Grammar Exercise with answers | Modal Verbs

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Exercise 

Choose between must or can’t:

1. You —mustcan’t respect other people’s opinions.
2. Kevin —mustcan’t be in Italy. I’ve just seen him at the gym.
3. You have already eaten. You —mustcan’t be hungry.
4. ‘I’m thinking of going to Australia.’ ‘You —mustcan’t be joking ! It’s too far away !’
5. What she says is impossible. That —mustcan’t be true.
6. I’m certain he’s there. He —mustcan’t be there.
7. The ground is wet. It —mustcan’t have been raining a lot.
8. Michael is 15 years old. He —mustcan’t have a driving licence.
9. You —mustcan’t be Mr Smith. It’s very nice to meet you.
10. I —mustcan’t have lost my wallet on the train. I still remember having it when I got off that train.

 

 

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ANSWERS

1. You must respect other people’s opinions.
2. Kevin can’t be in Italy. I’ve just seen him at the gym.
3. You have already eaten. You can’t be hungry.
4. ‘I’m thinking of going to Australia.’ ‘You must be joking ! It’s too far away !’
5. What she says is impossible. That can’t be true.
6. I’m certain he’s there. He must be there.
7. The ground is wet. It must have been raining a lot.
8. Michael is 15 years old. He can’t have a driving licence.
9. You must be Mr Smith. It’s very nice to meet you.
10. I can’t have lost my wallet on the train. I still remember having it when I got off that train.

Grammar Exercise with answers | Modal Verbs

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Exercise 

Choose between must or can’t:

1. There are no lights on in her house. She —mustcan’t have gone out.
2. That sounds much too cheap. It —mustcan’t be the correct price.
3. I can hear footsteps in the flat upstairs, so there —mustcan’t be someone there.
4. She is in Japan. You —mustcan’t have seen her last night at Paul’s party.
5. If you have a problem with your homeworks, you —mustcan’t ask for help.
6. He —mustcan’t be here. I can see his car in front of the building.
7. I don’t recognise any of these houses. We —mustcan’t be on the right road.
8. My phone is not in my pocket or on the table so it —mustcan’t be in the drawer.
9. You —mustcan’t be cold! It’s more than 25°C in this room.
10. That woman —mustcan’t be 40 years old. She looks about 25.

 

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ANSWERS

1. There are no lights on in her house. She must have gone out.
2. That sounds much too cheap. It can’t be the correct price.
3. I can hear footsteps in the flat upstairs, so there must be someone there.
4. She is in Japan. You can’t have seen her last night at Paul’s party.
5. If you have a problem with your homeworks, you must ask for help.
6. He must be here. I can see his car in front of the building.
7. I don’t recognise any of these houses. We can’t be on the right road.
8. My phone is not in my pocket or on the table so it must be in the drawer.
9. You can’t be cold! It’s more than 25°C in this room.
10. That woman can’t be 40 years old. She looks about 25.

Grammar Exercise with answers | Modal Verbs

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Exercise 

Use ‘must + infinitive’ (to talk about the present tense) or ‘must + have + past participle’ (to talk about the past):

1 – She must —behave been beautiful when she was young.

2 – There’s no heating on. You must —behave been freezing.

3 – I think Paul must —drinkhave drunk all the milk. There’s none left.

4 – The ice cream here is delicious. You must —tryhave tried some.

5 – I called you yesterday around four o’clock but you must —behave been out.

6 – I can’t remember what I did with it. I must —behave been  getting old.

7 – You must —quithave quit smoking, it’s bad for you.

8 – She speaks excellent French. She must —livehave lived in France for a long time.

9 – Look at all of that snow. It must —behave been really cold outside.

10 – She must —behave been at home – her car was there.

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ANSWERS

1. She must have been beautiful when she was young.
2. There’s no heating on. You must be freezing.
3. I think Paul must have drunk all the milk. There’s none left.
4. The ice cream here is delicious. You must try some.
5. I called you yesterday around four o’clock but you must have been out.
6. I can’t remember what I did with it. I must be getting old.
7. You must quit smoking, it’s bad for you.
8. She speaks excellent French. She must have lived in France for a long time.
9. Look at all of that snow. It must be really cold outside.
10. She must have been at home – her car was there.

