Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 1
MIXED MODALS
Circle the correct answer.
Ex. I took time off work, so I my friend while she 6. I loved living in Miami. We to the beach
was in the hospital. every day.
a) should visit a) would have gone
b) have to visit b) use to go
c) was able to visit c) would go
1. Yumi is a great swimmer. In fact, she when 7. to call me back?
she was only four years old.
a) Could he have forgotten
a) could swim b) May he have forgotten
b) can swim c) Must he have forgotten
c) might swim
8. Everyone on the team is smiling and laughing.
2. Luca couldn’t go to the game because he . They the game.
a) must have studied a) might have won
b) had to study b) must have won
c) couldn’t study c) would win
3. in Brazil? 9. It’s too bad she moved away before you asked her
out. You two a great couple.
a) Did you used to live
b) May you have lived a) must have made
c) Did you use to live b) can’t have made
c) could have made
4. I’m not sure who that man was. It
Josephine’s new boyfriend. 10. That horror movie was so bad. We
a comedy instead.
a) should have been
b) might have been a) were able to see
c) shouldn’t have been b) wouldn’t rather have seen
c) should have seen
5. The chicken was okay, but Rosa the fish.
a) would rather have had
b) should rather have had
c) could rather have had
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Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 2
POSSIBILITY, CERTAINTY & NECESSITY
Write what might or must have happened in each scenario using a past modal of possiblity,
certainty, or necessity. When you’ve finished writing, share your answers with your partner
and justify why you chose a modal of possibility, certainty, or necessity for each one.
Ex. I’m not sure where Juan is. He was here this morning.
He could have gone out for lunch.
1. Did Nivaldo leave work early? He hasn’t answered my email.
2. Hiro told me he felt dizzy during class.
3. Our teacher didn’t give us any homework to do this weekend.
4. Someone left their bag on the floor.
5. I invited Francesca to my party, but she didn’t come.
6. They’re being evicted from their apartment.
7. I wonder why Michelle didn’t call you back last night.
8. My son was really sick this morning.
9. Katarina failed her English test.
10. I saw something strange in the sky last night.
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Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 4
COMPLETE THE CHART
Complete the chart using the given verb and a suitable past modal or past
modal expression.
# Type of Modal Verb Sentence
Reiko wasn’t feeling well, so she could have taken
Ex Possibility take
some medicine.
Sarah for that furniture store,
1 Repeated Action work
but she doesn’t anymore.
You your mother.
2 Advisability call
She was so worried!
This looks like Akmed’s jacket.
3 Certainty leave
He it behind.
When we were kids, our aunt
4 Repeated Action bake
cookies for us whenever we visited her house.
You Hye Eun about the party. It
5 Advisability tell
was supposed to be a surprise!
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Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Exercise 4 cont.
# Type of Modal Verb Sentence
Someone left their book on the desk.
6 Possibility be
It Pavel.
When I was 15, I five miles
7 Ability run
without stopping.
I heard you got a speeding ticket after work. You
8 Advisability drive
home so fast!
Mika an A in history. She failed
9 Certainty get
the last three tests!
I went to bed early last night because I
10 Necessity wake up
at 5:00 am this morning.
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Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: NOTE: LEVEL: High Int
This lesson explores patterns and usage This lesson describes common usage in TIME: 2–3 hours
for past modals and modal expressions. American and Canadian English. If there
TAGS: modals, past modals, past tense,
Students practice expressing past ability, are regional differences or if you teach in
modal verbs, could, should,
possibility, certainty, advisability, and a different country, please point out the
would, might, may, used to, had
necessity through various writing and most common usage to your students.
to, was able to, should have,
speaking exercises. Mixed modal tasks
grammar, grammar practice
are included.
Exercise 1 Exercise 5
1. a 3. c 5. a 7. a 9. c Answers may vary.
2. b 4. b 6. c 8. b 10. c
1. I couldn’t go out last night because I had to clean my house.
2. When I worked in a Cuban restaurant, I would/used to eat
Exercise 2 Cuban food every day.
3. Where is the rest of the pizza? Who could/might/may/would
Answers will vary. Monitor your students for correct past modal have eaten it?
formation and usage. 4. It’s a shame that Marla quit the company. If she hadn’t, she
could/might/may have been a manager now.
Exercise 3 5. The couch was pretty comfortable, but I would rather have/
have rather slept on the bed.
Answers will vary. Monitor your students for correct past modal 6. You shouldn’t have eaten so much at the party. That’s why you
formation and usage. feel sick now.
7. Jamal shouldn’t have left the party so early. Everyone started
to dance after he left.
Exercise 4
8. Because my brother-in-law works for Amazon, I was able to/
could get a discount on a new TV.
Answers may vary. Possible answers include:
9. Prisha must/might/could/may have taken the key.
1. used to work I don’t see it anywhere.
2. should have called, ought to have called 10. Adele should have continued working at this restaurant. She
3. must have left used to make a lot of money here.
4. would bake, used to bake
5. shouldn’t have told (continued on the next page...)
6. could have been, might have been, may have been
7. could run, was able to run
8. shouldn’t have driven
9. couldn’t have gotten/got, can’t have gotten/got,
must not have gotten/got
10. had to wake up
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Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Answer Key cont.
Exercise 6 Exercise 8
Transcript: 1. c 3. a 5. a 7. d 9. b
2. b 4. c 6. d 8. d 10. c
1. Victoria couldn’t go to the movies last night.
2. I was driving way over the speed limit.
3. I used to take an English class on Mondays at 7:00 pm. Grammar Assessment
4. Amal has a bad stomachache.
5. Mozart was incredibly gifted. Use this tool for assessment purposes. Find Assessment Tools that
6. I am so hungry now. you can personalize in our Resources section:
7. Sofia didn’t enjoy her math class last semester. [Link]
8. It’s really too bad that Simon chose to work for that
awful company.
Self-Assessment
9. My team lost the championship game.
10. My sister should have studied for her test.
Have your students fill out this form.
Answers:
1. b 3. a 5. a 7. a 9. b
2. c 4. c 6. b 8. c 10. c
Exercise 7
Answers will vary. Monitor your students for correct past modal
formation and usage. As a follow-up task, have students read their
essays out loud with their partners and have partners ask follow-up
questions. You could also have partners read each other’s essays
and try to correct any errors they spot.
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