Exercise 1: Complete with one of the modal verbs: can – could – have to – must – might – should (negative forms are possible)

1.Ted’s flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He _________ be exhausted after such a long flight. He _________ prefer to stay in tonight and
get some rest. 
2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you _________ walk downtown and explore the waterfront. 
3. Hiking the trail to the peak _________ be dangerous if you are not well prepared for dramatic weather changes. You _________ research the route a little
more before you attempt the ascent. 
4. When you have a small child in the house, you _________ leave small objects lying around. Such objects _________ be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.
5. A: _________ you hold your breath for more than a minute?
B: No, I can't. 
6. Jenny’s engagement ring is enormous! It _________ have cost a fortune.
7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they _________ die.
8. I _________ speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I _________ just say a few things in the language.

9. The book is optional. My professor said we _________ read it if we needed extra credit. But we _________ read it if we don't want to.
10. A: Where is the spatula? It _________ be in this drawer but it’s not here.
B: I just did a load of dishes last night and they’re still in the dish washer. It _________ be in there. That’s the only other place it _________ be.
11. You _________ take your umbrella along with you today. The weatherman on the news said there’s a storm north of here and it _________ rain later on this afternoon.
12. _________ we pull over at the next rest stop? I really _________ use the bathroom and I don't know if I _________ hold it until we get to Chicago.
13. Oh no! Frank’s wallet is lying on the coffee table. He _________ have left it here last night. 
14. A: _________ I borrow your lighter for a minute?
B: Sure, no problem. Actually, you _________ keep it if you want to. I’ve given up smoking.
15. I _________ believe she said that to Megan! She _________ insult her cooking in front of everyone at the party last night. She _________ have just said she was full or had some salad if she didn't like the meal.
16. Do you _________ chew with your mouth open like that? Geez, it’s making me sick watching you eat that piece of pizza.
17. Mrs. Scarlett’s body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it’s still warm! Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer _________ be
someone in this room. It _________ be any one of us!!!

18. A: I don't know why Denise started crying when I mentioned the wedding.
B: It _________ have been what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is just nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow.
19. _________ you always say the first thing that pops into your head? _________ you think once in awhile before you speak?
20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this room. It _________be lying around here somewhere. Where _________ it be?

Exercise 2: Complete with might, should or must:

1. Nancy said you didn’t need to buy her anything for her birthday, but I really think you ___________ at least get her some flowers or a nice bottle of wine.
2. Debbie said she was really busy this week, but I think she ___________ show up at the party if she doesn’t have to work overtime on Friday.
3. Nina said she would come over right after work, so she ___________ be here by 6:00.
4. Oh my God, he’s unconscious. Don’t move him - he ___________ have internal injuries. Somebody call an ambulance.
5. You ___________ be kidding! That can't be true.
6. A: Where’s the remote control? I want to change the channel.
B: I don't know. It ___________ be under the couch. Or, perhaps I absent-mindedly took it into the kitchen. I'll check in there.
7. For most people, learning a language is a challenging undertaking. Experts agree that to make the most of your language learning experience, you ___________ practice the language regularly and push yourself to maintain old vocabulary while acquiring new words and expressions.
8. New research suggests that exercise can reduce the chance of heart disease as well as cancer. That’s why I told my father that he ___________ start walking once a day.
9. We should invite Sally and her husband to come to the picnic on Saturday. We haven’t seen them in weeks, and they ___________ really enjoy a nice day at the beach.

10. A: While I was a student, I spent a year and a half studying pygmy culture in the Central African Republic. My research focused on unique aspects of their social structure and religion.
B: That ___________ have been absolutely fascinating!
11. We had better tall Tony to see if he’s at home before we go over to his house. He ___________ not be there and we don't want to drive all the way over there for nothing.
12. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told my boss that he ___________ take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the position.
13.You ___________ worry so much. It doesn’t do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.
14. I would love to go on the cruise to Tahiti with Robin and Michelle. But such a luxurious trip ___________ cost a fortune. I doubt I could afford something like that.
15. The book recommends adding fresh soil and using plant food to make your garden flowers grow. Since some people might be allergic to chemicals in artificial plant foods, the book says that you ___________ use an organic brand to avoid skin irritations.

