/rɪˈsiːt/Касова бележка (тихо P!)
Reservation/ˌrez.əˈveɪ.ʃən/Резервация
Waiter / Waitress/ˈweɪ.tər/Сервитьор / Сервитьорка

Food Descriptions — Описания на храна

Savoury/ˈseɪ.vər.i/Солен / Пикантен (не сладък)
Spicy/ˈspaɪ.si/Лют
Delicious/dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/Вкусен / Много добър
Disgusting/dɪsˈɡʌs.tɪŋ/Отвратителен
Rare / Medium / Well-done/reər/Алангле / Средно / Добре изпечено

People & Diet — Хора и диети

Chef/ʃef/Главен готвач
Vegetarian/ˌvedʒ.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/Вегетарианец
Allergic (to)/əˈlɜː.dʒɪk/Алергичен (към)
Allergy/ˈæl.ə.dʒi/Алергия
📝 Exercise A: Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. The ___ is very sharp — please be careful with it.
2. In Britain, you ask for "___ the ___" not "the check".
3. She doesn't eat meat — she is a ___.
4. He is ___ to nuts — he cannot eat them at all.
5. How would you like your steak — ___, medium, or well-done?
🎯 Exercise B: Write the English word for each Bulgarian translation.
1. Солен / Пикантен (not sweet) →
2. Касова бележка (silent P) →
3. Резервация →
4. Отвратителен →
5. Алергия →

Grammar Lab

Modal verbs — complete A2 reference: ability, politeness, possibility, logical deduction, and negatives.

Part 1 — The Politeness Hierarchy: Can / Could / May

In British English, how you ask is just as important as what you ask. The three main request modals have different levels of formality. All three are grammatically correct — the difference is social.

ModalLevelUse withExample
CanCasual / InformalFriends, family, close colleagues"Can I have the salt?" / "Can you help me?"
CouldPolite / StandardWaiters, strangers, most adults"Could I see the menu?" / "Could we have the bill?"
MayFormal / RespectfulVery formal situations, specific permission"May I sit here?" / "May I speak with the manager?"
Bulgarian note: Bulgarian uses Мога ли да... or Бихте ли... for requests, but does not have a 3-level system like English. Could is the safest choice in most real-life situations — it is polite but not stiff.
📝 Easy: Which modal fits the context? Choose the best option.
1. (To a waiter in a restaurant) ___ I have the bill, please?
2. (To your best friend at home) ___ I eat some of your chips?
3. (Very formal — speaking to a judge) ___ I address the court?
4. (Politely, to a stranger) ___ you help me find the post office?
5. (Casual, to a classmate) ___ I borrow your pen?
🎯 Harder: Rewrite each rude or incorrect sentence as a polite request. Use the correct modal. Write the full sentence — capital letter, correct punctuation.
1. "Give me the menu." (waiter — polite) →
2. "I want water." (waiter — polite) →
3. "Help me." (stranger — polite) →
4. "I want to sit here." (very formal) →
5. "Give us the bill." (waiter — polite) →

Part 2 — Ability: Can (Present) and Could (Past)

Use can for present ability — something you are able to do now. Use could for past ability — something you were able to do at a time in the past (but may not be able to do now). Both use the infinitive without to.

Can — Present ability

  • I can speak English.
  • She can cook Italian food.
  • He can't eat nuts — he's allergic.
  • Structure: can + infinitive (no to)

Could — Past ability

  • I could run fast when I was young.
  • She couldn't book a table yesterday.
  • We could speak Bulgarian as children.
  • Structure: could + infinitive (no to)
✅ I can swim. (now)
✅ I could swim when I was five.
✅ She couldn't find the restaurant.
❌ I can to swim. (no to after modal)
❌ I could swam. (infinitive, not past tense)
❌ She didn't could find it. (couldn't, not didn't could)
📝 Easy: Choose can, can't, could, or couldn't.
1. I ___ swim when I was six years old.
2. She ___ eat shellfish — she is allergic.
3. We ___ get a table last Saturday — the restaurant was full.
4. He ___ recommend the steak — it is his favourite dish.
5. They ___ speak any English when they arrived in London.
🎯 Harder: Fill in the correct form. Write the complete sentence with the correct modal.
1. She ___ (play) the piano beautifully as a child.
2. He ___ (eat) anything — he had an operation today.
3. I ___ (understand) the waiter — his accent was very strong.
4. She ___ (make) excellent pasta from scratch.
5. They ___ (find) a table in the end — one became free.

Part 3 — Future Ability: Will Be Able To

Can has no future form. You cannot say will can. Instead, use will be able to for future ability or possibility, and won't be able to for future inability. This structure uses the full infinitive with to.

