School - EXERCISES ON MODAL VERBS

EXERCISES ON MODAL VERBS (1)
I. Complete the following sentences: might, might not, must, mustn’t, can, can’t / could/ couldn’t
1. Don’t stand up in the boat! You …………………………………. fall in the river!
2. You really …………………………………. start spending more time on your work.
3. That’s a really stupid idea! You …………………………………. be serious, surely!
4. Don’t be silly. You …………………………………. expect me to believe you!
5. I learn to fly! You …………………………………. be joking!
6. Sue says she’s stuck in traffic and she …………………………………. be late.
7. Tell Peter he. …………………………………. stay the night here if he wants to.
8. You …………………………………. realize it, but this is very important to me.
9. We’re not sure but we …………………………………. go to Prague for Christmas this year.
10. Bill cooked the lunch, so you …………………………………. expect anything special!
11. I was short of money last week. I …………………………………. buy that disk.
12. I am afraid, I …………………………………. come to your country.
13. When my father was a schoolboy, he was a good runner. He …………………………………. run very fast.
14. My great grandmother was very clever. She ………………………………… speak three foreign languages.
15. Denys ………………………………… swim quite well now. But last summer he …………………………………. swim at all.
16. My grandfather loved music very much. He …………………………………. play the piano and the guitar very well.
II. Choose the best answer.

1. ___ you remember what you were doing at this time yesterday?
A. Can B. Must C. May D. Should
2. I ___ understand this letter. Will you translate it for me?
A. mustn’t B. may not C. can’t D. shouldn’t
’ ’ ’
3. Daisy s parents don t let her go to late- night disco. She ___ be at home at 9 o clock in the evening.
A. must B. may C. can D. has to
4. ___ you give me some advice about the language course?
A. Have B. Should C. May D. Could
’
5. Why didn t you give me a call yesterday? We ___ discuss everything together.
A. can B. may C. must D. could
6. Yesterday I ___ finish the work because I was very tired.
A. could B. can’t C. couldn’t D. mustn’t
7. I would rather ___ poor but happy than become rich without happiness.
A. being B. be C. to be D. was
8. Sit down, please. ___ a cup of tea?
A. Do you like B. Do you like to drink C. Would you like D. Will you like
9. It could not tell the difference between Indian music and jazz. It ___ tell the difference between Indian music and jazz.
A. might not B. may not C. mustn’t D. wasn’t able to
10. I’d rather ___ in the field than ___ home.
A. to work- to stay B. work – stay C. working – staying D. worked- stayed
11. He spent all that money last week. He ___ so much.
A. didn’t need to spend B. shouldn’t spend C. needn’t have spent D. didn’t have to spend
12. Sorry, I ___ stay any longer. I really must go home.
A. mustn’t B. cannot C. couldn’t D. may not
’ ’
13. “It ___rain this evening. Why don t you take an umbrella?” “That s a good idea. May I borrow yours?”
A. had better B. could be C. must D. might
14. “___taking me downtown on your way to work this morning?” “Not at all.”
A. Can you B. Why don’t you C. Would you mind D. Could you please
15. Tommy and Mary were mischievous children. They ___ tricks on their teachers, which always got them into a lot of trouble.
A. could play B. used to play C. could have play D. may have played
16. “Since we have to be there in a hurry, we ___ take a taxi.” - “I agree.”
A. had better B. may C. have been used to D. are able to
17. Alex didn’t need ___ out of his room in Moscow.
A. go B. to going C. going D. to go
18. I couldn’t ___ it even though I had wanted.
A. had bought B. buy C. buying D. have bought
19. She ought not ___ him but she did.
A. to tell B. to telling C. tell D. to have told
’
20. I d rather you ___ that.
A. do B. don’t do C. won’t do D. didn’t do
21. ___ you speak any foreign languages?
A. Could B. Must C. Can D. Might
22. We ___have gone away if we had had enough money.
A. could B. must C. can D. might
23. “You ___ pay the bills today.” “I know, I promise. I won ’t forget.”
A. would B. shall C. must D. may
24. ___ you mind my staying here for some days?
A. Would B. Could C. Can D. Should
25. The ground is wet. It ___last night.
A. must rain B. must have rain C. must have rained D. had to rain
26. You ___ trust your daughter more. You ___ treat her like a child.
A. ought to-should not B. must-need not C. can-may not D. must-may not
III. Rewrite the following sentences, using the modal verb in the bracket.
1. Perhaps Susan knows the address. (may)
 Susan may know the address.
2. The report must be on my desk tomorrow. (has)
 The report has to be …
3. I managed to finish all my work. (able)
 I was able to finish ….
4. It was not necessary for Nancy to clean the flat. (didn't)
 Nancy didn’t need to clean …
5. The best thing for you to do is to sit down. (better)
 You had better sit down
6. I think you should give up smoking immediately. (had)
 I think you had better give up smoking immediately
7. It’s very inconvenient if you can’t drive. (able)
 It’s very inconvenient if you aren’t able to drive
8. I am sure that the cat is in the house somewhere. (must)
 The cat must be in …
9. It’s necessary for me to bring my passport. (have)
 I have to bring my …
10. I am sure that John is not the thief. (can’t)
 John can’t be the thief.

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EXERCISES ON MODAL VERBS (1)

II. Choose the best answer.

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