Had 

Better and Would Rather Exercise 

You’d better take an umbrella  ­  advice 
I’d rather stay at home  ­  preference 

Fill the gaps with had/'d better or would/'d rather. 

1  It's getting dark. We.................................... go back now. 

2  A: Can I borrow your car? 
B: You.................................... not! 

3  A: Can I borrow your camera? 
B: I.................................... you didn't. 

4  You know, I.................................... you didn't smoke in front of the kids. 

5  You.................................... take insect repellant if you're camping near a lake. 

6  I.................................... go to Altea than bloody Benidorm any day. 

7  We.................................... you didn't hang out with Craig. He's bad news. 

8  They.................................... have everything ready for when our clients arrive or I'll 
skin them alive. 

9  I.................................... not drink on Friday or I won't be in a fit state for the journey. 

10  You.................................... take a bit of time to think this one over carefully. 

11  You.................................... not breathe a word about this to David. 

12  A: Mike, I.................................... you didn't wear jeans in the office. 
B: Craig, I'd rather you weren't my boss!

www.autoenglish.org  Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007 
 Can, Could and To Be Able To Exercise 

INFINITIVE  PRESENT  PAST  PAST PARTICIPLE 

to be able to  can  — could ­ had the ability to  been able to 
Ê  She could play the violin when she was three 
— was able to ­ managed to 
Ê  We were able to escape the fire 

Circle the correct answer. Fill the gaps when you´ve checked your answers. 

1  I ......................... remember his name.  6  You'll be able to solve this, .........................? 

A  am not able to  A  can you 

B  can't  B  won't you 

C  red herring  C  will you 

2  Diana ......................... the piano.  7  Sorry, Teacher. I ......................... do it yet. 

A  can play  A  wasn't able to 

B  can to play  B  couldn't 

C  eats  C  haven't been able to 

3  She ......................... come on holiday next month if  8  He ......................... pass the exam if he studied 
her parents give her permission.  harder. 

A  can't  A  will be able to 

B  could  B  can 

C  will be able to  C  would be able to 

4  They ......................... go. The weather was too bad.  9  The fishing boat sank but luckily all the crew 
......................... save themselves. 
A  couldn't 
A  were able to 
B  can't 
B  could 
C  wasn't able to 
C  wasn't able to 

5  A: Can you lend me some money?  10  We ......................... go to the party. We're going to a 

B: Sorry. I ......................... . I haven't got any either.  wedding that day. 

A  couldn't 
A  can't 
B  won't be able to 
B  am not able to 
C  will can't
C  couldn't 

www.autoenglish.org  Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 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 Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007 
 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.

TYPE
1  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 Telé in the
Congo. It's impossible.
8  Dave reckons she's from The States but I think she (can't/might).......................... be from
Scandinavia.
9  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
teacher to make sure.
11  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
exhausted.
14  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

 Modal Verbs of Obligation Exercise

A Check through the different uses.

TYPE USE MODAL VERB EXAMPLES NOTES

1 obligation
2 no obligation
3 prohibition
4 recommendation should
ought to
have to María has to go to Rome
must You must see a doctor Must expresses more
urgency than have to
She had to see a doctor Must is only used in the
present simple.
don't have to He doesn't have to go “It´s your choice”
mustn't You mustn't insult people
You shouldn't eat so quickly
You ought to phone her Ought to is not used in
the negative

B Decide which type of modal verb goes with each sentence and then fill the gaps with have to, must, ought or
should. When you see NEGATIVE, the modal verb must be in a negative form.
TYPE

1  If you want to lose weight, you ............................. eat pasta, potatoes, white bread or white rice. NEGATIVE

2  It's alright. You ............................. come to Muriel's wedding if you don't want to. NEGATIVE

3  Stupid boy! You ............................. play with matches! NEGATIVE

4  You haven't heard from Eleonora for ages. Maybe you ............................. give her a ring.

5  You ............................. remember your passport. Otherwise they won't let you on the plane.

6  The weather forecast says this weekend will be fine. We ............................. go on a picnic.

7  You ............................. go there on your own. It's extremely dangerous. NEGATIVE

8  You ............................. come if you don't feel like it. NEGATIVE

9  You ............................. take life so seriously. Relax a bit. NEGATIVE

10  Orange juice in cartons has no goodness in it at all. You ............................. make it yourself.

11  You ............................. drink and drive. NEGATIVE

12  These instructions are difficult to follow. They ............................. to explain things better.

C Now make up some examples of your own.

1 .....................................................................................................................
2 .....................................................................................................................
3 .....................................................................................................................
4 .....................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2008

 Don't Have to and Mustn't Exercise 

— don’t have to  ­ the choice is yours You don’t have to come if you don’t want to

— mustn’t  ­ total prohibition You mustn´t smoke in a petrol station

A Fill the gaps with either don't have to or mustn't in the correct form. 

