I.E.S.

RICARDO MELLA Departamento de

Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

A Match the modals and modal perfect with their uses in II.
I II
1. Shall I help you with that heavy bag? ____ a. a logical conclusion about a past event
2. You should have done all the homework. ____ b. formal request
3. She didn’t answer the phone so she ____ c. prohibition
must have left. ____ d. offer
4. I need to clean my room. I promised my ____ e. unfulfilled expectation
mum that I would. ____ f. obligation
5. I think that they might have left. ____ g. advice which was not followed
6. Would you sign your name here, please? ____ h. a guess about something which
happened
7. It’s not fair. I ought to have received a prize too.
8. You mustn’t use this computer.

B Choose the correct answer.

1. She (could walk / could have walked) before she was a year old.
2. The party was supposed to be a secret. You (shouldn’t say / shouldn’t have said) anything.
3. I’m not sure, but I (might leave / might have left) early tonight.
4. I’m not afraid to go alone. You (needn’t have come / needn’t come) with me.
5. It’s late. You (must be / must have been) very tired.
6. You (ought to introduce / ought to have introduced) me to your friends. I didn’t know anyone’s
name.

C Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use a modal
perfect.
1. Nobody told her anything about the argument. She ....................................... (know) about it.
2. We arrived too early. We ....................................... (be) in such a hurry.
3. She ....................................... (leave) the office because her coat and bag aren’t here.
4. I ....................................... (drive) to work, but the weather was so nice that I decided to walk.
5. It’s possible that I ....................................... (forget) to tell Joe about the meeting.
6. You ....................................... (call) her on her birthday. She never forgets to call you.

D Rewrite each sentence using a modal or modal perfect. There may be more than one
answer.
1. It isn’t necessary for them to finish the job tonight.
They ......................................................................................................................
2. It’s possible that I took your jacket by mistake.
I ......................................................................................................................
3. That man knows how to speak four languages.
That man ......................................................................................................................
4. I didn’t wear a sunhat, and now my head hurts.
My head hurts. I ......................................................................................................................
5. It rained last night so the grass is wet.
It ...................................................................................................................... . The grass is wet.
6. The man you saw wasn’t Jack. He’s been abroad since the summer.
You ......................................................................................................................

EFill in the blanks with a modal form from the box !

CAN CAN’T - COULD COULDN’T - DIDN’T NEED TO - MUST – MUSTN’T -
NEEDN‘T

1. You’ve got plenty of time. You __________________ hurry.

2. There’s a knock at the door. I’m expecting Paul . It __________________ be him.
3. I can’t get my phone to work. It __________________ be out of order
 I.E.S. RICARDO MELLA Departamento de
Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

4. __________________ I ask you a question ?

5. That was excellent work. But I __________________ do it without you.
6. She __________________ be 35. She looks older than that.
7. I __________________ go to work on Saturdays. It’s my day off.
8. Tom has given me a letter to post. I __________________ forget to post it.
9. Ann stayed in bed this morning because she __________________ go to work.
10. He __________________ play chess when he was young.
11. You __________________ drive a car when you’re 18.
12. Jack spends the whole day just walking around. He __________________ have a job.
13. When I was in school I __________________ do a hand stand, but now I’m too old. I
__________________ do one any more.
14. My mother keeps telling me that we __________________ wash our hands before we sit down
at the dinner table.
15. You __________________ forget to turn off the lights when you go to bed.
16. When I was a child I __________________ understand adults, now that I’m an adult I
__________________ understand children.
17. Sally looks sad and worried . She __________________ have a problem with something.
18. __________________ I see your passport please.
19. He’ _sees very badly, so he __________________ wear glasses all the time.
20. I __________________ take a taxi because the bus was on time.
21. He owns a very expensive house. He __________________ be a rich person.
22. I __________________ swim well when I was a child. I even won the school championships.
23. You __________________ go to the grocery store. We have some milk in the fridge.
24. I __________________ find my keys. I probably left them at my mother’s place.
25. You __________________ buy the tickets. I got two for free from dad.
26. She __________________ speak so rudely to her parents.
27. The teacher always tells us we __________________ cheat during a test.
28. I __________________ stop laughing. The joke was so funny.
29. I __________________ look at you. You’re so dirty. What were you up to ?
30. __________________ you turn down the volume ? – _It’s too loud.

