www.autoenglish.

org Written by Bob W ilson Robert Clifford McNair W ilson 2007

Can, Could, May and Might Exercise

Use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap.


1 They (can/might)........................... be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.

2 You (may/might)........................... leave now if you wish.

3 (Could/May)........................... you open the window a bit, please?

4 He (can/could)........................... be French, judging by his accent.

5 (May/Can)........................... you play the piano?

6 Listen, please. You (may not/might not)........................... speak during this exam.

7 They (can't/may not)........................... still be out!

8 You (couldn't/might not)........................... smoke on the bus.

9 With luck, tomorrow (can/could)...........................be a sunny day.

10 You (can/might)........................... be right but I'm going back to check anyway.

11 The exam (can/might)........................... be easy. You never know.

12 I (can/might)........................... go to the party but I'm not sure yet.

13 Students (may/might)........................... study in the library from five to nine in the evening.

14 (May/Could)........................... you lend me 40 Euros til Monday?
www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob W ilson Robert Clifford McNair W ilson 2007
An s wer s

1 They might be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2 You may leave now if you wish.
3 Could you open the window a bit, please?
4 He could be French, judging by his accent.
5 Can you play the piano?
6 Listen, please. You may not speak during this exam.
7 They can't still be out!
8 You couldn't smoke on the bus.
9 With luck, tomorrow could be a sunny day.
10 You might be right but I'm going back to check anyway.
11 The exam might be easy. You never know.
12 I might go to the party but I'm not sure yet.
13 Students may study in the library from five to nine in the evening.
14 Could you lend me 40 Euros til Monday?
www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2013



Present Modal Verbs of Deduction and Probability Exercise

Check through the different uses.

TYPE USE MODAL VERBS EXAMPLE
1 to express possibilities for the future COULD, MAY, MIGHT It may rain tomorrow.
2 to express certainty CAN'T, COULDN'T, MUST She can't be Irish.
3 for possible explanations COULD, MAY, MIGHT She could be Scottish.




A Look at the following phrases and write in which type you think they are. Then fill the gaps.



1
TYPE


They (may/must).......................... be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2

He (can/could).......................... be French, judging by his accent.
3

They (can't/may).......................... still be out!
4

With luck, tomorrow (can't/could).......................... be a sunny day.
5

You (can/might).......................... be right but I'm going to check anyway.
6

The exam (can't/might).......................... be easy. You never know.
7

It (may/can't).......................... be true about a sauropod dinosaur living in Lake Tel in the

8


Congo. It's impossible.
Dave reckons she's from The States but I think she (can't/might).......................... be from

9


Scandinavia.
I (can't/might).......................... go to the party but I'm not sure yet.
10

This (must/could).......................... be the right answer but we'll have to check with your

11


teacher to make sure.
She (can't/could).......................... steal things from shops. She's rich and famous.
12

I really think Real Madrid (can't/could).......................... lose the final of the King's Cup.
13

She's been revising 10 hours a day for 3 weeks. She (could/must).......................... be

14


exhausted.
Nobody's answering. They (can't/must).......................... be out.
15

He (can't/may).......................... be from the USA. He doesn't speak English.




B Now write some examples of your own.

1 ..........................................................................................................................................
2 ..........................................................................................................................................
3 ..........................................................................................................................................
4 ..........................................................................................................................................
www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2013




Answers

1 TYPE 1 They may be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2 TYPE 3 He could be French, judging by his accent.
3 TYPE 2 They can't still be out!
4 TYPE 1 With luck, tomorrow could be a sunny day.
5 TYPE 3 You might be right but I'm going to check anyway.
6 TYPE 1 The exam might be easy. You never know.
7 TYPE 2 It can't be true about a dinosaur living in Lake Tel in the Congo. It's impossible.
8 TYPE 3 Dave reckons she's from The States but I think she might be from Scandinavia.
9 TYPE 1 I might go to the party but I'm not sure yet.
10 TYPE 3 This could be the right answer but we'll have to check with your teacher to make
sure.
11 TYPE 2 She can't steal things from shops. She's rich and famous.
12 TYPE 1 I really think Real Madrid could lose the final of the King's Cup.
13 TYPE 2 She's been revising 10 hours a day for 3 weeks. She must be exhausted.
14 TYPE 2 Nobody's answering. They must be out.
15 TYPE 2 He can't be from the USA. He doesn't speak English.