MODAL VERBS

I. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

1. There’s someone at the door. It can / must be the postman.
2. Don’t worry, you don’t have to / mustn’t pay now.
3. I think you had better / would better take a pullover with you.
4. Jones could / must be president if Smith has to resign.
5. Sorry, I can’t stay any longer. I have to / might go.
6. It was 5 o’clock an hour ago. Your watch can’t / mustn’t be right.
7. It’s a school rule, all the pupils have to / must wear a uniform.
8. I suppose that our team must / should win, but I’m not sure.
9. Let’s tell Anna. She could / might not know.
10. In my opinion, the government might / should do something about this.

II. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words
including the word given.
1. I think you should give up smoking immediately. HAD
I think you _________________________________________________
had better give up smoking immediately.
2. I expect we will get there by 5.00, if there isn’t too much traffic. SHOULD
We _________________________________________________
should get there by 5.00, if there isn’t too much traffic.
3. Is it necessary for me to bring my passport? HAVE
Do _________________________________________________
I have to bring my passport?
4. I am sure that the cat is in the house somewhere. BE
The cat _________________________________________________
must be in the house somewhere.
5. An aerial is not required with this radio. HAVE
You don’t _________________________________________________
have to have an aerial with this radio.
6. It is very inconvenient if you can’t drive. TO
It’s very inconvenient if _________________________________________________
you are unable to drive.
7. I am sure that John is not the thief. BE
John _________________________________________________
can't be the thief.
8. I am certain that Norman will be late. BOUND
is bound to be
Norman _________________________________________________ late.
9. All students should report to the main hall at 9.00. ARE
are to report
All students _________________________________________________ to the main hail at 9.00.
10. I thought that you would know better! OUGHT
You _________________________________________________
ought to know better!

III. Underline the most suitable word or phrase in each sentence.

1. We can’t be lost. It isn’t allowed / I don’t believe it.
2. Jane is bound to be late. She always is / She must be.
3. Late-comers are to report to the main office. It’s a good idea / It’s the rule.
4. You don’t have to stay unless it’s necessary / if you don’t want to.
5. Astronauts must feel afraid sometimes. They’re supposed to / It’s only natural.
6. You can’t come in here. It isn’t allowed / I don’t believe it.
7. All motorcyclists have to wear crash helmets. It’s a good idea / It’s the rule.
8. I ought not to tell Jack. It’s not a good idea / It’s the rule.
9. We should be there soon. I expect so / It’s absolutely certain.
10. You’d better leave now. That’s my advice / That’s an order!

1
IV. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains can, could, must, have to or should (including
negative forms).
1. I’m sure that Helen feels really lonely.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Helen must feel really lonely
2. You’re not allowed to park here.
You mustn't park here
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. It would be a good idea if Harry took a holiday.
Harry should take a holiday
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. I’m sure that Brenda isn’t over thirty.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Brenda can't be over thirty
5. Do I need a different driving licence for a motorbike?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Do I have to have a different driving license for a motorbike?
6. What would you advise me to do?
_____________________________________________________________________________________?
What do you think I should do
7. Mary knows how to stand on her head.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Mary can stand on her head
8. You needn’t come with me if you don’t want to.
______________________________________________________________________________________
You don't have to come with me if you don't want to
9. It’s possible for anyone to break into this house!
______________________________________________________________________________________
Anyone can break into this house
10. The dentist will see you soon. I don’t think he’ll be long.
______________________________________________________________________________________
The dentist will see you soon. He shouldn't be long
can't = sure+not obligation- mustn't can: possible can't-less possible
V. Complete each sentence so that it contains might, might not, must, mustn’t, can, can’t. More
than one answer may be possible.
I. might
Don’t stand up in the boat! You ____________________ fall in the river!
2. Sue says she’s stuck in traffic and she ____________________
might be late.
3. You really ____________________
must start spending more time on your work.
4. Tell Peter he ____________________
can stay the night here if he wants to.
5. That’s a really stupid idea! You ____________________
can't be serious, surely!
6. You ____________________
might not realize it, but this is very important to me.
7. Don’t be silly. You ____________________
can't expect me to believe you!
8. We’re not sure but we ____________________
might go to Prague for Christmas this year.
9. Me learn to fly! You ____________________ be joking!
must
10. Bill cooked the lunch, so you ____________________
mustn't expect anything special! There can't be anything special

VI. Choose the most suitable response to each comment or question.

1. A: What did I do wrong?
B: a)You shouldn’t have connected these two wires.
b) You didn’t have to connect these two wires.
2. A: Why is the dog barking?
B: a) It should have heard something.
b) It must have heard something.
3. A: Why are you home so early?
B: a) I needn’t have worked this afternoon.
b) I didn’t have to work this afternoon.
4. A: Why did you worry about me? I didn’t take any risks.
B: a) You must have been injured.
b) You could have been injured.
5. A: You forgot my birthday again!
B: a) Sorry I should have looked in my diary.
2
 b) Sorry, I had to look in my diary.
6. A: We had a terrible crossing on the boat in a storm.
B: a) That didn’t have to be very pleasant!
b) That can’t have been very pleasant!
7. A: Where were you yesterday? You didn’t turn up!
B: a) I had to go to London.
b) I must have gone to London.
8. A: What do you think about the election?
B: a) The Freedom Party had to win.
b) The Freedom Party should have won.
9. A: There’s a lot of food left over from the party isn’t there?
B: a) Yes, you couldn’t have made so many sandwiches.
b) Yes, you needn’t have made so many sandwiches.
10. A: What do you think has happened to Tony?
B: a) I don’t know, he should have got lost.
b) I don’t know, he might have got lost.