FormStructureExample
Affirmativewill be able to + infinitiveI will be able to pay the bill tomorrow.
Negativewon't be able to + infinitiveShe won't be able to drink wine — she's driving.
QuestionWill + subject + be able to...?Will you be able to come on Friday?
Common error: Never use will can — it does not exist in English. ❌ "I will can go." → ✅ "I will be able to go." / "I can go."
📝 Easy: Choose the correct future ability form.
1. I am studying hard — I ___ pass the exam next month.
2. She has a broken leg — she ___ play in the match on Saturday.
3. ___ you be able to collect the reservation confirmation today?
4. Don't worry — the chef ___ prepare a vegetarian option for Sarah.
5. He has not studied at all — he ___ pass the exam tomorrow.
🎯 Harder: Rewrite each sentence using will be able to or won't be able to. Write the full sentence — capital letter and full stop.
1. She cannot come tomorrow. →
2. He will drive next year — he is learning now. →
3. The waiter cannot print the receipt now — only in five minutes. →
4. The restaurant is full — they cannot get a table this week. →
5. He is training hard — one day he will cook professionally. →

Part 4 — Possibility: May and Might

May and might both express possibility — something that is possible but not certain. Might suggests slightly less certainty than may, but in everyday British English they are often interchangeable. Neither is used for predictions about ability.

ModalCertaintyExample
may~50% — it is possibleThe fish may be good tonight. / I may have the steak.
might~30% — I am less sureThe chef might be French. / It might rain later.
may notNegative possibilityI may not be able to come on Friday.
might notNegative — even less sureShe might not like spicy food.
Warning — do NOT use can for predictions: ❌ "It can rain tomorrow." → ✅ "It might rain tomorrow." Can is for ability and requests, not for uncertain future predictions.
📝 Easy: Choose may, might, or can. Think about whether it is ability or possibility.
1. I am not sure what to order — I ___ have the fish.
2. The soup ___ be good tonight — I will ask the waiter.
3. She ___ like the food here — let's find out.
4. The chef ___ have run out of steak — let me check.
5. It ___ rain later — take an umbrella just in case.
🎯 Harder: Fill in may, might, may not, or might not.
1. I ___ be late tonight — the traffic is terrible.
2. She ___ come to dinner — she has a headache.
3. The waiter ___ have made a mistake with our order.
4. I ___ order dessert — I am quite full.
5. The bill ___ include a service charge — we should check.

Part 5 — Logical Deduction: Can't and Must

We can use modals to express what we believe to be logically true or impossible — even without direct evidence. Can't means "this is impossible — I am certain it is not true." Must means "I am almost certain this is true based on the evidence."

Can't — Logical impossibility

  • He can't be French — he doesn't speak French!
  • She can't be sleeping — she's shouting!
  • This can't be right — the price is too high.

Must — Strong deduction

  • She must be tired — she worked all night.
  • He must be the chef — he's wearing a white hat.
  • This must be our table — it has our name on it.

Scale of certainty

  • must — 95% certain (true)
  • may / might — 30–50% (possible)
  • can't — 0% (impossible)
📝 Easy: Choose must or can't.
1. She is smiling and laughing — she ___ be happy.
2. He hasn't eaten all day — he ___ be hungry.
3. This ___ be the right restaurant — it's a car park!
4. Look at the queue — this ___ be a very popular place.
5. He ordered seafood — he ___ be allergic to it. (he ate it fine)
🎯 Harder: Rewrite each sentence using must or can't + the verb. Write the full sentence with correct punctuation.
1. I am sure that is the chef — he is wearing a white hat. →
2. It is impossible that he is a vegetarian — I saw him eat a burger! →
3. I am certain this soup contains nuts — it tastes exactly like it. →
4. It is impossible she is tired — she slept for twelve hours! →
5. The food looks incredible — I am almost certain it is delicious. →

Part 6 — Modal Negatives: A Complete Summary

Each modal forms its negative differently. Learn these carefully — the negative meaning often changes significantly from the positive.

PositiveNegativeShort formMeaning
cancannotcan'tNot possible / Not able (now)
couldcould notcouldn'tWas not able (past)
maymay not— (no short form)It is possible that not...
mightmight notmightn't (rare)It is perhaps not...
will be able towill not be able towon't be able toNot possible in future
mustmust not / mustn'tmustn'tIt is forbidden
📝 Easy: Choose the correct negative modal.
1. He is in hospital — he ___ come to dinner tonight.
2. I ___ eat shellfish — I am highly allergic.
3. We ___ get through on the phone yesterday — the line was busy.
4. She ___ come to the restaurant — she has other plans.
5. You ___ use your phone at the table — it is against the restaurant's rules. (forbidden)
🎯 Harder: Fill in the correct negative modal. Choose from: can't / couldn't / might not / won't be able to / mustn't.
1. You ___ use your phone in this restaurant — it is against the rules.
2. This ___ be the right address — there is no restaurant here!
3. She ___ find her serviette yesterday — it had fallen on the floor.
4. He is very busy — he ___ join us for dinner next week.
5. I ___ eat anything more — I am completely full!