 

Grammar Exercise with answers | Modal Verbs

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Exercise 

Complete the sentences with mustn’t, don’t have to or doesn’t have to:

1. You —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to use your smartphone while you are driving.
2. He —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to get home on time. His parents are away today.
3. You —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to go to the party if you don’t want to.
4. If Paul doesn’t like her, he —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to see her again.
5. You —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to drink if you’re going to drive.
6. You —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to wear that. It’s not necessary.
7. We —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to talk about it. It’s confidential.
8. I —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to arrive at work at 9 sharp. My boss is very relax.
9. We —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to tell anyone, it’s top secret.
10. He —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to sign anything if he doesn’t want to at this stage.
11. The train is direct. You —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to change trains.
12. Michael —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to do any work at home.
13. They —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to see us talking or they’ll suspect something.
14. You —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to read the instructions to figure out how it works.
15. She —mustn’tdon’t have todoesn’t have to come if she doesn’t want to.

 

 

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ANSWERS

1. You mustn’t use your smartphone while you are driving.
2. He doesn’t have to get home on time. His parents are away today.
3. You don’t have to go to the party if you don’t want to.
4. If Paul doesn’t like her, he doesn’t have to see her again.
5. You mustn’t drink if you’re going to drive.
6. You don’t have to wear that. It’s not necessary.
7. We mustn’t talk about it. It’s confidential.
8. I don’t have to arrive at work at 9 sharp. My boss is very relax.
9. We mustn’t tell anyone, it’s top secret.
10. He doesn’t have to sign anything if he doesn’t want to at this stage.
11. The train is direct. You don’t have to change trains.
12. Michael doesn’t have to do any work at home.
13. They mustn’t see us talking or they’ll suspect something.
14. You don’t have to read the instructions to figure out how it works.
15. She doesn’t have to come if she doesn’t want to.

Modals Exercises | Multiple choice

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Exercise 

Choose between ‘can’, ‘can’t’, ‘could’ or ‘couldn’t’:

1. I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t speak French. It’s my mothertongue.
2. I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t take a holiday whenever I want.
3. If I had more time, I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t travel around the world.
4. I looked everywhere for my glasses but I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t find them anywhere.
5. I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t go out tonight. I’m busy.
6. —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t I speak to you now or are you too busy?
7. When I was living in london, I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t walk to work. I lived very near my office.
8. I was very sick yesterday, I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t eat anything.
9. I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t lift this box – it’s too heavy!
10. —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t I have something to drink?    (demande polie)

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ANSWERS

1. I can speak French. It’s my mothertongue.
2. I can’t take a holiday whenever I want.
3. If I had more time, I could travel around the world.
4. I looked everywhere for my glasses but I couldn’t find them anywhere.
5. I can’t go out tonight. I’m busy.
6. Can I speak to you now or are you too busy?
7. When I was living in london, I could walk to work.
8. I was very sick yesterday, I couldn’t eat anything.
9. I can’t lift this box – it’s too heavy!
10. Could I have something to drink? 

Modals Exercises | Multiple choice

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Exercise 2

Choose between ‘can’, ‘can’t’, ‘could’ or ‘couldn’t’:

1. She is very tired because she —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t sleep last night.
2. She —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t speak Spanish when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.
3. You —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t go home now if you like.
4. The library is closed. We —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t go today.
5. —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t I go to the party, please?
6. The lock was broken. I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t open the door.
7. I —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t run ten kilometers in my twenties.
8. When you finish that, you —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t take out the garbage.
9. He phoned to say he —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t come.
10. We —cancouldcan’tcouldn’t hear you. The music is so loud.

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ANSWERS

1. She is very tired because she couldn’t sleep last night.
2. She could speak Spanish when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.
3. You can go home now if you like.
4. The library is closed. We can’t go today.
5. Can I go to the party, please?
6. The lock was broken. I couldn’t open the door.
7. I could run ten kilometers in my twenties.
8. When you finish that, you can take out the garbage.
9. He phoned to say he couldn’t come.
10. We can’t hear you. The music is so loud.

