Modal Verbs

MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, OUGHT TO, CAN, NEEDNT

A. Choose the correct alternatives.
1. People can / have to be fit if they want to climb high mountains.
2. In my opinion, you have to / should do a less violent sport, like table tennis.
3. We needn’t / mustn’t take any food with us because we’ll be back by lunchtime.
4. I can / ought to train more often, but I don’t have time.
5. The club rules say that you ought to / have to be 18 to join.
6. You needn’t / mustn’t close your eyes when you dive into the swimming pool because you
might hit somebody.
7. My grandmother can / ought to still swim 1000 metres. She’s amazing!

B. Complete the sentences with the modal verbs. Use CAN, HAVE TO, MUSTN’T,
NEEDN’T, SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T.
1. The views from the mountain top will be wonderful, so I think you _______________ take your
camera.
2. You ______________ go into the water because the current is too strong. It’s very dangerous.
3. You _________________ obtain a special permit to climb in China or you won’t be allowed to
climb.
4. In my opinion, you ____________________ swim so soon after eating your lunch.
5. I ___________________ fly planes now because I’ve finished my flying lessons.
6. You ___________________ take a coat with you because it will be hot today.

MAY, MIGHT, COULD, MUST, CAN’T

C. Choose the correct modal verb.
1. Try to smile more often. It could / must improve your health.
2. She does a lot of exercise, so she must / can’t be very fit.
3. This comedian might / must get funnier later in the show, but I don’t think he will.
4. I may / can’t go to the gym this evening. If I do, I’ll phone you.
5. There must / may be a connection between laughing a lot and having good health,
although scientists aren’t completely sure.
6. They might / can’t be here already! It’s far too early.
7. Why don’t you come to the theatre with me? You must / might enjoy it.

Modal verbs: past forms

D. Translate the sentences into your language.

1. I could drive a mini-motorbike when I was ten years old.
-_________________________________________________________________________
2. The climbers had to wait six hours for the helicopter to rescue them.
-_________________________________________________________________________
3. Sarah and Mike ought to have told somebody where they were going.
-_________________________________________________________________________
4. The journey across the lake wasn’t dangerous so you needn’t have worried.
-_________________________________________________________________________
5. You shouldn’t have gone outside when it was snowing.
-_________________________________________________________________________

E. Rewrite the sentences using the past forms of the modal verbs.
1. It was necessary for us to take a different route.
We ____________________________________________________________________
2. It wasn’t a good idea to drive so fast last night.
You ____________________________________________________________________
3. Mike had the ability to ski when he was a small child.
Mike ______________________________________________________________________
4. They didn’t use oxygen, which was a mistake.
They ______________________________________________________________________
5. It wasn’t necessary for you to phone Tom because I’d already contacted him.
You _______________________________________________________________________

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F. Complete the text with the past forms of the modal verbs. Use COULD,
COULDN’T,HAD TO or SHOULD HAVE.
Cave fright
It was a beautiful morning when Rob and I went down into the caves to explore. At
first we walked, but soon the cave became smaller, and we 1. _________________ (crawl) along
on our hands and knees. We continued, but the water in the cave was rising. Soon the water
was up to our necks, and we 2. ___________________ (keep) our heads up to breathe.
Suddenly, my torch went out. I knew that the battery was low. I3. __________________
(recharge) it before we left, but I’d forgotten.
Then, Rob saw that the tunnel ahead of us was completely under water. We were in a
difficult situation. We 4. _____________________ (not turn back) because the cave was too
narrow, so we decided to continue. We 5. ___________________ (hold) our breath, dive down
and swim along the tunnel. Finally we arrived in a large cave and we 6. ____________________
(breathe) all the air we wanted. We were safe at last!

G. Complete the sentences. Use MIGHT HAVE, MUST HAVE or CAN’T HAVE, and the
correct form of the verb.
1. He’s slimmer. He ______________________ (start) eating less and exercising more.
2. They’re not smiling. They ______________________ (understand) the joke.
3. Ryan is looking very happy about his exam results. He ________________________ (pass)!
4. I like your engagement ring. It _________________________ (cost) a lot of money.
5. It’s one o’clock but my watch still says half past eleven. It _____________________ (stop).
6. I don’t know where my sunglasses are. I _________________________ (leave) them at home, or
maybe at school.

H. Rewrite the sentences. Use MIGHT HAVE … , MUST HAVE … or CAN’T HAVE.
1. Perhaps the programme on Channel 4 was better than the one we watched on Channel 5.
The programme on Channel 4 might have been better than the one we watched on Channel
5.

