DIAGNOSTIC TEST – MODAL VERBS

1. If you'll/Will you/You'll wait here for a moment, one of our sales assistants will be with you shortly.
2. I liked my last boss, but he wouldn't never/won't ever/would never admit that he'd made a mistake.
3. People are to/are supposed to wash their hands when they enter and leave the hospital, but not
everybody does.
4. I mightn't/mustn't/couldn't do a bungee jump; I'd be far too frightened! I've always been really scared
of heights.
5. The shop manager was very kind. When I told him that my purse had been stolen, he would/offered
to call the police for me.
6. Steve has been so supportive while I've been ill. He could have/was able to have gone out with his
friends yesterday, but instead he decided to stay here with me.
7. He may not have/should not have/can't have arrived yet. It depends on whether his flight was on time.
8. Felipe mightn't/can't/mustn't still be in the library; it closes at six o'clock today.
9. This film can only be seen/is only able to be seen by people aged eighteen and over.
10. Unless you are a member, you can't/might not/couldn't use the gym.
11. You don't need to/mustn't do the washing up; we've got a dishwasher.
12. Don't waste time buying your ticket at the station; you'll can/you'll be able to/you might buy one on
the train.
13. Would you/Shall you/Won't you have some more potatoes? There are plenty left.
14. I thought he might be annoyed with me, but in fact he can't/couldn't have been nicer when I spoke to him.
15. 'I think he has behaved very badly towards us.' 'Oh, I couldn't say/I wouldn't say/I'd rather not say
that. I think he wanted to help us, but there wasn't much he could do.'
16. My sister may have become/could become/might have become a doctor, but she decided to be a
scientist instead.
17. You mustn't have/can't have finished that book yet – you only started reading it two days ago!
18. You don't must/don't have to wear protective clothing in the factory, but it's a good idea.
19. I work in a department store and tomorrow is the first day of the sales. We definitely won't be
having /aren't having/might be having a quiet day tomorrow!
20. I didn't need to/needn't have taken my laptop to Jenny and Paul's house; they let me use their
computer while I was staying there.
21. You have not to/had better not/mustn't get so upset. It wasn't your fault!
22. The exam results were sent out on Monday so she will have received/will be receiving/will receive
them by now.
23. She has been unable to/has been not able to go running since she hurt her knee.
24. My older brother was nice to me when I was younger, but he'd always tell/he's always told/always
he'd tell me what to do.
25. 'I've just phoned the Italian restaurant and they're full tonight.' 'We could always/would always/
always could go to the Chinese restaurant instead.'
26. It looks as if there is a lot of traffic this morning, so we might well/might as well/could as well walk
to the shops rather than drive. It'll be just as quick.
27. You may have/must have/might have warned me that you had just painted the walls! Now I've got
paint on my jacket.
28. Check this letter for me, may you/won't you/will you? I wrote it quickly so I think there might be
some mistakes in it.
29. The builders say that they could have/might have/will have finished the repairs by next week. It
depends on whether they find any more problems.
30. I'd rather/I prefer/I'd prefer to go to the park than to the pool today. It's such a nice day that it would
be a shame to be indoors.
31. Why are you still here? You should have left/must have left/ought have left for work ten minutes ago.
32. The woman in the café was so unhelpful. She wouldn't/wasn't willing let me use the phone, even
though it was an emergency.
33. The potatoes were in the oven twenty minutes less than they should have been/should have done/
must have been so they weren't cooked properly.
34. I've just spilled coffee on my trousers so now they need to be cleaned/need to clean.
35. You can't/couldn't/may not use the computer now because your brother's using it.
36. I broke my glasses yesterday but fortunately I could/was able to find an optician's to get them repaired.
37. Every morning in my office is the same. Sheila will tell/is telling us all what she did the previous
night, although no one is interested.
38. I knew that I had to apply for the job straight away. Otherwise, I would regret/I will regret it for the
rest of my life.
39. Whose shoes are these? They can hardly/can't hardly/hardly can be Geoff's: his feet are far too big!
40. My old maths teacher, Mrs Dennison, could be/may be/could have been very impatient with the class
if we didn't answer her questions quickly enough.
41. 'May I leave work early today?' 'I'm afraid not/I'm sorry not/No, I'm afraid. There's going to be an
office meeting at four o'clock.'
42. You'd better not/You've better not/You'd better don't disturb him now. He's busy writing his report.
43. You aren't allowed/mustn't/are prohibited to take photographs in the art gallery.
44. You ought to have/must have/ought have told me that you were going to be late. If I'd known, I
could have served lunch later.
45. I'm sorry to have to/must report that the problem has still not been fixed.
46. Can I/Will I be able to pass my driving test after three or four more lessons?
47. The train's on schedule so I ought/must/should to be home by 7.30 p.m.
48. You ought to really/must really/really must see the latest film with Matt Damon. It's fantastic!
49. I'm afraid you can't/shall not/ought not to use a dictionary in the exam next week: the rules say that
using one is prohibited.
50. I can't understand why Ian wasn't there to meet me at the station. He must have waited/should have
been waiting/might have been waiting for me in front of the ticket office as we arranged yesterday.
51. This government will/should/has to act to create more jobs – that is our promise to the country.
52. I wouldn't/shalln't/won't do other people's photocopying – it isn't my job.
53. There may be/can be a problem with my computer. I'll restart it and see if it works.
54. I love my husband but he has annoying habits. For example, he will/he does leave the top off the
toothpaste when he's finished using it.
55. You mustn't have/shouldn't have/couldn't have said that to your sister; now she's very upset.
56. Everybody at work is talking about the World Cup final – it was terrific! I know you don't like
football much, but surely you must have watched/had watched/had to have watched it!
57. You shouldn't eat any more cake. You ought to be/You should be/You'll be sick!

1A 2C 3B 4C 5B 6A 7A 8B 9A 10A 11A 12B 13C 14B 15B 16C 17B 18B 19A
20B 21C 22A 23A 24A 25A 26B 27C 28C 29B 30C 31A 32A 33A 34A 35A 36B
37A 38A 39A 40A 41A 42A 43B 44A 45A 46B 47A 48C 49A 50B 51A 52C 53A
54A 55B 56A 57C