1  Sally! You ............................ say rude words like that! 
2  Tommy! You ............................ pick your nose in class. It's really disgusting. 
3  You ............................ finish the exercise now. You can finish it at home. 
4  James ............................ go to church if he doesn't want to. 
5  You ............................ drive so aggressively. You'll end up killing someone. 
6  Helen ............................ make racist comments. It makes her seem really ignorant. 
7  David ............................ answer your emails. There's no law about it. 
8  It's OK. You ............................ pay now. You can pay me at the end of the month. 
9  You ............................ stay out so late without ringing me. I was worried sick. 
10  You ............................ let the cats sleep on my clean shirts. Look. They're covered in hairs. 
11  You ............................ have lunch with my parents. I'm not forcing you. 
12  I ............................ forget to phone Granny. It's her birthday tomorrow. 
13  You ............................ drink alcohol if you are underage. 
14  We ............................ play football. We can play basketball instead. 
15  You ............................ smoke. It kills you. 
16  You ............................ be cruel to your brother. It’s very unkind. 

B Now make up some examples of your own. 

1  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 
2  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 
3  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 
4  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

www.autoenglish.org  Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2008 
 Need, Needn't and Should Exercise

I need to buy a new one - a necessity

You needn’t come - not
necessary
You should come - it’s advisable

A Fill the gaps with need, needn't or should.

1 Remember you ............................ to take a torch and a tin-opener when you go camping.

2 You ............................ go to the shop. I've already bought the milk.

3 You ............................ say sorry to your teacher for being late. It's only polite.

4 You ............................ bother washing up. I'll do it in the morning.

5 She ............................ go to church if she doesn't want to. It's not obligatory.

6 If you want to pass all your exams, you ............................ to make a good study plan.

7 If there's anything you ............................, let me know.

8 You ............................ go and see Granny. You know how happy it makes her.

9 Cheese and biscuits ............................ to be kept in tupperware containers; otherwise the

cheese goes hard and the biscuits go soft.

10 You ............................ pay now. You can pay me next week.

11 Clare and Simon ............................ bring their car. There's plenty of room for them in ours.

12 Families ............................ spend more time talking, instead of just watching the telly.

13 I really ............................ to study harder at my course this year.

B Now write some examples of your own.

1 ..........................................................................................................................................

2 ..........................................................................................................................................

3 ..........................................................................................................................................

4 ..........................................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2009

 Be Supposed to and Had Better Exercise 

You are not supposed to talk in the library  ­  rules 
You’d better take an umbrella  ­  advice 

Fill the gaps with be supposed to (in the right form) and had/'d better. 

1  You .................................. leave now if you don’t want to miss your flight. 
2  I’ve got an assignment to hand in on Monday so I.................................. stay in this 
weekend. 
3  Why didn’t you come to the meeting? You .................................. be there. 
4  You .................................. turn your mob off when you are in the cinema. 
5  They .................................. be getting married in May but sadly they’ve split up. 
6  You..................................  give your mum a ring or she’ll worry. 
7  I know I .................................. phone you last night but I forgot. Sorry. 
8  ........................... you ........................... see a dentist about that tooth? 
9  A:  ........................... you ........................... be on a course this week? 
B:  I was, but it was cancelled at the last minute. 
10  If he expects me to lend him some more money, he.................................. pay me back what 
he already owes me. 
11  The kitchen is filthy. You .................................. have cleaned it yesterday. 

12  You .................................. apologize to her if you still want to be friends.

www.autoenglish.org  Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007 
 Used To or Be / Get Used To Exercise 

— USED TO + INFINITIVE Æ  I used to play squash ­ I don’t play anymore 
— BE USED TO + OBJECT OR VERB+ING  I’m used to playing rugby in the cold ­ I am accustomed to it 
— GET USED TO + OBJECT OR VERB+ING  I got used to playing rugby in the heat ­ I adapted to the heat 

Circle the correct answer. Fill the gaps when you´ve checked your answers. 

1  Jim doesn't have a girlfriend now but he  6  If you go to live in the United Kingdom, 
................................... .  you................................... on the left. 

A  didn't use to  A  'll have to get used to drive 

B  used to  B  'll have to get used to driving 

C  was using to  C  'd have had to get used to 

2  People ................................... the Internet yet but in a  7  At first it was difficult for her to speak in French all the 
few years time everybody will be surfing around like  time but she ................................... to it now. 
crazy. 
A  is used 
A  aren't used to using 
B  uses 
B  doesn’t use 
C  gets used 
C  isn't used to using 

3  I ................................... to play football when I was  8  After the holidays it takes me a week 
young. I'm too old and fat to play now.  ................................... up early again. 

A  use  A  to get used to getting 
B  got used to  B  to be used to getting 
C  used  C  to get used to get 

4  Pepe Juan was in London for a year. He liked England  9  The queue in the baker's ................................... to be 
but he ................................... the insipid food and the  so bad but now it's terrible. It must be that new 
miserable weather.  chapata bread they bake. It's delicious. 

