MODAL VERBS PRACTICE
1. Complete the sentences using the modals below.
can | might | couldn’t | must | shouldn’t
1 I ................................................ go out tonight, but I’m not sure.
2 Steven ................................................ play the piano when he was young.
3 ................................................ you tell me the way to the post office, please?
4 You ................................................ stay up late. You’ve got a test tomorrow.
5 You ................................................ complete your projects on time or you’ll lose points.
2 Circle the best answer.
1 I needn’t have / could have / might have attended Harvard, but I didn’t.
2 You don’t have to / couldn’t / mustn’t do that. It’s illegal.
3 He should have / might have / can’t have left work already. It’s only three o’clock.
4 Relax. We may not / don’t have to / mustn’t leave the house for an hour.
5 People need / would / should stop littering. It’s terrible!
3 Complete the sentences with the correct modal or modal perfect and the verbs in
brackets.
might | must | should | can’t | needn’t
1 Catherine ................................................................... (join) us later. She’ll let us know.
2 They’re watching TV now, so they ................................................................... (finish) their
homework.
3 We’re going in the wrong direction! We ................................................................... (turn) left a
while ago.
4 Look at the time! I really ................................................................... (stay) any longer.
5 You ................................................................... (buy) any milk. There's a bottle in the fridge.
4 Complete the sentences in a logical way. Use the words in brackets and a suitable modal or
modal perfect. Use correct verb forms and add any necessary words.
1 I think it is going to rain. We ............................................................................. . (bring / umbrellas)
2 It was silly of them to drive when they ........................................................................
. (take / train)
3 Why didn’t you say you were moving house? I ....................................................................
. (help)
4 You live near the beach? Wow, that ............................................................................ ! (wonderful)
5 Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets.
1 We didn’t move to Australia when we had the chance . (could)
..................................................................................................................................................
2 I’d recommend seeing flats in various neighbourhoods. (should)
..................................................................................................................................................
3 I don’t know how to drive a car. (can’t)
..................................................................................................................................................