Exercise 3: Complete with may, had better, have got to, or shall.

1. I know it’s rather rude, but ___________ I ask you where you purchased that pocket watch? I have been looking for one like that for my father.
2. You ___________ look good for your interview if you want to get the sales job. You ___________ wear the white shirt and the maroon tie. I think that’ll look really professional.
3. I ___________ be at work tomorrow by 7:00. I ___________ give a marketing presentation to one of our clients.
4. It’s pretty hot in the desert at this time of year. If we are going to do some hiking, we ___________ at least two or three quarts of water with us. Actually, it ___________ be hotter than we expect out there - maybe we should take a gallon or more.
5. You ___________ leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused yourself.
6. I can't stand these people - I ___________ get out of here. I’m going to take off for awhile while you get rid of them. When I get back, they ___________ be gone.
7. ___________ I try a little of your Black Forest cake? It looks absolutely delicious - I ___________ taste it!
8. You ___________ take along some cash. The restaurant ___________ not accept credit cards.
9. You ___________ take along some cash. The restaurant doesn't accept credit cards.
10. ___________ we move into the living room? It’s more comfortable in there and there’s a beautiful view of the lake.

11. I'm not really sure if Susan is going to go snow boarding with us or not. She ___________ decide to stay here and study for her Japanese final. She ___________ get a good score on the test if she wants to qualify to study abroad in Tokyo next semester.
12. ___________ I have a look at that necklace there in the display case. It's exactly what I've been looking for.
13. We ___________ no longer suffer the injustice of oppression. We ___________ never give up the struggle for freedom!
14. You ___________ be joking! If you think I’m going to give you a tip after you mixed up the meal orders, spilled wine on me and insulted my wife, you
___________ get your head examined!!!
15. Ian, Evelyn and Deborah will be attending the conference. I ___________ be attending as well.

Exercise 4: Choose the correct alternative:

1. I'm not really sure where Beverly is. She ___________ (might sit / might be sitting / might have sat) in the living room, or perhaps she's in the backyard.
2. Doug ___________ (must have returned / must not have returned / must return) the video we rented on his way to work. It was on the table, but now it’s gone.
3. You ___________ (ought to be checking / ought to check / ought to checked) the air pressure in your tires. You don't want to get a flat tire on your trip.
4. The computer isn't working. It ___________ (can be damaged / should have been damaged / must have been damaged) during production.
5. The package ___________ (should be delivered / should have been delivered / should be delivering) tomorrow afternoon. It was sent by express mail this morning.
6. You ___________ (have to book / has to book / have to be booked) the tickets for the play in advance - they sell out quickly.
7. You can't mean that! You ___________ (must joke / have to have joked / have got to be joking).   

8. If Debbie hasn't come home yet, she ____________________ (must still wait / must still be waiting / must still have waited) for us in the coffee shop.
9. Mike decided not to join us for lunch. He ____________________ (should have been staying / had to stay / should have stayed) at work to finish the marketing report.
10. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I __________________ (would be lying / would lie / would have lain) on a white sand beach right now.
11. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I __________________ (would not must / would have had to / would not have had to) come to work this week.
12. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I __________________ (might be taken / ought to be taking / could have taken) scuba diving lessons.
13. Margaret agreed to meet us at the entrance to the theater. She __________________ (ought to be waiting / ought to wait / ought to have waited)
for us when we get there.
14. It ____________________ (ought to be / might have been / should have been) Sam who called and didn't leave a message on the answering machine. He said he wanted to get together with us this weekend.
15. The machine __________________ (can turn / can be turned / can be turning) on by flipping this switch.
16. She ____________________ (has to be crying / could be crying / might have been crying). That could have been why her eyes were so red and swollen.
17. If she was crying, she ____________________ (must have been / shall be / would have been) very upset.
18. That painting ____________________ (might be painting / might not paint / might not have been painted) by Picasso. It could be a forgery.
19. Your diving equipment ____________________ (must be cleaned / must have been cleaned / must have been being cleaned) regularly if you want to keep it in good condition.
20. If I hadn't taken a taxi, I ____________________ (might have been waiting / ought to have been waiting / had to have waited) for you at the train station for hours.

 

 Back to list