MODAL VERBS

1. It was a mistake for you to buy that car.

You shouldn’t ______________________________________________________.
2. I’m sure it wasn’t Mr. Phong you saw because he’s in Hanoi.
It can’t ____________________________________________________________.
3. You were supposed to give the letter to Peter.
You should ________________________________________________________.
4. It was careless of you to leave your motorbike unlocked yesterday.
You shouldn’t ______________________________________________________.
5. It’s possible that they did not read my report.
They might ________________________________________________________.
6. It’s impossible that Simon missed the ferry.
Simon can’t _______________________________________________________.
7. Perhaps Michelle didn’t apply for the job.
Michelle __________________________________________________________.
8. I’m sure Helen did her best in the last exam.
Helen ____________________________________________________________.
9. I’m sure it wasn’t Mrs. Elton you saw because she’s in Bristol.
You can’t __________________________________________________________.
10. I am sure that they are hungry now.
They must __________________________________________________________.
11. I am sure that Tom didn’t steal the money.
Tom can’t __________________________________________________________.
12. Certainly Kate wrote the article.
Kate must __________________________________________________________.
13. It was careless of you too leave the window open last night.
You shouldn’t __________________________________________________________.
14. It was a mistake of mine to park my car outside the police station.
I shouldn’t __________________________________________________________.
15. I gave Ted the message, but he already knew about it.
I needn’t __________________________________________________________.
16. Tom wished he had studied harder for his graduation exams.
Tom should __________________________________________________________.
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17. The father gave the daughter too much money, but she did not spend much.
The father needn’t __________________________________________________________.
18. It was wrong of him to tell a lie.
He shouldn’t __________________________________________________________.
19. I’m sure Tina was told the news a long time ago.
Tina must __________________________________________________________.
20. In the event, the extra insurance we took out wasn’t necessary.
In the event, we needn’t __________________________________________________________.

21. My director is angry with me . I didn't do all the work I ____________last week.
A. should have done B. may have done C. need to have done D. must have done
22. You look exhausted. You __________ hard the garden all day.
A. can’t have worked B. must have worked C. should have worked D. couldn’t have worked
23. Tom looks so frightened and upset. He _______ something terrible.
A. must experience B. can have experienced C. should have experienced D. must have experienced
24. Have you heard about all the complaints? It _________ have been a pleasant holiday for them.
A. mayn’t B. shouldn’t C. mustn’t D. can’t
25. Tom painted his room black. It looks dark and dread. He _________ another color.
A. must choose B. should choose C. should have chosen D. must have chosen
26. It is a top secret. You _______ tell anyone about it.
A. won't B. needn't C. mustn't D. mightn't
27. Look! The yard is wet. It______ last night.
A. must have rained B. couldn't have rained C. must rain D. should have rained
28. He was very lucky when he fell off the ladder. He _____ himself.
A. could have hurt B. must have hurt C. should have hurt D. will have hurt
29. John ____ this task yesterday morning, but I did it for him. He owes me a thank-you.
A. must have completed B. should have completed C. could have completed D. may have completed
30. Jane wasn’t in when I arrived. I suppose she ________ I was coming.
A. may forget B. must have forgotten C. must forget D. can’t have forgotten
31. You have been reading for four hours. This book ___ be very interesting.
A. can B. might C. must D. should
32. “Did Peter go downtown by car or by train?” “He ___by train because his car was in the mechanics.”
A. must go B. has to go C. had gone D. must have gone
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33. “Why are you so mad?” “You ___ me you weren t coming to dinner. I waited for you for two hours.”
A. should tell B. should have told C. should told D. should had told
34. He spent all that money last week. He ___ so much.
A. didn’t need to spend B. shouldn’t have spent C. needn’t have spent D. didn’t have to spend
35. The ground is wet. It ___last night.
A. must rain B. must have rain C. must have rained D. had to rain
36. That cannot be a true story. He ______ it up.
A. must have made B. should have made C. would have made D. can have made
Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences.
1. Tony _________ a university lecturer; he's too young.
A. must be B. mustn't be C. can't be D. shouldn't be
2. That _________ be my mobile- mine is silver and that one is black.
A. can't B. shouldn't C. wouldn't D. mustn't
3. I didn't hear you come in last night You _________ very quiet.
A. must have been B. must be C. should have been D. could have
4. How very lucky you were! You _________ in the crowd.
A. could get lost B. could have got lost C. didn't lose D. could have lost
5. The boys we met on the train _________ soldiers on leave. They were young with very short haircuts.