VII. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words,
including the word given.
1. It wasn’t necessary for me to go out after all. HAVE
I _________________________________________________
needn't have gone out after all.
2. There was a plan for Jack to become manager, but he left. WAS
Jack _________________________________________________
was to have become manager, but he left.
3. It was a mistake for you to buy that dog. BOUGHT
You _________________________________________________
shouldn't have bought that dog.
4. I’m sure that Sally didn’t enjoy her holiday. ENJOYED
Sally _________________________________________________
can't have enjoyed her holiday.
5. It’s possible that Bill saw me. MAY
Bill _________________________________________________
may have seen me.
6. I’m sure that Karen was a beautiful baby. BEEN
must have been
Karen _________________________________________________ a beautiful baby.
7. Perhaps Alan didn’t mean what he said. MEANT
Man _________________________________________________
might not have meant what he said.
8. It’s possible that I left my wallet at home. COULD
I _________________________________________________
could have left my wallet at home.
9. I think you were wrong to sell your bike. SHOULDN’T
You _________________________________________________
shouldn't have sold your bike.
10. The only thing I could do was run away! HAD
I _________________________________________________
had to run away!

VIII. Underlined the most suitable phrase in each sentence.

1. We should have turned left. We’ve missed the turning / We followed the instructions.
2. We didn’t have to wear uniform at school. But I never did / That’s why I liked it.
3. The guard must have unlocked the window. He was ordered to / There is no other explanation.
4. You could have phoned from the station. I’m sure you did / Why didn’t you?
5. You needn’t have bought any dog food. There isn’t any / There is plenty.
6. Ann might not have understood the message. I suppose it’s possible / She wasn’t supposed to.
7. You can’t have spent all the money already! You weren’t able to / I’m sure you haven’t.
8. I shouldn’t have used this kind of paint. It’s the right kind / It’s the wrong kind.

3
IX. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains can’t, might, must, should or needn’t.
1. I’m sure that David took your books by mistake.
David must have taken your books by mistake
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. It was a mistake to park outside the police station.
______________________________________________________________________________________
You shouldn't have parked outside the police station
3. It was unnecessary for you to clean the floor.
You needn't have cleaned the floor
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. I’m sure that Liz hasn’t met Harry before.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Liz can't have met Harry before
5. Heather possibly hasn’t left yet.
Heather might not have left yet
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. I’m sure they haven’t eaten all the food. It’s not possible!
______________________________________________________________________________________
They can't have eaten all the food
7. Jack is supposed to have arrived half an hour ago.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Jack should have arrived half an hour ago
8. Perhaps Pam and Tim decided not to come.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Pam and Tim might have decided not to come
9. I think it was the cat that took the fish from the table!
The cat must have taken the fish from the table
______________________________________________________________________________________
10. It was a waste of time worrying, after all!
______________________________________________________________________________________
We needn't have worry, after all

X. Circle the best answer

ZOO ESCAPE SHOCKS RESIDENTS
Residents in the Blackwood area complained last night that they (1) ______ warned about the escape of a
dangerous snake. The snake, a python, is three metres long and can kill pets. ‘I heard about it on the radio,’
said Mrs Agnes Bird.

‘I (2) ______ lock my dog in the kitchen this morning, because I thought the snake (3) ______ attacked it. Now
I am not sure what I (4) ______ do.’ The snake, called Lulu, disappeared from Blackwood Zoo some time on
Thursday. ‘It (5) ______ slipped out of its cage while the door was open,’ said zoo director Basil Hart. ‘There is
no other way it (6) ______ got out. It (7) ______ been scared by a sudden loud noise or perhaps it just felt like
a change.’ Mr Hart said that people (8) ______ been alarmed. ‘There (9) ______ been some misunderstanding,
I suppose, when we spoke to the local radio station about this,’ he went on. ‘In fact, we found Lulu not long
after we noticed she was missing. We (10) ______ to look far. She was asleep under a bush. So you see, you
should never believe everything you hear on the radio.’

1. A. must have been B. should have been C. had to be D. needn’t have been
2. A. must have B. should C. ought to D. had to
3. A could have B. should have C. must have D. had to
4. A had to B. should have C. ought to D. didn’t need to
5. A. had to B. should have C. needn’t have D. must have
6. A must have B. might have C. had to D. could have
7. A should have B. might have C. needn’t have D. shouldn’t have
8. A needn’t have B. should have C. might have D. didn’t have to
9. A should have B. had to C. may have D. ought to have
10 A had B. didn’t need C. could have D. should have