FRewrite the following sentences using modals: can, can’t, might, mightn’t, must and mustn’t

1- It’s possible she didn’t pass her exam

2- Don’t tell Susan what happened
3- It’s impossible you’re hungry again
4- Of course! I will take after your son while you’re out
5- I think you have left your umbrella in the car
6- This is unbelievable! You got it!
7- I’m sure he has a big garden in his house
8- I promised Sue I’d phone her before she leaves
9- My mum said the dog maybe doesn’t need the pills anymore
10- He really has skills to remember several phone numbers

GComplete each sentence B so that it has a similar meaning to sentence A. Use a modal verb
from the box and the correct form of the verb in brackets ! CAN’T MAY MIGHT NOT MUST

1- A: I’m sure schools 50 years ago weren’t the same as

B : Schools 50 years ago ________________________ very different from nowadays.
 I.E.S. RICARDO MELLA Departamento de
Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

2- A: It’s possible Josef went to school by bus . (TAKE)

B : Josef ___________________________ the bus to school.
3- A: I’m sure their holiday wasn’t very nice because the weather was so bad (HAVE).
B : With such terrible weather , they ___________________________ a very nice
holiday
4- A : I wonder if Jane remembers how to get here (FORGET).
B : Jane ____________________________ how to get here.
5- A : I’m sure Chloe isn’t still looking for her watch(FIND).
B : Chloe ______________________________ her watch by now.
6- A : We are going in the wrong direction (MISS).
B : Yes, we _______________________________ a turning.
7- A : Shakespeare and Voltaire weren’t alive at the same time, so they definitely never met
(KNOW).
B : Shakespeare and Voltaire weren’t alive at the same time , so they
__________________________ each other .
8- A : Alison looks happy about her exam results, so she’s certainly done well (DO)
B : Alison looks happy about her exam results, so she
_____________________________ well.
9- A : I’m not sure its right to blame Ray for that mistake (MAKE).
B : Ray ______________________________ that mistake
10- A : Joe can’t open the door. Maybe he can’t remember where he put the key (LOSE)
B : Joe can’t open the door. He _____________________________________ the key.

HFill in the blanks using MUST, CAN’T, MAY, MIGHT, COULD, SHOULD, SHOULD’T and the
PAST FORMS of them

1. Sally looks worried . She ________________________ a problem with something (HAVE).

2. Bob ________________________ at school because I haven’t seen him all day (BE).
3. I ____________________________________________ you the money. Why didn’t you ask
me (LEND)
4. Mr Travis hasn’t come to work yet. He has never been late for work. He
________________________ the bus (MISS).
5. She knew everything about our plans. She ________________________ to our conversation
(LISTEN)
6. A: Will you come to my birthday party tomorrow afternoon ?
B : I’m sorry but I ____________________________________________ because I have to
look after my sister. (COME)
7. Timmy is a very good boy. He isn’t naughty, so he ________________________ that
window. Somebody else ________________________ it (BREAK 2X)
8. The street is wet this morning . I’m not sure but it
__________________________________________ last night (RAIN).
9. She ________________________ like an angel when she was a child (SING)
10. A : I talked to your science teacher yesterday.
B : You _____________________________________________ to her because she wasn’t at
school yesterday. (TALK)
11. Mrs White bought a new fur coat ! - She ________________________ the lottery (WIN).
12. He came home alone yesterday. You ________________________ him do that ; he
________________________ lost. (LET, GET)
13. He read the message but he ________________________ it (UNDERSTAND)
14. The singer has got a sore throat so she ________________________ at the concert (SING)
15. It _______________________________________Jack I saw in the park yesterday, but I’m
not sure about it (BE).
 I.E.S. RICARDO MELLA Departamento de
Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

16. We can’t wait any longer. Something ________________________ at once (DO).

17. Everyone shouted in fear. They ________________________ very afraid (BE).
18. A : I’m afraid Ted is watching TV again.
B : He ________________________ TV because his room is completely silent and dark. He
________________________ . (WATCH, SLEEP)
19. I can’t find my book . I ______________________________________ on the bus (LEAVE)
20. She ________________________ stupid. She teaches Maths at the university (BE)
21. She ______________________________________ to school, It’s Saturday (GO).
22. You were stupid to go skiing here. You ________________________ a leg (BREAK)
23. He looked so tired when I saw him. He ________________________ so hard (WORK)
24. Tom__________________________________________ _this because it is in French and
Tom doesn’t know French. (WRITE)

IComplete the spaces in the text by using a phrase from the list below!

