Modals of Ability

Exercise 1

Put in ‘can’ / ‘can’t’ / ‘could’ / ‘couldn’t’. If none is possible, use ‘be able to’ in the correct tense:

1. _________________ you swim when you were 10?

2. We _________________ get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train was delayed by one
hour.

3. He _________________ arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he was very
pleased.

4. He’s amazing, he _________________ speak 5 languages including Chinese.

5. I _________________ drive a car until I was 34, then I moved to the countryside so I had to learn.

6. I looked everywhere for my glasses but I _________________ find them anywhere.

7. I searched for your house for ages, luckily I _________________ find it in the end.

8. She’s 7 years old but she _________________ read yet – her parents are getting her extra lessons.

9. I read the book three times but I _________________ understand it.

10. James _________________ speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he’s forgotten most of it
now.

11. I _________________ understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was so difficult.

12. I _________________ lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you help me?

13. Lucy _________________ make it to our meeting after all. She’s stuck in traffic at the moment.

14. John _________________ play tennis really well. He’s champion of his club.

15. Unfortunately, I really _________________ sing at all! No-one in my family is musical either.

16. When the car broke down I was really pleased because I _________________ solve the problem.

17. Julian _________________ play excellent golf when he was only ten.

18. My grandmother _________________ use a computer until last month. Since then, she’s been
taking lessons at the library.

19. I _________________ open this window. I think it’s stuck!

20. Gill _________________ play the piano. She’s never studied it.

Answers:

1. Could you swim when you were 10?

2. We couldn’t get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train was delayed by one hour.
3. He was able to arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he was very pleased.

4. He’s amazing, he can speak 5 languages including Chinese.

5. I couldn’t drive a car until I was 34, then I moved to the countryside so I had to learn.

6. I looked everywhere for my glasses but I couldn’t find them anywhere.

7. I searched for your house for ages, luckily I was able to find it in the end.

8. She’s 7 years old but she can’t read yet – her parents are getting her extra lessons.

9. I read the book three times but I couldn’t understand it.

10. James could speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he’s forgotten most of it now.

11. I couldn’t understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was so difficult.

12. I can’t lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you help me?

13. Lucy can’t make it to our meeting after all. She’s stuck in traffic at the moment.

14. John can play tennis really well. He’s champion of his club.

15. Unfortunately, I really can’t sing at all! No-one in my family is musical either.

16. When the car broke down I was really pleased because I was able to solve the problem.

17. Julian could play excellent golf when he was only ten.

18. My grandmother couldn’t use a computer until last month. Since then, she’s been taking lessons at
the library.

19. I can’t open this window. I think it’s stuck!

20. Gill can’t play the piano. She’s never studied it.

Modals of Obligation

Put in mustn’t or ‘don’t / doesn’t have to:

1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _______________ be late.

2. You _______________ tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.

3. The museum is free. You _______________ pay to get in.

4. Children _______________ tell lies. It’s very naughty.

5. John’s a millionaire. He _______________ go to work.

6. I _______________ do my washing, because my mother does it for me.

7. We _______________ rush. We’ve got plenty of time.

9. You can borrow my new dress but you _______________ get it dirty.

10. We _______________ miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.

11. She _______________ do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.

12. I _______________ clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.

13. We _______________ forget to lock all the doors before we leave.

14. We _______________ stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.

15. I _______________ spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.

16. They _______________ get up early today, because it’s Sunday.

17. I _______________ eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!

18. We _______________ be late for the exam.

19. You _______________ tidy up now. I’ll do it later.

20. He _______________ cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant

Answers:

1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You mustn’t be late.

2. You mustn’t tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.

3. The museum is free. You don’t have to pay to get in.

4. Children mustn’t tell lies. It’s very naughty.

5. John’s a millionaire. He doesn’t have to go to work.

6. I don’t have to do my washing, because my mother does it for me.

7. We don’t have to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.

8. You mustn’t smoke inside the school.

9. You can borrow my new dress but you mustn’t get it dirty.

10. We mustn’t miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.

11. She doesn’t have to do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.

12. I don’t have to clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.

13. We mustn’t forget to lock all the doors before we leave.

14. We don’t have to stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.
15. I mustn’t spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.

16. They don’t have to get up early today, because it’s Sunday.

17. I mustn’t eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!

18. We mustn’t be late for the exam.

19. You don’t have to tidy up now. I’ll do it later.

20. He doesn’t have to cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.

Modals of Probability 1

Put in ‘must + infinitive’ or ‘must + have + past participle’:

1. Keiko always does really well on exams. She _____________ (study) a lot.

2. That woman drives a very expensive car. She _____________ (have) a lot of money.

3. You _____________ (practice) a lot before you gave your speech. It was really great.

4. When Lizzie got home yesterday, there were flowers on the table. Her husband _____________ (buy)
them.

5. Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it _____________ (be) in this room.

6. Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she _____________ (leave) them at her office.