Modals of ability | Exercise with answers

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Choose the right answer to express ability:

1 – My grandmother _______ seven languages.

might be able to speak
could speak
could have spoken
might have been able to speak

2 – Even thought I was tired, I _______ enjoy the party.

might
could
was able to
had to

3 – Japan _______ preserve its culture, despite its contact with foreign influences

could
managed to
might
had to

4 – I was so excited that I _______ sleep.

wouldn’t
didn’t
might not
couldn’t

5 – He _______ read and write Chinese.

 can
 may
could
 is able to

6 – When ______ I see you next time?

 can
 may
could
 has to

7 –  I _______ afford one, but not both.

 can
 may
could
 has to

8 – Tom ________ drive a car soon.

 can
will be able to
could
will have to

9 – Tina ________ swim well.

 can
 should
could
 would

10 – I _________ work as a chef sometime in the future, as long as I take cooking lessons.

will be able to
 can
could
will have to

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ANSWERS

1. My grandmother could speak seven languages.
2. Even thought I was tired, I was able to enjoy the party.
3. Japan managed to preserve its culture, despite its contact with foreign influences.
4. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep
5. He can read and write Chinese.
6. When can I see you next time?
7.  I can afford one, but not both.
8. Tom will be able to drive a car soon.
9. Tina can swim well.
10. I will be able to work as a chef sometime in the future, as long as I take cooking lessons.

Modals | Exercises with answers PDF

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Exercise 2

Choose the right answer:

1. I’m afraid I  play basketball tomorrow. (can’t / couldn’t / would not be able to)
2. You can come to the concert if you want but you  . (have to / don’t have to / mustn’t)
3. What do you want to do? – Well, we  have a barbecue, but it looks like rain. (can / could / should / would)
4. I’m so hungry I  eat ten hamburgers! (can / could / must / should)
5. The exam starts at 9.30. You  be late. (don’t have to / mustn’t)
6. Why didn’t you tell me? I  you! (could help / could have helped / was able to help / would help)
7. How did you do in the test? – Ok. It  worse! (could be / could have been / might be / would have been)
8. He  broken the window. He wasn’t even at home today. (couldn’t have / mustn’t / shouldn’t have)
9. You  tired. You’ve only just got out of bed! (don’t have to be / can’t be / mustn’t be)
10. Kevin  be very pleased with herself. He got the best grades. (has to / must / cannot)

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ANSWERS

1. can’t
2. don’t have to
3. could
4. could
5. mustn’t
6. could have helped
7. could have been
8. couldn’t have
9. can’t be
10. must

Grammar Exercise | Modals

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Exercise 3

Choose the right answer:

1.  you speak French? – Only a few words, but my Spanish is pretty good. (Can / Could)
2.  you help me move this box? (Can / Could)
3. I  read already before I was four years old. (could / should / would)
4. I  help you, but I don’t want to. (can / could / would)
5.  you open the door, please. (Can / May)
6. I  move the box. It was too heavy. (couldn’t / mustn’t / shouldn’t / wouldn’t)
7. You  not put your feet on the table. (must not / do not have to)
8. If you continue to practise so hard, you  beat me before too long! (can / could / will be able to)
9.   you swim? (Are you able to / Can)
10. You  eat so much cookies. (don’t have to / mustn’t / shouldn’t)

 

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ANSWERS

1. can
2. could
3. could
4. could
5. can
6. couldn’t
7. must not
8. will be able to
9. can
10. shouldn’t

Modals | Exercises with answers PDF

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Exercise 

Choose the right answer to express the idea indicated in brackets:

 

1 – She said that it _____ be true. (possibilité)

should
would
might
must

2 – We _____ our own luggage. (nécessité)

could have carried
must have carried
should have carried
 had to carry

3 – You _____ leave your bike here, that’s not a problem. (permission)

can
 will
 could
might

4 – I _____ answer all the questions. (capacité)

could
 was able to
 should
might

5 – You _____ talk so loudly, we can hear you ! (pas de nécessité)

don’t have to
can’t
are not to
mustn’t

6 – You _____ be late for school. (interdiction)

 could not
 must not
should not
 don’t have to

7 – Your son _____ be quite tall by now. (probabilité)

 might
 must
 would
 could

8 – You _____ be serious. (impossibilité)

 mustn’t
 can’t
 shouldn’t
 wouldn’t

9 – You _____ pay more attention to what you say. (donner un conseil)

 are to
 need to
 should
 could

10 – _____ watching my bag for a few minutes? (demande très polie)

Can you
Would you
Would you mind
Could you

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ANSWERS

1. She said that it might be true.
2. We had to carry our own luggage.
3. You can leave your bike here, that’s not a problem.
4. I was able to answer all the questions.
5. You don’t have to talk so loudly, we can hear you !
6. You must not be late for school.
7. Your son must be quite tall by now.
8. You can’t be serious.
9. You should pay more attention to what you say.
10. Would you mind watching my bag for a few minutes?