Modal Verbs

INSTRUCTIONS 1 In sentences 1-18 which follow, put a tick () next to those sentences where the modal verb expresses a degree of probability. What are the uses in the other sentences? Click on the line after ‘Check’ or press Enter to see the correct answer.

1 He always looks so stressed. He must have a very demanding job. Check: 

2 Check: Strong obligation You must come with us next time. You’d love it. Check: Strong obligation

3 I can’t hear you – the line’s bad. Check: (Lack of) Ability.

4 They can’t be coming – they would have been here by now. Check: 

5 She might change her mind if we keep on urging her. Check: 

6 You could be right. Check: 

7 You can borrow the car. I don’t need it. Check: Permission.

8 We may stay over at Samantha’s if the party finishes late. Check: 

9 No, you may not go out on a school night just before your exams. Check: Prohibition.

10 You’re good at exams, so you should have no trouble passing. Check: 

11 The exams are drawing near – you should be studying 3 hours a night at least. Check: Advice.

12 Will you give me a hand with this trunk? Check: Willingness.

13 It’s half past ten – she’ll be at the airport by now. Check: 

14 I won’t lend you any money until you return the books I loaned you. Check: Unwillingness.

15 There’s no need to rush. It’s only 5.30, and the film won’t have started yet. Check: 

16 It’s so annoying. He won’t admit when he’s wrong. Unwillingness. Check: Unwillingness.

17 That’s amazing – he can read, and he’s only three! Check: Ability.

18 Learning English can be difficult. Check: 

INSTRUCTIONS 2 In the pairs of sentences 19-28 which follow, put the modal verb from the first sentence into the past to complete the second sentence. Click on the line after ‘Check’ or press Enter to see the correct answer.

19 It must be raining. Everybody’s putting up their umbrellas. It _________________ – the ground is still wet. Check: must have been raining

20 I must stop smoking. I _____________________ because I became breathless just walking upstairs. Check: had to stop smoking

21 He _____________________ before it was too late. He should stop smoking before it’s too late. He _____________________ before it was too late. Check: should have stopped smoking

22 He can speak French, Italian, and Arabic. He _______________ French when he was only three and a half! Check: could speak

23 We can go to Tom’s party on Saturday. We ____________________to Tom’s party last Saturday instead of watching that boring play. Check: could have gone

24 You needn’t buy any wine – we’ve got plenty. She _________________ any wine as she knew we had plenty, so she didn’t. Check: didn’t need to buy

25 You needn’t buy any wine – we’ve got plenty. She _________________ any wine as we had plenty, but she didn’t know that and bought some anyway. Check: needn’t have bought

26 That’s the phone. It’ll be Paul, for he said he’d ring at about this time. That __________________ Paul you spoke too – only he has the kind of deep voice you describe. Check: will have been

27 Let’s take a map. We’ll get lost if we don’t. I’m glad we took the map. We __________________ if we hadn’t. Check: would have got lost

28 My grandfather is very antisocial – he’ll sit staring into space for hours. My late grandfather was quite antisocial – he __________________ into space for hours. Check: would sit staring

INSTRUCTIONS 3 In sentences 29-38 which follow, choose the correct option from those in italics. Click on the line after ‘Check’ or press Enter to see the correct answer.

29 Sorry I’m late. I should have gone / had to go to the post office. Check: had to go

30 I looked for Janet everywhere but couldn’t find / couldn’t have found her. Check: couldn’t find

31 I really don’t know where Tom is. He had to go / must have gone home early. Check: must have gone

32 To succeed, I had to work / must have worked hard when I was a student. Check: had to work

33 You needn’t have said / shouldn’t have said anything to Sheila about the birthday party. It was meant to be a surprise. Check: shouldn’t have said

34 You needn’t have bought / couldn’t have bought a new DVD player – I managed to mend the old one. Check: needn’t have bought

35 You should have asked / must have asked me earlier. I might have helped / will have helped you with your problem. Check: should have asked; might have helped

36 You can’t have finished / couldn’t finish the report already – you started working on it only a few minutes ago! Check: can’t have finished

37 You could have told / must have told me this morning’s lecture had been cancelled! If you had been kind enough to do so, I shouldn’t have got up / wouldn’t have got up so early! Check: could have told; wouldn’t have got up

38 You were really lucky to get out of the car unharmed. You would have been / could have been seriously hurt. Check: could have been