Modal Verb Exercises

Modal Verbs of Probability Quiz

Use must, might, may, could or can't plus the correct form of the verb.

Where is David? He                 --                        must be             (be) at school. Classes begin at 8.

She                 --                        can't think             (think) that it is a good idea. It's crazy!

I'm absolutley sure!. They                 --                        must have arrived             (arrive) yesterday, I saw their ticket.

Courses                 --                        might OR may begin             (begin) the fifth of September.

Are you joking! David                 --                        can't have gone             (go) to Paris last week. He doesn't have enough money.

They                 --                        could live             (live) in New York, but I'm not sure.

The concert                 --                        must have been             (be) wonderful last night. Fiore is a great conductor.

1. He left the party early. 
a) He must have to work tomorrow.
b) He must to have to work tomorrow.

2. He has to be finished the test by now. 
a) He must be finished the test.
b) He might be finished the test.

3. There is new snow outside.
a) It might have snowed last night.
b) It must have snowed last night.

4. He didn't finish the exam on time. 
a) He might not had studied.
b) He might not have studied.

5. She doesn't know if she will cook dinner tonight.
a) She might cook dinner.
b) She has to cook dinner.

6. Everyone is smoking outside.
a) You could not be able to smoke in here.
b) You must not be able to smoke in here.

7. He looks very tired.
a) He must have stayed up late last night.
b) He might had to stay up late last night.

8. Everyone received 100% on the math exam.
a) It must have been easy.
b) It could have been easy.

9. That book has her name on it.
a) It has to be hers.
b) It might be hers.

10. Who fixed the chair?
a) It couldn't been Jim. He was at work.
b) It couldn't have been Jim. He was at work.

Activity 1

Holly and Adam have just got married and have gone on their honeymoon. A friend talks to Holly’s mother about their plans for the future. Rewrite the parts in brackets using must, can’t or may/might.

FRIEND  Just married and on their honeymoon.  They must be  (I’m sure they’re) very happy. Where are they going to live after they come back?

MOTHER  They may stay  (Perhaps they’ll stay) with us for a while.

FRIEND  What about work?

MOTHER  They (Maybe they’ll go) abroad for a year.

FRIEND  So Holly  (I assume that Holly’s not) very interested in the job she’s got. I thought she enjoyed her work.

MOTHER  She does, but they both have one of those temporary contracts, and the company (perhaps the company won’t renew) them.

FRIEND  Yes, that’s always a possibility. 

MOTHER  Or they  (maybe they’ll take) a postgraduate course. 

FRIEND  Would they get a grant?

MOTHER  No, I don’t think so but they’ve both worked for a couple of years so they (I’m sure they have) some savings.

FRIEND  But Adam’s father has his own business, doesn’t he? He (Maybe he’ll find) work for them.

MOTHER  I’m not sure. Holly quite likes Adam’s father but she (perhaps she won’t want) to work for him.

FRIEND  You see. It’s not easy to work for in-laws and it (I’m sure it isn’t) easy to live with them, either.

MOTHER  All right. I see your point.

Holly and Adam have just got married and have gone on their honeymoon. A friend talks to Holly’s mother about their plans for the future. Rewrite the parts in brackets using must, can’t or may/might.

FRIEND  Just married and on their honeymoon.  They must be  (I’m sure they’re) very happy. Where are they going to live after they come back?

MOTHER  They may stay  (Perhaps they’ll stay) with us for a while.

FRIEND  What about work?

MOTHER  They  (Maybe they’ll go) abroad for a year.

FRIEND  So Holly  (I assume that Holly’s not) very interested in the 

job she’s got. I thought she enjoyed her work.

MOTHER  She does, but they both have one of those temporary contracts, and the company  (perhaps the company won’t renew) them.

FRIEND  Yes, that’s always a possibility. 

MOTHER  Or they (maybe they’ll take) a postgraduate course. 

FRIEND  Would they get a grant?

MOTHER  No, I don’t think so but they’ve both worked for a couple of years so they (I’m sure they have) some savings.

FRIEND  But Adam’s father has his own business, doesn’t he? He (Maybe he’ll find) work for them.

MOTHER  I’m not sure. Holly quite likes Adam’s father but she (perhaps she won’t want) to work for him.

FRIEND  You see. It’s not easy to work for in-laws and it (I’m sure it isn’t) easy to live with them, either.

MOTHER  All right. I see your point.

Activity 2 Guess who it is!

1 He studied journalism and advertising at college.

2 He wears a wedding ring.

3 He speaks with an American accent.

4 He gives a lot of money to charity.

5 He travels to lots of film festivals for work.

6 He has six children.

What to do, where to go

over to you:

Imagine that you have arranged to meet a friend, but he is late. Suggest three things that might have happened to him/her, using may, might and could.

Think about what you might do after you have finished your studies at CCEL, and write three of them, using may, might and could, and starting with ‘After I’ve finished my studies at CCEL