MODAL VERBS

1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of can, could or be able to. Use the affirmative or negative form.
There may be more than one possible answer.
A. I ................................................................... skate when I was younger, but I haven’t done it for years.
B. Charlie ................................................................... go to school this morning because he was at the dentist.
C. I ................................................................... help. I’m not doing anything else at the moment.
D. Will you ................................................................... go to the bank later?
E. I ................................................................... buy anything because I don’t have any money.
2. Choose one correct answer:
1) You (may/must) eat three nutritious meals a day if you want 10) When she was younger, she (can/could) run much faster.
to be healthy. 11) It was very difficult, but Danny (might/ was able to) get a
2) We will be spending three weeks in France this summer. ticket for the football match.
(Would/could) we spend a few days with you? 12) My brother (was able to walk/might walk) before he started
3) You (shouldn´t/should) be respectful of the elderly. talking.
4) If you want to have dinner at the restaurant, you (are able 13) You have worked very hard. You (could be/must be) tired.
to/ought to) book a table in advance. 14) Helen (mustn´t do/couldn´t do) her homework, because she
5) In order to be accepted to university, you (might/have to) was ill.
get good marks in your exams. 15) The weather forecast says it (may rain/should rain)
6) This is top secret. You (mustn´t/don´t have to) tell anybody. tomorrow.
7) Look at those clouds. I think it (must/might) rain soon. 16) I´ll try to finish, but I (can´t have/might not have) enough
8) Do you have toothache? Don’t you think you (should/have time.
to) go to the dentist? 17) Jim always goes on holiday to the same place. He (might
9) I would like to talk to you. (May/Would) I call you at home? like/must like) it there.

3. Rewrite these sentences replacing the underlined words.

1) I am not able to get up very early in the morning………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………
2) You don´t have to shout- I am not deaf. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3) I have to get a new passport before the summer. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4) When he was younger, he was able to run much faster. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5) She is able to help you with your project. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6) She doesn´t have to return the book today. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7) Drivers have to observe the speed limit. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8) His parents weren´t able to pay for extra lessons. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
9) In the end, Karl managed to arrive early at the airport. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10) In the end, Karl didn’t manage to arrive early at the airport. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Use modal verbs.
1. It’s not a good idea to walk alone in the alley. You………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. It’s not certain that the mayor will attend the meeting. The mayor………………………………………………………………………
3. I’ve got no choice but to commute by train. I ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. They aren’t available to help us today. They………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. There’s no need to bring anything. You ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Do you mind if I leave my bicycle here? ……….….. I ……………………………………………………………………………………….……?
7. Drinking alcohol while you drive is prohibited by law. You..........................................................................................................
8. Perhaps I will go to the cinema. I .................................................................................................................................................
9. I am not able to get up early in the morning. I.............................................................................................................................
10. I suggest that you sleep at least seven hours the night before a big exam. You……………………………………………………………….........
11. Perhaps it will rain today. It…………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………….
12. It´s a good idea to take some money with you. You………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
13. It´s not necessary to clean your room right now. You …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
14. I suggest you say goodbye before you leave. You …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
15. You know how to do that by yourself. You ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
16. Parents have an obligation to teach their children the difference between right and wrong. Parents
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
17. It is necessary for Mike to get up very early tomorrow morning. Mike ………………………………………………………………………………….
 18. In the future, children will know how to use computers before the age of five. In the future, children
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
19. It is forbidden for boys to ride skateboards in the street. The boys …........................................................................................
20. It is not necessary to be rich in order to be happy. You …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

MODAL VERBS + MODAL PERFECTS

5. Choose the most appropriate sentence. 6. Translate these sentences into English
1. We could have bought the house for less money. Podríamos haber ido a ver una película.
a. We really should. B. It is a pity we didn´t
2. I advised him to spend more time on his studies. Now he is sorry he didn´t listen.
a. He should study more. B. He should have studied more. Deben de terminar antes de las 6.
3. David would have booked you a ticket.
a. Why didn´t you ask him to? B. Why don´t you ask him to?
¿Qué piensas que debería haber hecho?
4. I am an only child. I am sorry my parents had no more children.
a. My parents should have had more children. B. My parents must have had more children
5. He didn´t come to our meeting yesterday. No era necesario que hicieras toda la página.
a. He must have had another meeting b. He must have another meeting

7. Rewrite the following sentences using Modal Perfects

1) It is a pity we didn´t spend our last holiday in the country. We..........................................................................................................
2) I don´t think I told you all the news. I.................................................................................................................................................
3) It was wrong of the manager to employ 13 year old children. The manager.....................................................................................
4) He is late for work again. He probably woke up late. He.....................................................................................................................
5) My motorbike has disappeared. Someone …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6) It is possible she told you a lie. She ………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………
7) Perhaps he called me, but I was out earlier. He ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
8) It was wrong of you not to apologise to her. You …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. Complete these sentences in a logical way using a modal or modal perfect and the words in brackets.
1 I told you we’d be late. We ...................................................................................... . (left earlier)
2 He works six-and-a-half days a week! That ...................................................................................... . (tiring)
3 The car isn’t here. Someone ...................................................................................... it. (stolen)
4 Why didn’t you say you were going? I ...................................................................................... . (come)
5 She doesn’t look anything like him! That ...................................................................................... ! (be his sister)
9. Rewrite using Modal verbs (Simple or Perfect).
1. It´s compulsory for children to start school at the age of five in
Britain.________________________________________________
2. Julia has the ability to play football really well
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3. I revised for the English test but it was cancelled.
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4. It´s prohibited to ride a motorbike without a
helmet.________________________________________________________________
5. It´s possible that David wrote the note. It looks like his
handwriting.____________________________________________________
6. This isn´t the time, surely!! I thought it was much
earlier.___________________________________________________________
7. I´ll probably take Japanese
lessons.__________________________________________________________________________
8. It wasn´t a good idea for you to walk home
alone.__________________________________________________________________
9. I´m sure that Sherlock Holmes had incredible powers of deduction.
Sherlock_____________________________________________
1. I'm sure they went away yesterday. They
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2. It isn't necessary for you to go. You
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3. Perhaps Frank will win the pools. Frank
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4. I don't believe he took the money. He
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5. It was wrong of him to break it. He
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6. It's forbidden to drive on the right in Great Britain. You
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7. Is it alright if I use your phone?
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8. Perhaps George won't have time. George
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9. Perhaps he didn't have time. He
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10. I suppose they enjoyed the concert. They
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11. You are not obliged to come back again. You
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12. She mustn’t enter. She isn’t
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13. I was wrong to say you were guilty. I
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14. You are not allowed to smoke in this classroom. You
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