Easter Island, 3,000 km off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean is very far from land. Today,
it is a small island with few people or trees , but at one time a lot of people lived there. Scientists
believe that the original inhabitants _____________________________________ by accident.
Around 100 people _______________________________ on the western coast of the island.
But then the number of inhabitants increased too quickly. Scientists agree that the inhabitants
__________________ _________________ on the island and finally all died.
The Easter Island statues are famous, but nobody knows why they are there or why there are
so many . The statues ____________________________________ , or Easter Island
_______________________________ of a much bigger island. The statues are very large and
heavy , so they ____________________________ to move. Scientists still do not know how the
inhabitants _____________________________ .

mayhavelanded
mighthave done this
must have used up all thefood
can’thavebeeneasy
may have discovered theisland
shouldhave done this
couldhavebeenpart
mighthavebeengods
mustnothavelanded

ANSWERS
A 1. d 5. h 2. g 6. b 3. a 7. e 4. f 8. c
 I.E.S. RICARDO MELLA Departamento de
Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

B 1. could walk
2. shouldn’t have said
3. might leave
4. needn’t come
5. must be
6. ought to have introduced

C 1. couldn’t have known

2. needn’t have been / shouldn’t have been
3. must have left
4. could have driven
5. might have forgotten / may have forgotten
6. should have called / ought to have called

D 1. They needn’t / don’t have to finish the job tonight.

2. I may / might have taken your jacket by mistake.
3. That man can / is able to speak four languages.
4. My head hurts. I should have / ought to have worn a sunhat.
5. It must have rained last night. The grass is wet.
6. You couldn’t have seen Jack. (He’s been abroad since the summer.)

E KEY
1. You’ve got plenty of time. You NEEDN’T hurry.
2. There’s a knock at the door. I’m expecting Paul . It MUST be him.
3. I can’t get my phone to work. It MUST be out of order
4. CAN I ask you a question ?
5. That was excellent work. But I COULDN’Tdo it without you.
6. She CAN’T be 35. She looks older than that.
7. I NEEDN’T go to work on Saturdays. It’s my day off.
8. Tom has given me a letter to post. I MUSTN’T forget to post it.
9. Ann stayed in bed this morning because she DIDN’T NEED TO go to work.
10. He COULD play chess when he was young.
11. You CAN drive a car when you’re 18.
12. Jack spends the whole day just walking around. He CAN’T have a job.
13. When I was in school I COULD do a hand stand, but now I’m too old. I CAN’T do one any more.
14. My mother keeps telling me that we MUST wash our hands before we sit down at the dinner
table.
15. You MUSTN’Tforget to turn off the lights when you go to bed.
16. When I was a child I COULDN’T understand adults, now that I’m an adult I CAN’T understand
children.
17. Sally looks sad and worried . She MUST have a problem with something.
18. CAN I see your passport please.
19. He’ sees very badly, so he MUST wear glasses all the time.
20. I DIDN’T NEED TO take a taxi because the bus was on time.
21. He owns a very expensive house. He MUST be a rich person.
22. I COULD swim well when I was a child. I even won the school championships.
23. You NEEDN’T go to the grocery store. We have some milk in the fridge.
24. I CAN’Tfind my keys. I probably left them at my mother’s place.
25. You DIDN’T NEED TO buy the tickets. I got two for free from dad.
26. She MUSTN’T speak so rudely to her parents.
27. The teacher always tells us we MUSTN’T cheat during a test.
 I.E.S. RICARDO MELLA Departamento de
Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

28. I COULDN’T stop laughing. The joke was so funny.

29. I CAN’T look at you. You’re so dirty. What were you up to ?
30. CAN/COULD you turn down the volume ? It’s too loud.

F KEY

1- She might not have passed her exam

2- You mustn’t tell Susan what happened
3- You can’t be hungry again
4- I can take after your son while you’re out
5- You might have left your umbrella in the car
6- I can’t believe you got it
7- He must have a big garden in his house
8- I must phone Sue before she leaves.
9- The dog might not need the pills anymore
10- He can remember several phone numbers.

