1. Exercises For Modal Verbs
1.Tom ought not to____ me your secret, but he meant no harm.
A. have told B. tell
C. be telling D. having told
Key: A
2. Peter ____ come with us tonight, but he isn’t very sure yet.
A. must B. may C. can D. will
Key: B

2. 3. I told Sally how to get here, but perhaps I ___ for her.
A. had to write it out B. must have written it out
C. should have written it out
D. ought to write it out
Key: C
4. –Shall I tell John about it?
-- No, you ____. I’ve told him already.
A. needn’t B. wouldn’t C. mustn’t D. shouldn’t
Key: A

3. 5. Michael___ be a policeman, for he is much too short.
A. needn’t B. can’t C. should D. may
Key: B
6.– There were already five people in the car but they managed to take me as well.
-- It ____ a comfortable journey.
A. can’t be B. shouldn’t be
C. mustn’t have been D. couldn’t have been
Key: D

4. 7. It’s nearly seven o’clock. Jack ___ be here at any moment.
A. must B. need C. should D. can
Key: C
8. Susan___ written a report like this.
A. can have B. mustn’t have
C. can’t have D. ought to not have

5. 9. Oh, I’m not feeling well in the stomach, I___ so much fried chicken just now.
A. shouldn’t cut B. mustn’t have eaten
C. shouldn’t have eaten D. mustn’t eat
Key: C
10.Johnny, you ___ play with the knife, you ___ hurt yourself.
A. won’t; can’t B. mustn’t; may
C. shouldn’t; must D. can’t; should
Key: B

6. 11. When he was there, he___ go to that coffee shop at the corner after work every day.
A. would B.should C. had better D. might
Key: A
12. Sir, you___be sitting in this waiting room. It is for women and children only.
A. oughtn’t to B. can’t C. won’t D. needn’t

7. 13. The fire spread through the hotel very quickly but everyone___ get out.
A. had to B.would C.was able to D.could
Key: C
14. Jack ___ yet, otherwise he would have telephoned me.
A.mustn’t have arrived B.shouldn’t have arrived C. can’t have arrived D. needn’t have arrived.

8. 15. --When can I come for the photos? I need them tomorrow afternoon.
--They ___be ready by 12:00.
A. can B. should C. might D. need
Key: B
16.– I stayed at a hotel while in New York.
-- Oh, did you? You___with Barbara.
A. could have stayed B.could stay
C. would stay D. must have stayed
Key: A

9. 17.—Could I call you by the first name?
--Yes, you___.
A. will B. could C. may D. might
Key: C
18.—Will you stay for lunch?
--Sorry. I____. My brother is coming to see me.
A. mustn’t B.can’t C.needn’t D. won’t
Key: B

10. 19. There was a lot of fun at yesterday’s party
19.There was a lot of fun at yesterday’s party. You___come, but why didn’t you?
A. must have B. should
C. need have D. ought to have
Key: D
20.—Are you coming to Jeff’s party?
--I’m not sure. I ___go to the concert instead.
A. must B. would C. should D. might

11. 21.Sorry, I’m late. I ___ have turned off the alarm clock and gone back to sleep again.
A. might B. should C. can D. will
Key: A
22. My sister met him at the Grand Theatre yesterday afternoon, so he __ your lecture.
A. couldn’t have attended B. needn’t have attended C. mustn’t have attended D. shouldn’t have attended

12. 23.I was really anxious about you. You__ home without a word.
A. mustn’t leave B. shouldn’t have left
C. couldn’t have left D. needn’t leave
Key: B
24. – Write to me when you get home.
-- ________.
A. I must B. I should C. I will D. I can
Key: C

13. 25. You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman ___ be so rude to a lady.
A. might B. need C. should D. would
Key: C
26. Mr. Bush is on time for everything. How ___ it be that he was late for the opening ceremony?
A. can B. should C. may D. must
Key: A

14. 27. – Is John coming by train?
--He should, but he___ not. He likes driving his car.
A. must B. can C. need D. may
Key: D
28. – I heard they went skiing in the mountains last winter.
--It ___ true because there was little snow there.
A. may not have B. won’t be
C. couldn’t be D. mustn’t be
Key: C

15. 29. –I hear you’ve got a set of valuable Australian coins
29. –I hear you’ve got a set of valuable Australian coins. ___ I have a look?
-- Yes, certainly.
A. Do B. May C. Must D. Should
Key: B
30. It has been announced that candidates ___ remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected.
A. can B. will C. may D. shall
Key: D