30 Questions of Modal Auxiliaries

1. A : Sorry, you are too late. The bank is already closed

B : Well, I ... earlier.
A. should have come
B. might have come
C. would have come
D. will have come
E. may have come
2. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He be exhausted after such a
long flight. He prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

must, should
could, have to
should, might
must, might
have to, should

3. Perhaps they said that. I can't remember now.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

They might have said it.

They should have it.
They must have said it.
They could have said it.
They shall say it.

4. The doctor told me that I ______________ smoking.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Will like
Should stop
Must try
Will be
Shall try

5. My girlfriend ______________ to the party this weekend because she is scheduled to

work.
A. Cant go
B. Shouldnt drive

C. Will go
D. Was
E. Couldnt go
6. We ought to win the race.
What is the meaning of the modal sentence above?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

We are able to win the race.

We are supposed to win the race.
We are allowed to win the race.
We are agreed to win the race.
We are prepared to win the race.

7. This computer ______________ better if it has more memory.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
8.

Cant move
Should go
Will work
Would work
Shall work

If I don't stop at a gas station soon, I ____________ out of gas.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Might run
Can be
Will do
Would run
Ought to

9. The young woman called her boss to tell him that she _____________ late to work this
morning.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Can be
Must be
Will be
Shall be
Could be

10. I didnt feel very well yesterday. I ________ eat anything.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Cant
Couldnt
Must not
Might
May be

11. You _______ look at me when I am talking to you.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Could
Should
Would
May
Can

12. Please, do it for me!

The correct modal form of the statement above is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

You must do it for me!

Can you do it for me?
You might do it for me.
I may ask you to do it for me.
Should you do it for me?

13. This car ________ be expensive. It's five years old.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Can
Cant
May
Shall
Might

14. I - ask - may her - ?

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

May I ask her?

May ask her I?
I ask may her?
I may ask her?
Her ask may I?

15. round - she - the corner - be must

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Round the corner she must be

She must be round the corner
Must she be round the corner
She must be the corner round
The round corner she must be

16. Don't park your car on bends. It is illegal. You _______ park your car on bends.
A. Couldnt
B. Would

C. Should
D. Cant
E. Must not
17. Perhaps she will agree with it. Who knows? She ______ agree with it.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

She would agree with it.

She wouldve been agreed to it.
She should agree with it.
She could agree with it.
She mightve been agreed with it.

18. Hiking the trail to the peak _______ be dangerous if you are not well prepared for
dramatic weather changes. You________ research the route a little more before you
attempt the ascent.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Could, would
Might, may
Could, should
Should, ought to
Will, can

19. Dave : __________________.

Nathan: No, I can't.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Could you hold your breath for more than 1 minute?

Do you think you could hold your breath for more than 1 minute?
I can hold my breath for more than 1 minute.
Can you hold your breath for more than 1 minute?
You should be able to hold your breath for more than 1 minute.

20. I couldnt believe she said that to Megan! She _____ insult her cooking in front of
everyone at the party last night.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Must not
Couldnt
Shouldnt
Didnt have to
Wont

21. Look at that balloon. It's over there.

A.
B.
C.
D.

Can you see the balloon?

Will you be able to see the balloon?
Would you see the balloon?
May I see the balloon?

E. Do you think I could see the balloon?

22. Leo : Where is the spatula? It _____ be in this drawer but it's not here.
Nancy : I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It _____
be in there.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Should, could
Would, may
May, might
Should, might
Can, could.

23. Should I go to the cinema with them?

The correct substitute for the modal form above is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
24. A
B

Am I allowed to go to the cinema with them?

Do you think Im able to go to the cinema with them?
Am I supposed to go to the cinema with them?
Am I able to go to the cinema with them?
Am I supposed to prefer going to the cinema with them?
: When is Tom coming?
: He's on his way. He ________ be here any minute.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Should
Must
May
Might
Could

25. Jeanette has made other plans, so she _____ come with us to the museum today.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

May not
Will
Might not
Ought to
Should not

26. The book is optional. My professor said we _____ read it if we needed extra credit.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Should
Ought to
Could
Would
Must

27. Ned
: Can I borrow your lighter for a minute?
Stephen
: Sure, no problem. _____________. I've given up smoking.
A. You can keep it if you want
B. You could keep it if you want
C. You should take it if you want
D. You may take it if you want
E. You ought to keep it if.
28. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still warm!
Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer _____ be someone in this room.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Should
Ought to
Might
Must
Would

29. When you have a small child in the house, you _____ leave small objects lying around.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Must not
Should
Shouldnt
Couldnt
Shall not

30. I am not good at football. I __________ play football.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Cant
Can
Couldnt
Might not
May not be able to

Answers
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30.

A
D
A
B
A
B
D
A
A
B
B
B
B.
A.
B
E
E
C
D
D
A
D
C
A
C
C
A
D
C
A