G KEY

1. A : I’m sure schools 50 years ago weren’t the same as they are nowadays (BE)
B : Schools 50 years ago MUST HAVE BEEN very different from nowadays.
2. A : It’s possible Josef went to school by bus . (TAKE)
B : Josef MAY HAVE TAKEN the bus to school.
3. A : I’m sure their holiday wasn’t very nice because the weather was so bad (HAVE).
B : With such terrible weather , they CAN’T HAVE HAD a very nice holiday.
4. A : I wonder if Jane remembers how to get here (FORGET).
B : Jane MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN how to get here.
5. A : I’m sure Chloe isn’t still looking for her watch (FIND).
B : Chloe MUST HAVE FOUND her watch by now.
6. A : We are going in the wrong direction (MISS).
B : Yes, we MAY HAVE MISSED a turning.
7. A : Shakespeare and Voltaire weren’t alive at the same time, so they definitely never met
(KNOW).
B : Shakespeare and Voltaire weren’t alive at the same time , so they CAN’T HAVE
KNOWN each other.
8. A : Alison looks happy about her exam results, so she’s certainly done well (DO)
B : Alison looks happy about her exam results, so she MUST HAVE DONE well.
9. A : I’m not sure its right to blame Ray for thatmistake (MAKE).
B : Ray MIGHT NOT HAVE MADE that mistake.
10. A : Joe can’t open the door . Maybe he can’t remember where he put the key (LOSE)
B : Joe can’t open the door. He MAY HAVE LOST the key.

H KEY

1. Sally looks worried . She MUST HAVE / MUST HAVE HAD a problem with something
(HAVE).
2. Bob CAN’T BE / CAN’T HAVE BEEN at school because I haven’t seen him all day (BE).
3. I COULD HAVE LENT you the money. Why didn’t you ask me (LEND)
 I.E.S. RICARDO MELLA Departamento de
Estrada Vella Madrid 177 – 36214 Vigo. Pontevedra.
Teléfono: 886121100 – Fax: 886121026
Orientación
Web: http://edu.xunta,es/centros/iesricardomella
Correo Electrónico: ies.ricardo.mella@edu.xunta.es

4. Mr Travis hasn’t come to work yet.He has never been late for work. He MUST HAVE
MISSED the bus (MISS).
5. She knew everything about our plans. She MUST HAVE LISTENED to our conversation
(LISTEN)
6. A: Will you come to my birthday party tomorrow afternoon ?
B: I’m sorry but I CAN’T COME because I have to look after my sister. (COME)
7. Timmy is a very good boy. He isn’t naughty, so he CAN’T HAVE BROKEN that window.
Somebody else MUST HAVE BROKEN it (BREAK 2X)
8. The street is wet this morning . I’m not sure butit COULD/ MAY / MIGHT HAVE RAINED last
night (RAIN).
9. She COULD SING like an angel when she was a child (SING)
10. A : I talked to your science teacher yesterday.
B : You CAN’T HAVE TALKED to her because she wasn’t at school yesterday. (TALK)
11. Mrs White bought a new fur coat ! - She MUST HAVE WON the lottery (WIN).
12. He came home alone yesterday. You SHOULDN’THAVE LET him do that ; he MIGHT
HAVE GOT lost. (LET, GET)
13. He read the message but he COULDN’TUNDERSTAND it (UNDERSTAND)
14. The singer has got a sore throat so she CAN’T SING at the concert (SING)
15. It MAY/MIGHT HAVE BEEN Jack I saw in the park yesterday, but I’m not sure about it
(BE).
16. We can’ t wait any longer. Something MUST BE DONE at once (DO).
17. Everyone shouted in fear. They MUST HAVE BEEN very afraid (BE).
18. A : I’m afraid Ted is watching TV again.
B : He CAN’T BE WATCHING TV because his room is completely silent and dark. He MUST
BE SLEEPING . (WATCH, SLEEP)
19. I can’t find my book . I MUST HAVE LEFT IT on the bus (LEAVE)
20. She CAN’T BE stupid. She teaches maths at the university (BE)
21. She MUSTN’T GO to school. It’s Saturday (GO).
22. You were stupid to go skiing here. You COULD HAVE BROKEN a leg (BREAK)
23. He looked so tired when I saw him. He MUST HAVE WORKED so hard (WORK)
24. Tom CAN’T HAVE WRITTEN this because it is in French and Tom doesn’t know French.

IKEY

Easter Island, 3,000 km off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean is very far from land. Today, it is
a small island with few people or trees , but at one time a lot of people lived there. Scientists believe
that the original inhabitants MAY HAVE DISCOVERED THE ISLAND by accident. Around 100
people MAY HAVE LANDED on the western coast of the island.
But then the number of inhabitants increased too quickly. Scientists agree that the inhabitants
MUST HAVE USED UP ALL THE FOOD on the island and finally all died.
The Easter Island statues are famous, but nobody knows why they are there or why there are so
many . The statues MIGHT HAVE BEEN GODS , or Easter Island COULD HAVE BEEN PART of a
much bigger island. The statues are very large and heavy , so they CAN’T HAVE BEEN EASY to
move. Scientists still do not know how the inhabitants MIGHT HAVE DONE THIS.