1. It’s impossible that you saw Hannah with Rachel’s boyfriend.

-__________________________________________________________________________
2. I’m certain that there was a good reason why the show was cancelled.
-__________________________________________________________________________
3. It’s possible that you left your coat in the club.
-__________________________________________________________________________
4. I’m certain that the children weren’t disappointed with the circus.
-__________________________________________________________________________
5. I’m sure David wasn’t at the library this morning because it was closed.
-__________________________________________________________________________
6. I’ve met that boy before, but I’m not sure.
-__________________________________________________________________________
7. I’m certain that Kate has received my letter because I posted it last week.
-______________________________________________________________________
8. There’s a possibility that Jake has turned off his mobile because he’s not answering my
calls.
-______________________________________________________________________

I. Think about each situation. Write sentences about what MAY, MIGHT, COULD,
MUST or CAN’T HAVE happened.
1. The traffic lights have changed to green. The first car still hasn’t moved and the driver is
examining the engine. =The car must have broken down.
2. You can’t find your wallet anywhere. You think you last saw it at home, or perhaps at your
friend’s house.
-__________________________________________________________________________
3. A boy is in a three-hour exam. There’s only one hour left and he still hasn’t written
anything.
-__________________________________________________________________________
4. A girl has just had her exam results. She’s not smiling.
-__________________________________________________________________________
5. A young couple went to a club together. Now the boy can’t find the girl, and her coat isn’t
there, either.
-__________________________________________________________________________

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6. People are coming out of the cinema. They are all laughing.
-__________________________________________________________________________
7. A young couple have just come out of a church. They are smiling and waving at everybody.
-__________________________________________________________________________

J. Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs.

CATCH CHANGE GIVE TELL TURN
1. You should be honest and always ____________________ the truth.
2. If you stand there in the rain you will __________________ a cold.
3. I ___________________ the key and opened the door.
4. Chris __________________ me a joke which was so funny that I couldn’t stop laughing.
5. If you go to the station now, you might be in time to ________________ the train to
Manchester.
6. I ___________________ my best friend some advise and she did what I suggested.
7. He __________________ his young children a story to help them go to sleep.
8. When I mentioned the money he owed me, he ____________________ the subject and started
talking about the weather.
9. When you’ve finished Chapter 1 in your books, ____________________ the page and begin
Chapter 2.
10. First I wanted to buy the red sweater, but then I _________________ my mind and bought
the green one.
11. At first I couldn’t find Kirsty, but then I ________________ the corner into Bridge Road and
she was there.
12. My parents have to ____________________ permission for me to go on the school trip.

Modal verbs: MAY, MIGHT, COULD, MUST, CAN’T.

K. Look at the examples and answer the questions.
1. Laughter may help to fight cancer.
2. Laughter could be as good for you as a jog.
3. You can’t be tired. You went to bed really early.
4. This might explain why laughter is so contagious.
5. She must be very fit. She goes to the gym every day.

Which verb(s) do we use when …

1. We think that something is possible? (3 verbs) ________, ________ , _________ .
2. We are certain that something is impossible? __________
3. We are certain that something is true? ___________

L. Choose the correct modal verbs.

1. Everyone’s laughing! The film must / might be really funny.
2. You must / can’t be hungry again. We’ve just eaten.
3. “Who’s that playing tennis with Paula?” “I’m not sure. It must / could be her brother”.
4. Let’s watch a comedy on TV. It might / must make you feel better.
5. I must / may go out later – I haven’t decided yet.
6. Andrew must / could be very pleased about something. He’s been smiling all day.

M. Look at the examples. Copy and complete the rule.

1. I’m not sure, but I think Anna might have left already.
2. Laughing about the problem must have helped him.
4. Tim can’t have enjoyed the play – he didn’t laugh.

We use MIGHT, MUST, etc. + _________ + past

participle.
N. Correct the mistakes in the sentences:
1. Jill must to have thought the joke was funny. She’s still laughing.
2. Neil could have leave his bag in the car.
3. They haven’t arrived yet. They might had an accident.
4. That little girl is very dirty. She musts have fallen over in the mud.
5. You can’t have finish your homework. You’ve only just started doing it!

O. Rewrite the sentences. Use MIGHT HAVE , MUST HAVE or CAN’T HAVE .
1. I’m sure that the film was very funny. They went to see it twice.
-__________________________________________________________________________

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2. It’s possible that they missed the plane.
-__________________________________________________________________________
3. I’m sure that Jack didn’t win the race. He’s very unfit.
-__________________________________________________________________________
4. Perhaps you left your wallet at home.
-__________________________________________________________________________
5. It’s impossible that you saw Helen. She’s in New York.
-__________________________________________________________________________
6. I’m sure that you dropped your ticket.
-__________________________________________________________________________
7. Maybe Chris decided not to come.
-__________________________________________________________________________
8. I’m sure that they didn’t like the music. They didn’t dance all night.
-__________________________________________________________________________
9. Perhaps he didn’t call her to meet again.
-__________________________________________________________________________
10. I’m certain that he hurt himself when he fell.
-__________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE, TRY TO USE MODAL VERBS IN YOUR COMPOSITIONS, OK?