Reading: The Business Dinner

Mr. Smith is taking his team to The Royal Oak restaurant. Read the dialogues carefully and answer the questions.
📅

Text 1: The Difficult Reservation

Mr. Smith: "Emma, could you book a table for four at The Royal Oak?" Emma: "I tried calling them this morning, but I couldn't get through. Their line was busy." Mr. Smith: "That is annoying. We must secure a table." Emma: "I might try booking via their app. I will be able to confirm the time in ten minutes. Do we need a vegetarian option?" Mr. Smith: "Yes, Sarah doesn't eat meat."

Questions:

1. Why couldn't Emma book the table by phone?

2. How does Emma plan to try booking next?

3. "I might try booking via their app." — what does might tell us here? (Language focus)

4. Who in the group needs a vegetarian option? (Inference)

🍷

Text 2: Drinks and Cutlery

Waiter: "Good evening. May I take your beverage order? And could I interest you in some starters?" Jake: "Just a coke for me. Also, I seem to be missing my cutlery. Could I have a knife and fork?" Sarah: "I might have a glass of red wine, but I'm driving later, so I won't be able to drink alcohol. Just sparkling water, please." Waiter: "Certainly. I can bring some bread while you wait."

Questions:

1. Why does the waiter use May at the start of the conversation?

2. What is Jake missing from the table?

3. "I won't be able to drink alcohol." — why this form instead of can't? (Language focus)

4. What will the waiter bring to the table while they wait? (Inference)

🥩

Text 3: The Main Course Confusion

Emma: "I can't decide. The steak looks delicious, but I might try the fish." Jake: "I can recommend the steak. It is their signature dish." Emma: "Okay, I'll have the steak. I like it rare." Waiter: "I'm afraid we might have run out of steaks. Let me check with the chef... Ah, yes. We won't be able to serve steak tonight." Emma: "Oh, that is disappointing. I will have the fish then."

Questions:

1. "I can recommend the steak." — what type of can is this?

2. How does Emma like her steak?

3. "We won't be able to serve steak tonight." — why not can't? (Language focus)

4. What does Emma decide to eat in the end? (Inference)

🧾

Text 4: The Mistake on the Bill

Mr. Smith: "Waiter, could we have the bill, please?" Waiter: "Certainly, sir. Here you are." Mr. Smith: "Excuse me, I think there is a mistake. We didn't order the champagne. We couldn't possibly drink that much!" Waiter: "I am terribly sorry. I might have confused your table with Table 5. I will be able to print a new receipt in a moment."

Questions:

1. What was the mistake on the bill?

2. "I might have confused your table with Table 5." — what does the waiter mean?

3. "Could we have the bill" — why could and not can? (Language focus)

4. What can we infer about Mr. Smith's character from his response? (Inference)

⭐

Text 5: The Review

Sarah's Review: "We visited The Royal Oak last night. The atmosphere was lovely, but the service was slow. We couldn't get a table at first. The food was okay, but the soup was too spicy. I might go back for drinks, but I won't be able to recommend the food to my friends. Three stars."

Questions:

1. What was wrong with the soup?

2. "We couldn't get a table at first." — what does this tell us?

3. "I might go back for drinks." — what does this suggest? (Language focus)

4. Overall, would Sarah recommend this restaurant to friends? (Inference)

Text 1 / 5

Cloze Text

Choose the correct modal verb from each drop-down menu. Read the context carefully before choosing.

Last Friday, Anna and her colleague tried to book a table at a new restaurant. Anna called the restaurant, but she (1) get through — the line was engaged. She tried again later, and this time she (2) speak to the manager directly.

At the restaurant that evening, the waiter asked: " (3) I take your coats?" Anna's colleague, Tom, said he (4) try the fish, but he was not sure yet. Anna said she (5) eat shellfish because of an allergy.

The waiter said the steak was the best dish, but that the chef (6) be able to serve it medium — only well-done. Tom thought: "This (7) be the strangest restaurant I have ever visited."

At the end of the meal, Anna asked: " (8) we have the bill, please?" The waiter told them they (9) pay by cash — card only. Luckily, Anna (10) find her card at the bottom of her bag.

Exercises

15 exercises covering all modal verbs from this lesson.

Tense Writing Practice

Five exercises, 10 sentences each — all mixed tenses in every exercise. Tenses: Present Simple · Present Continuous · Past Simple · Present Perfect · Will · Be Going To
Read each sentence carefully and put the verb in brackets into the correct tense.