MODAL VERBS: MULTIPLE CHOICE

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

speak German fluently.
Choose the correct option to fill in the gaps:
a) shouldn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t
16. Someone’s knocking at the door. It ……………
1. Paul……………… be at home; he always works
be James; he said he’ come round today.
until 9 p.m.
a) ought to b) must c) can’t
a) can’t b) mustn’t c) can
17. You …………… buy a dictionary; there are a lot
2. My sister …………… come back from London
in class.
tonight, but I’m not sure.
a) may not b) mustn’t c) needn’t
a) may b) ought to c) must
18. People ………… fasten seat belts when
3. Carl …………… speak a word of English before
travelling by car.
travelling to Britain.
a) must b) can c) should
a) can’t b) wasn’t able to c) wasn’t allowed to
19. Dad is taking a nap; you ………… make so
4. Mary ………… have forgotten our
much noise, children.
appointment. Why isn’t she here?
a) mustn’t b) might not c) needn’t
a) can b) must c) may
20. We’ve run out of coffee. We ………… get some
5. …………… I use your phone, please?
tomorrow.
a) Must b) Should c) May
a) may b) must c) might
6. You ………… have told us about Sue’s divorce.
21. You ………… better go home now, it’s getting
We made such insensitive comments on her
dark.
husband!
a) would b) should c) had
a) shouldn’t b) should c) mustn’t
22. You ……………… have eaten the chocolate
7. My son has always been a clever boy; he ………
cake, children! It was for dad’s party.
read when he was three.
a) can’t b) might not c) mustn’t
a) could b) might c) may
23. A. “Why is Sue late for work?” B. “Her train
8. I’m afraid I ……………… go out tonight, I ………
…………… have been delayed due to the strike”.
work late.
a) can’t b) ought to d) might
a) can’t/ can b) can’t/ have to c) can’t/ should
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
9. You often have headaches. I think you ………… she had the day off.
visit a neurologist. a) mustn’t b) can’t c) needn’t
a) may b) can c) should 26. Paul asked me to check the exercises. He
10. There are some black clouds in the sky. It thought I …………… have made a mistake.
…………… rain this evening. a) might b) can c) should
a) must b) may c) ought to 27. Mrs Black will get angry. I …………… have
11. The children ………… have finished their written the history essay last weekend.
homework by the time we get home, but I’m not a) must b) should c) may
sure. 28. I ………… take a bus to school; I go there on
a) aren’t able to b) have to c) might foot every day.
12. Most children ………… wear school uniforms in a) mustn’t b) needn’t c) shouldn’t
private schools. 29. A. “I like the new TV series!” B. “Are you
a) might b) must c) can kidding? You …………… like it; it’s the worst
13. Why didn’t you phone Paul? He ………… have programme on TV”.
given a lift to the airport yesterday. a) needn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t
a) can b) ought to c) could 30. Be careful with the knife! It’s very sharp, you
14. A. “Isn’t that John over there?” B. “It ……… be ………… cut your finger.
John, he’s at work now.” a) should b) may c) need to
a) mustn’t b) can’t c) shouldn’t
1. Paul……………… be at home; he always works
until 9 p.m. 15. The new student ……… be German, he doesn’t
a) can’t b) mustn’t c) can speak German fluently.
2. My sister …………… come back from London a) shouldn’t b) mustn’t c) can’t
tonight, but I’m not sure. 16. Someone’s knocking at the door. It ……………
a) may b) ought to c) must be James; he said he’ come round today.
3. Carl …………… speak a word of English before a) ought to b) must c) can’t
travelling to Britain. 17. You …………… buy a dictionary; there are a lot
a) can’t b) wasn’t able to c) wasn’t allowed to in class.
4. Mary ………… have forgotten our a) may not b) mustn’t c) needn’t
appointment. Why isn’t she here? 18. People ………… fasten seat belts when
a) can b) must c) may travelling by car.
5. …………… I use your phone, please? a) must b) can c) should
a) Must b) Should c) May 19. Dad is taking a nap; you ………… make so
6. You ………… have told us about Sue’s divorce. much noise, children.
We made such insensitive comments on her a) mustn’t b) might not c) needn’t
husband! 20. We’ve run out of coffee. We ………… get some
a) shouldn’t b) should c) mustn’t tomorrow.
7. My son has always been a clever boy; he ……… a) may b) must c) might
read when he was three. 21. You ………… better go home now, it’s getting
a) could b) might c) may dark.
8. I’m afraid I ……………… go out tonight, I ……… a) would b) should c) had
work late. 22. You ……………… have eaten the chocolate
a) can’t/ can b) can’t/ have to c) can’t/ should cake, children! It was for dad’s party.
9. You often have headaches. I think you ………… a) can’t b) might not c) mustn’t
visit a neurologist. 23. A. “Why is Sue late for work?” B. “Her train
a) may b) can c) should …………… have been delayed due to the strike”.
10. There are some black clouds in the sky. It a) can’t b) ought to d) might
…………… rain this evening. 24. You …………… bring anything; we’ve bought
a) must b) may c) ought to everything for dinner.
11. The children ………… have finished their a) have not to b) may not c) don’t need to
homework by the time we get home, but I’m not 25. Pam …………… have set the alarm clock since
sure. she had the day off.
a) aren’t able to b) have to c) might a) mustn’t b) can’t c) needn’t
12. Most children ………… wear school uniforms in 26. Paul asked me to check the exercises. He
private schools. thought I …………… have made a mistake.
a) might b) must c) can a) might b) can c) should
13. Why didn’t you phone Paul? He ………… have 27. Mrs Black will get angry. I …………… have
given a lift to the airport yesterday. written the history essay last weekend.
a) can b) ought to c) could a) must b) should c) may
14. A. “Isn’t that John over there?” B. “It ……… be 28. I ………… take a bus to school; I go there on
John, he’s at work now.” foot every day.
a) mustn’t b) can’t c) shouldn’t 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