7. It _____________ (be) cold outside. That man in the street is wearing a coat.

8. All my plants _____________ (be) dead! I forgot to water them before I left for my holiday.

9. Susie is so late! She _____________ (miss) the train.

10. There’s rubbish all over my garden! A fox _____________ (be) in the bin.

11. Anna has a huge library in her house. She _____________ (love) books.

12. Oh no, I don’t have my keys! I _____________ (leave) them in the taxi.

13. When Lucy got home she found the ice cream had melted. It _____________ (be) too hot in the car.
14. If you haven’t eaten all day, you _____________ (be) hungry.

15. Jimmy and Louisa _____________ (be) very tired. They have a new baby.

16. It _____________ (rain) a lot in the night. There are puddles everywhere.

17. David _____________ (be) happy. His girlfriend just agreed to marry him.

18. What an amazing kitchen you’ve got! You _____________ (like) cooking.

19. John _____________ (eat) all the biscuits! There are none left.
20. When I got up this morning, the kitchen was spotless. Lily _____________ (tidy) it before she went
to bed last night.

Answers:

1. Keiko always does really well on exams. She must study a lot.

2. That woman drives a very expensive car. She must have a lot of money.

3. You must have practiced a lot before you gave your speech. It was really great.

4. When Lizzie got home yesterday, there were flowers on the table. Her husband must have bought
them.

5. Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it must be in this room.

6. Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she must have left them at her office.

7. It must be cold outside. That man in the street is wearing a coat.

8. All my plants must be dead! I forgot to water them before I left for my holiday.

9. Susie is so late! She must have missed the train.

10. There’s rubbish all over my garden! A fox must have been in the bin.

11. Anna has a huge library in her house. She must love books.

12. Oh no, I don’t have my keys! I must have left them in the taxi.

13. When Lucy got home she found the ice cream had melted. It must have been too hot in the car.

14. If you haven’t eaten all day, you must be hungry.

15. Jimmy and Louisa must be very tired. They have a new baby.

16. It must have rained a lot in the night. There are puddles everywhere.

17. David must be happy. His girlfriend just agreed to marry him.

18. What an amazing kitchen you’ve got! You must like cooking.

19. John must have eaten all the biscuits! There are none left.

20. When I got up this morning, the kitchen was spotless. Lily must have tidied it before she went to bed
last night

Modals of Probability 2

Put in ‘can’t’ or ‘must’:

1. Why is that man looking around like that? He _____________ be lost.

3. John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He _____________ study enough.

4. The food is really good at that restaurant. They _____________ have a great chef.

5. Who’s that at the door? It _____________ be Susie – she’ll still be at work now.

6. This _____________ be John’s house. This house has a red door, and it’s number 24, just like he said.
7. Julie _____________ have much money, or she would buy a new car. Her old one is falling apart.

8. He _____________ be at work now, can he? It’s nearly midnight.

9. What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You _____________ really like gardening.

10. David _____________ drink a lot of coffee. He’s finished two packets already this week!

11. This _____________ be Jamie’s coat. He’s very tall, and this is tiny.

12. Her life _____________ be easy. She has four children and very little money.

13. Where’s Lucy? She _____________ be at the library, as she often goes there at this time.

14. This bill _____________ be right! £50 for two cups of coffee!

15. Emma’s amazingly good at the piano. She _____________ practice a lot.

16. The car in front is driving so slowly that I think they _____________ be looking for something.

17. You’ve already eaten enough for three people! You _____________ still be hungry!

18. This book _____________ belong to the library. It’s certainly not mine.

19. It only takes three hours to fly from London to Sydney? That _____________ be correct!

20. There _____________ be something wrong with the fridge! It’s making a very unusual noise.

Answers:

1.Why is that man looking around like that? He must be lost.

2. That woman can’t be a doctor! She looks far too young.

3. John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He can’t study enough.

4. The food is really good at that restaurant. They must have a great chef.

5. Who’s that at the door? It can’t be Susie – she’ll still be at work now.

6. This must be John’s house. This house has a red door, and it’s number 24, just like he said.

7. Julie can’t have much money, or she would buy a new car. Her old one is falling apart.

8. He can’t be at work now, can he? It’s nearly midnight.

10. David must drink a lot of coffee. He’s finished two packets already this week!

11. This can’t be Jamie’s coat. He’s very tall, and this is tiny.

12. Her life can’t be easy. She has four children and very little money.

13. Where’s Lucy? She must be at the library, as she often goes there at this time.

14. This bill can’t be right! £50 for two cups of coffee!

15. Emma’s amazingly good at the piano. She must practice a lot.

16. The car in front is driving so slowly that I think they must be looking for something.

17. You’ve already eaten enough for three people! You can’t still be hungry!

18. This book must belong to the library. It’s certainly not mine.

19. It only takes three hours to fly from London to Sydney? That can’t be correct!

20. There must be something wrong with the fridge! It’s making a very unusual noise.