Name:
Date:
Test Paper
A. Rewrite the sentences below, replacing the phrase underlined with a modal verb where possible. 1p
1. It is obligatory for her to pay for the service.
2. Do you expect me to do it on my own?
3. My sister is capable of playing the violin.
4. The lights are off so maybe he isn’t at home.
5. You are prohibited from smoking in the library.
6. Am I permitted to use the tape-recorder?
7. Do you know how to increase the fonts available on this computer?
8. It’s possible for them to order a review of the way the money was spent.
9. It is essential that you disconnect the gas supply before removing the boiler.
10. I’m certain he isn’t responsible for the error; he looks too experienced.
B. Presented below are some ungrammatical forms of modals. Identify the most likely type of
grammatical mistake found in each example. E.g. Do we must go? (question do is not used with a
modal) 1,2 p
1. He cans swim.
2. It does can work.
4. They are will going.
5. I don’t can play good.
6. You must to keep quiet.
C. Complete the sentences below with a modal verb or phrase showing the degree of likelihood shown
in the brackets at the end of the sentence. 0,8 p
1. It’s not your fault. Someone __________have told him. (Certainty)
2. There __________be someone in this room who saw the accident. (Logical necessity)
3. He’s not up to the job. He _____________make decisions. (Negative ability)
4. Anything _____happen if you drive when you’re tired. (Possibility of the idea)
D. Complete the sentences with can, can’t, could or couldn’t. 0,7p
1. Fish _________talk.
2. I used to be a good swimmer. I __________________swim long distances when I was a teenager.
3. Why _______all the nations of the world just get along in peace? Why are there always wars somewhere
on the earth?
4. When I was younger, I ______stay up past midnight and get up at dawn feeling refreshed and ready to go. I
______ do that any longer now because I’m middle–aged.
5. An illiterate person is someone who _______ neither read nor write.
6. I had to put together my daughter’s tricycle. At first I __________figure out what to do, but finally, after
hours of work, I managed to get it assembled.
E. Read these comments and fill in the blanks in the transformations with an appropriate phrase. 1p
1. Perhaps it is a genuine photograph.
It might ________a genuine photograph.
2. Perhaps the man in the funnel is standing in front of the funnel.
The man in the photograph might _____________in front of the funnel.
3. Maybe someone tampered with the photo.
Someone might ______________with the photo.
4. Perhaps the man in the picture was repairing something in the funnel.
The man in the picture might _______________something in the funnel.
5. Perhaps the mystery will be solved in the future.
The mystery might _______________________.
6. Perhaps it was the most famous bridge in the world when it was built.
It _______________the most famous bridge in the world when it was built.
7. Nora certainly had that umbrella with her.
Nora _______________ that umbrella with her.
8. I suppose someone was here before us.
There _____________________________.
9. Maybe someone took the photo with a telescopic lens.
Someone ________________________________________.
10. They offered Carrie a job in New York, but she didn’t want to work there.
Carrie ______________________in New York.
F. Complete the sentences with the appropriate form of the words in parentheses. Add not if necessary
for a sentence to make sense. 1p
1. You (should+watch) _________________the movie on TV tonight. I highly recommend it. It’s classic.
2. I heard a loud crash in the next room. When I walked in, I found a brick on the wall, and the window was
broken. Someone (must+throw)________the brick through the window.
3. A: Where’s Ann?
B: I don’t know. She (could+visit)_____________her aunt and uncle right now.
4. Bob was stopped by a police officer last night. He (must+drive)_______________too fast when she
clocked him on the radar. She gave him a speeding ticket.
5. Jack is in the coffee lounge. He (should+work)_____________on his report right now.
G. Transformations. Rewrite the following sentences, using modal verbs. 1p
1. It is essential that you get to the airport on time.
You ______________________________________________.
2. I am convinced that there is some mistake with this bill – it’s astronomical.
There _____________________________________________.
3. If you hadn’t been speeding, the police wouldn’t have stopped you.
You must __________________________________________________.
4. It’s a pity you didn’t come to the party, because you’d loved it.
You _______________________________________________________.
5. It was wrong of you not to call the doctor at once.
You should _________________________________________________.
H. Replace the modal verbs in the sentences below by other modal verbs. Keep the same meaning if
possible. 0,3p
1. There may have been a misunderstanding.
2. Can I borrow that journal, please?
3. If there were a fire, I know what I ought to do, but I don’t know what I would do.
I. Make logical conclusions about these situations. 0,4p
Example: We had a test in class yesterday. Charles, who rarely studies and usually fails the tests, got a score
of 95% this time. =>> Charles must have studied for the test.
1. I’m sure the man I saw wasn’t Patrick. He’s in America at the moment.
2. Look! The pavements are soaking wet.
3. Anita is in bed. The lights are out, and I can hear someone snoring.
4. The teacher has brought the tests. He looks happy.
J. Join up the two parts of the following sentences. 0,6p
1. He must be in the garden… a. because I can’t open it.
2. The application form must be returned… b. because I can hear the lawn mower.
3. The back door must be locked so… c. that burglars don’t get in.
4. The back door must be locked… d. because it never arrived.
5. He should have been wearing a tie… e. by the end of next week at the latest.
6. You must have sent the letter to the wrong address.... f. but he wasn’t, so they didn’t let him into the
restaurant.
