Modal verbs (test)

MODAL VERBS: MULTIPLE CHOICE

15. The new student ……… be German, he doesn’t speak German fluently.

a) shouldn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t

16. Someone’s knocking at the door. It …………… be James; he said he’ come round today.

a) ought to b) must c) can’t

17. You …………… buy a dictionary; there are a lot in class.

a) may not b) mustn’t c) needn’t

18. People ………… fasten seat belts when travelling by car.

a) must b) can c) should

19. Dad is taking a nap; you ………… make so much noise, children.

a) mustn’t b) might not c) needn’t

20. We’ve run out of coffee. We ………… get some tomorrow.

a) may b) must c) might

21. You ………… better go home now, it’s getting dark.

a) would b) should c) had

22. You ……………… have eaten the chocolate cake, children! It was for dad’s party.

a) can’t b) might not c) mustn’t

23. A. “Why is Sue late for work?” B. “Her train …………… have been delayed due to the strike”.

a) can’t b) ought to d) might

24. You …………… bring anything; we’ve bought everything for dinner.

a) have not to b) may not c) don’t need to

25. Pam …………… have set the alarm clock since she had the day off.

a) mustn’t b) can’t c) needn’t

26. Paul asked me to check the exercises. He thought I …………… have made a mistake.

a) might b) can c) should

27. Mrs Black will get angry. I …………… have written the history essay last weekend.

a) must b) should c) may

28. I ………… take a bus to school; I go there on foot every day.

a) mustn’t b) needn’t c) shouldn’t

29. A. “I like the new TV series!” B. “Are you kidding? You …………… like it; it’s the worst programme on TV”.

a) needn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t

30. Be careful with the knife! It’s very sharp, you ………… cut your finger.

a) should b) may c) need to

Choose the correct option to fill in the gaps:

1. Paul……………… be at home; he always works until 9 p.m.

a) can’t b) mustn’t c) can

2. My sister …………… come back from London tonight, but I’m not sure.

a) may b) ought to c) must

3. Carl …………… speak a word of English before travelling to Britain.

a) can’t b) wasn’t able to c) wasn’t allowed to

4. Mary ………… have forgotten our appointment. Why isn’t she here?

a) can b) must c) may

5. …………… I use your phone, please?

a) Must b) Should c) May

6. You ………… have told us about Sue’s divorce. We made such insensitive comments on her husband!

a) shouldn’t b) should c) mustn’t

7. My son has always been a clever boy; he ……… read when he was three.

a) could b) might c) may

8. I’m afraid I ……………… go out tonight, I ……… work late.

a) can’t/ can b) can’t/ have to c) can’t/ should

9. You often have headaches. I think you ………… visit a neurologist.

a) may b) can c) should

10. There are some black clouds in the sky. It …………… rain this evening.

a) must b) may c) ought to

11. The children ………… have finished their homework by the time we get home, but I’m not sure.

a) aren’t able to b) have to c) might

12. Most children ………… wear school uniforms in private schools.

a) might b) must c) can

13. Why didn’t you phone Paul? He ………… have given a lift to the airport yesterday.

a) can b) ought to c) could

14. A. “Isn’t that John over there?” B. “It ……… be John, he’s at work now.”

a) mustn’t b) can’t c) shouldn’t

1. Paul……………… be at home; he always works until 9 p.m.

a) can’t b) mustn’t c) can

2. My sister …………… come back from London tonight, but I’m not sure.

a) may b) ought to c) must

3. Carl …………… speak a word of English before travelling to Britain.

a) can’t b) wasn’t able to c) wasn’t allowed to

4. Mary ………… have forgotten our appointment. Why isn’t she here?

a) can b) must c) may

5. …………… I use your phone, please?

a) Must b) Should c) May

6. You ………… have told us about Sue’s divorce. We made such insensitive comments on her husband!

a) shouldn’t b) should c) mustn’t

7. My son has always been a clever boy; he ……… read when he was three.

a) could b) might c) may

8. I’m afraid I ……………… go out tonight, I ……… work late.

a) can’t/ can b) can’t/ have to c) can’t/ should

9. You often have headaches. I think you ………… visit a neurologist.

a) may b) can c) should

10. There are some black clouds in the sky. It …………… rain this evening.

a) must b) may c) ought to

11. The children ………… have finished their homework by the time we get home, but I’m not sure.

a) aren’t able to b) have to c) might

12. Most children ………… wear school uniforms in private schools.

a) might b) must c) can

13. Why didn’t you phone Paul? He ………… have given a lift to the airport yesterday.

a) can b) ought to c) could

14. A. “Isn’t that John over there?” B. “It ……… be John, he’s at work now.”

a) mustn’t b) can’t c) shouldn’t

15. The new student ……… be German, he doesn’t speak German fluently.

a) shouldn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t

16. Someone’s knocking at the door. It …………… be James; he said he’ come round today.

a) ought to b) must c) can’t

17. You …………… buy a dictionary; there are a lot in class.

a) may not b) mustn’t c) needn’t

18. People ………… fasten seat belts when travelling by car.

a) must b) can c) should

19. Dad is taking a nap; you ………… make so much noise, children.

a) mustn’t b) might not c) needn’t

20. We’ve run out of coffee. We ………… get some tomorrow.

a) may b) must c) might

21. You ………… better go home now, it’s getting dark.

a) would b) should c) had

22. You ……………… have eaten the chocolate cake, children! It was for dad’s party.

a) can’t b) might not c) mustn’t

23. A. “Why is Sue late for work?” B. “Her train …………… have been delayed due to the strike”.

a) can’t b) ought to d) might

24. You …………… bring anything; we’ve bought everything for dinner.

a) have not to b) may not c) don’t need to

25. Pam …………… have set the alarm clock since she had the day off.

a) mustn’t b) can’t c) needn’t

26. Paul asked me to check the exercises. He thought I …………… have made a mistake.

a) might b) can c) should

27. Mrs Black will get angry. I …………… have written the history essay last weekend.

a) must b) should c) may

28. I ………… take a bus to school; I go there on foot every day.

a) mustn’t b) needn’t c) shouldn’t

29. A. “I like the new TV series!” B. “Are you kidding? You …………… like it; it’s the worst programme on TV!”

a) needn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t

30. Be careful with the knife! It’s very sharp, you ………… cut your finger.

a) should b) may c) need to