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A. could be B. may be C. had had to be D. may have been
6. Look at these photos. They _________ in Brazil or Columbia. Certainly not in Cuba.
A. could be taken B. might possibly have taken C. may have been taken D. might possibly be taken
7. Tom had a lucky escape. He _________ killed.
A. could have been B. must have been C. should have been D. had been
8. George won 5 medals at the competitions. His parents _________ very proud of him.
A. can't be B. can't have C. must have been D. couldn't have been
9. You _________ have seen Jeff in the street because he is in Paris.
A. won't B. couldn't C. shouldn't D. mustn't
10. According to the fire chief; it still isn't clear where the fire______but he believes that it _________ in the storeroom.
A. starts - has started B. was starting - ought to start
C. started- might have started D. has started- would be starting
11. I can't find my wallet _________ it at home.
A. I must leave B. Might I have left C. Maybe I leave D. I might have left
12. Bob was absent; He _________ sick again.
A. must be B. must be being C. mustn't have been D. must have been
13. She must ________________ in the garage when we came around, which would explain why she didn't hear the belL
A. work B. be working C. have been worked D. have been working
14. They _________ have seen the play last night as they went to a football match instead.
A. could B. must C. might D. can't
15. Jane wasn't in when I arrived. I supposed she _________ I was coming.
A. must have forgotten B. must forget C. may forget D. can't have forgotten
16. Tom: "I saw you studying at the library last night" Mary: "You _________ seen me; I wasn't there."
A. wouldn't have B. shouldn't have C. couldn't have D. mightn't have
17. "Why is the ground so wet?" "It _________ last night"
A. would rain B. would have rained C. should have rained D. must have rained
18. My wallet _________ at the station while I _________ for the train
A. must have been stolen/ was waiting B. should have stolen/ had been waiting
C. will be stolen/ am waiting D. had to steal / would be waiting
19. Jack _________ yet, otherwise he would have telephoned me
A. mustn't have arrived B shouldn't have arrived C. can't have arrived D. needn't have arrived
20. That style of dress _________ have been designed by Titian, because it wasn't worn till after his death.
A. wouldn't B. can't C. shan't D. oughtn't
21. I can't find my purse anywhere; I must _________ it at the cinema.
A. leave B. have left C. be leaving D. have been leaving
22. "Why wasn't your boyfriend at the party last night?" - "He _________ the lecture at Shaw Hall I know he very much
wanted to hear the speaker."
A. should have attended B. can have attended C. was to attend D. may have attended
23. They laughed a lot last night. The film _________ have been very funny.
A. can B. would C. ought D. must
24. Her car's outside so I suppose she _________ have arrived.
A. must B. can C. should D. ought
25. That cannot be a true story. He _________ it up.
A. can have made B. must have made C. would have made D. should have made
26. From that distance he _________ have made out who was involved in the incident.
A. mustn't B. shouldn't C. couldn't n. oughtn't to
27. Andy can't be having a bath.

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A. Andy is not able to have a bath B. Andy is not allowed to have a bath.
C. Andy will not be having a bath. D. It is impossible that Andy is having a bath.
28. I am sure that they are hungry now.
A. It's possible that they are hungry now. B. They must be hungry now.
C. They must have been hungry now. D. They are told to be hungry now.
29. It's impossible that John is at school right now.
A. John can't be at school right now. B. Joln mustn't be at school right now.
C. John mustn't have been at school right now D. John can't have been at school right now
30. Nam was not at home either. Perhaps he went out with his girlfriend.
A. Nam must go out with his girlfriend. B. Nam probably goes out with his girlfriend.
C. Nam might have gone out with his girlfriend. D. It is sure that Nam went out with his girlfriend.
31. I am certain he finished all his exercises and went shopping.
A. He finishes all his exercises and goes shopping. B. He must have finished all his exercises and gone shopping.
C. He might have finished all his exercises and gone shopping. D. He can finish all his exercises and go shopping.
32. I am sure that Tina didn't steal the money.
A. Tina couldn't steal the money. B. Tina couldn't have stolen the money.
C. Tina mustn't have stolen the money. D. Tina shouldn't have stolen the money.
33. The article must have been written by Kate.
A. Kate must write the article. B. It was Kate who writes the article.
C. The article must be written by Kate. D. Certainly Kate wrote the article.
34. I am sure Helen is playing the guitar now.
A. It is certainly for Helen to play the guitar now. B. Helen's playing the guitar is now certain.
C. Helen must have played the guitar. D. Helen must be playing the guitar.
35. It is essential that you attend the class regularly.
A. You must have attended the class regularly. B. You must attend the class regularly.
C. You will ought to attend the class regularly. D. You might attend the class regularly.
36. He must have forgotten to come.
A. He is ordered to come later than others. B. It's almost certain that he forgot to come.
C. It is impossible that he is late. D. He always forgets to come in time.
37. It couldn't have been Joe you saw in town.
A. It was impossible that you saw Joe in town. B. Joe mustn't have been in town.
C. You shouldn't have seen Joe in town. D. Joe was not in town; you must have seen someone else.
38. It is probable that Mary has got lost.
A. There's possibility that Mary will get lost B. Mary may have got lost
C. Mary is likely to get lost D. Mary must get lost
39. I'm sure it isn't the engine; it's just been checked.
A. It mustn't be the engine; it's just been checked. B. It mightn't be the engine; it's just been checked.
C. Perhaps it's not the engine; it's just been checked. D. It can't be the engine; it's just been checked.
40. I'm sure it wasn't Mr. Phong you saw because he's in Hanoi.
A. It couldn't be Mr. Phong you saw because he's in Hanoi.
B. You mustn't have seen Mr. Phong because he's in Hanoi.
C. It can't have been Mr. Phong you saw because he's in Hanoi.
D. Mr Phong mightn't see you because he's in Hanoi.