Exercise 1: Modal verbs: choose the best option.
1. I’m overweight and the doctor says that I________ do exercise more often. A. may B. will C. have to D. can
2. They are doing very hard on their project. It________ be very important to them A. should B. could C. must D. would
3. It’s a school rule. Everyone________wear a uniform. A. has to B. might C. must D. should
4. ________skiing with us this weekend?
A. Would you go B. Would you rather to go C. Would you prefer go D. Would you like to go
5. The fire spread through the hotel very quickly but everyone________get out. A. could B. had to C. would D. was able to
6. Tom________watch TV than go to the party with his friend.
A. would like B. isn’t allowed C. isn’t permitted D. would rather
7. She spoke in a low voice, but I________what she was saying. A. can understand B. could understand C. can have understood D. could have understood
8. You________do the job if you didn’t speak English fluently. A. couldn’t B. can C. would be able to D. won’t be able to
9. The phone rang but I didn’t hear it. I________asleep. A. must be B. had to be C. ought to be D. must have been
10. In this school, students are not allowed to smoke. They________smoke. A. mustn’t B. don’t have to C. needn’t D. should’t
11. Andy’s magic performance was amazing. You________a little bit longer to watch it. A. has to stay B. should have stayed C. must have stayed D. could have stayed
12. - The instructions were in French, and I translated them into English for him. - You________that. He knows French. A. needn’t have done B. oughtn’t to have done C. shouldn’t have done D. can’t have done
13. I think the principal of this school________give students more freedom in choosing the courses they want to study. A. would B. would like C. might D. ought to
14. It’s getting cold. ________I turn on the heater for you? A. Do B. Must C. Have D. Shall
15. It’s really a good movie. You_______and see it this evening. A. should have gone B. must go C. have to go D. must have gone
16. Look at all the tools on the floor. He________somewhere around here. A. couldn’t be working B. could have worked C. couldn’t have worked D. must be working
17. I would like you________the plants for me while I’m away. A. water B. to water C. watering D. watered
18. Minh passed the exam with flying colours. He________very hard to get such a good result. A. could be studying B. may be studying C. must have studied D. should have studied
19. -________me to deliver these flowers to the recipient for you? - That’d be nice. A. Will you want B. Would you like C. Are you permitted D. Would you mind
20. My motorbike broke down in the middle of nowhere, but luckily I________it on my own. A. could have fixed B. must have fixed C. was able to fix D. should have fixed
21. My purse________at the station while I was waiting for the train. A. must have been stolen C. can be stolen B. should have been stolen D. should be stolen
22. Mom and Dad________an argument. They’re not talking to each other. A. must have had B. must have C. might have had D. might have
23. Ann stayed in bed all Sunday morning because she________go to work. A. doesn’t have to B. shouldn’t C. mustn’t D. couldn’t
24. She is going to travel to Japan for summer holiday; therefore, she________get a passport soon. A. must B. have to C. can D. could
25. He owns a very expensive house. He________be a rich person. A. will B. must C. ought to D. can
26. When I was a child, I________understand adults, now that I’m an adults I________understand children. A. can’t - can’t B. couldn’t - couldn’t C. can’t - couldn’t D. couldn’t - can’t
27. I________you the money but why didn’t you ask me? A. must have lent C. could have lent B. might have lent D. should have lent
28. She knew everything about our plan. She________to our conversation. A. must have listened B. should have listened C. can’t have listened D. could have listened
29. You________buy the tickets. I got two for free from my dad. A. can’t B. don’t have to C. mustn’t D. might not
30. I________swim well when I was a child. I even won the school championships. A. can B. would C. will D. could