A  could ever get used to  A  didn't use 
B  could never get used to  B  didn't used 
C  can ever get used to  C  was used 

5  I've been getting up early every day for years but I  10  Do you mind if I ................................... your phone? 

................................... to it. 
A  used 
A  used 
B  am using 
B  am still not used 
C  use
C  am already used 

www.autoenglish.org  Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2008 
 Past Modal Verbs of Deduction Exercise

She must have gone out - There is strong evidence.

I might have made a mistake - There is a possibility that I made a mistake.
He can't have been there. - It's impossible.
You should have apologised - A criticism
You shouldn't have said that. - A criticism

A Fill the gaps with must have, might have or can't have.

1 She ................................studied really hard. She passed all her exams with excellent grades.

2 You ................................ shouted at him. He'll never forgive you.

3 He ................................ arrived by now. It's only a 20 minute journey.

4 The concert was fantastic. You really ................................ come.

5 The boss is in a terrible mood. The meeting ................................ been good.

6 Sarah ................................ been so happy when she found out she was being promoted.

7 I had to wait 45 minutes for a bus yesterday. There ................................ been an accident or maybe a strike.

8 He ................................ bought a new car. He doesn't have any money.

9 Andrew did no revision for the exam but he's passed. I think he ................................ cheated.

10 I left my bicycle in front of the library and it's disappeared. Someone ................................ stolen it.

11 Clara was very upset with you yesterday. You ................................ apologised for saying she was lazy.

12 John has forgotton about the meeting. We ................................ reminded him about it yesterday.

13 I'm sorry but Samantha isn't here. She ................................ already left the office.

14 You ................................ tried to fix the roof yourself. You might have fallen off and been badly injured.

15 He ............................ known it was your birthday. Otherwise, I'm sure he would have wished you a happy
day.

B Now write some examples of your own.

1 ..........................................................................................................................................

2 ..........................................................................................................................................

3 ..........................................................................................................................................

4 ..........................................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2013

 Modal Verbs of Advice Exercise

 could - options I could go to her party if I wanted to

 should - advice I should go to her party. If not, she’ll be upset

 would - imagining I would go to her party if she invited me

1 Fill the gaps with could, shoud or would.

1 It ............................... never occur to my boss to give me a raise.

2 You ............................... phone your Mum at least twice a week.

3 If I had the money, I............................... travel the world.

4 I............................... ask her out to dinner if I had the courage.

5 You ............................... get a laptop. They’re so convenient.

6 I’ve got an exam on Monday so I ............................... stay in this weekend.

7 I ............................... either go on holiday to Budapest or buy a laptop.

8 You ............................... always hire a car if public transport is bad there.

9 You ............................... really buy a travel guide before you go to Central America.

10 I ............................... change job immediately if I were offered more money.

11 I think my brother ............................... live in Spain if he could get a decent job there.

12 You ............................... always change your flight if you want to stay in London more time.

13 In your situation, I ............................... consider going abroad.

14 We need to do some exercise. Swimming is a possibility or we ............................... go jogging in the mornings.

15 If you forget someone's birthday, you ............................... call them and say sorry.

2 Now write some examples of your own.

1 ............................................................................................................................

2 ............................................................................................................................

3 ............................................................................................................................

4 ............................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2013

 Make, Let & To Be Allowed to Exercise 

— I'm not allowed to play with Dad's train set ­  I don't have permission to use it 

— Dad lets me use his computer on Saturdays ­  I have permission to use it 

— Mum makes me clean my room on Saturdays ­  She forces me to do it 

Fill the gaps with make, let or to be allowed to in the correct form. 

1  I know! We could go to the seaside tomorrow. Daddy ..................................... me use his car on Sundays. 

2  I..................................... use Daddy's car on Sundays so why don't we go to the seaside tomorrow? 
3  I don't ..................................... the cats sleep on the bed. 
4  My cats ..................................... sleep on the bed. (NEGATIVE) 

5  You can't ..................................... me go to your cousin's wedding. 
6  A: Are you coming on the camping trip with us? 
B: No, I...................................... . (NEGATIVE) 

7  Dad ..................................... me use his car all weekend. It was great. 
8  Put that cigarette out, please. You..................................... smoke in here. (NEGATIVE) 
9  My evil parents ..................................... me study for my exams all last weekend! 
10  My mean brother refuses to ..................................... me use his computer. 
11  Mum ..................................... me try on a brown dress in the shop. It was so embarrassing. 
12  Sssh! You..................................... talk in the library. (NEGATIVE) 
13  A: Why the heck did you do it? 
B: They ..................................... me. 

14  Come on! ..................................... me have a go. 
15  A: I..................................... go to the disco anymore. (NEGATIVE) 
B: Really?! Your parents are mean, horrible and cruel! 

16  Mum ..................................... me do all the washing up last Sunday. 
17  Excuse me, young lady. I don't think you..................................... smoke in here. 
18  I was so relieved. I only got a four in my essay but the teacher didn't ..................................... me do it again.

www.autoenglish.org  Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2008