MODAL EXERCISES

Could Have Should Have Would Have Exercise

1. I (buy) bread but I didn’t know we needed it. (past

possibility)
2. We (invite) so many people to our party! I’m worried that
we won’t have enough room for everyone. (past negative advice / regret)
3. I (start) saving money years ago! (past advice
/ regret)
4. We (join) you at the restaurant, but we couldn’t get
a babysitter. (past willingness)
5. The weather (be) any worse! (past negative possibility)
6. I (arrive) on time, even if I’d left earlier. There were
dreadful traffic jams all the way. (past negative possibility)
7. They (win) the football match, but John hurt his ankle.
(past possibility)
8. Amanda (finish) the work, but she felt ill and had to go
home. (past willingness)
9. Lucy (left) earlier. She missed her flight. (past advice /
regret)
10. We (finish) the game, even if we’d wanted to. It was
raining very hard and we had to stop. (past negative possibility)
11. I (eat) so much chocolate! I feel sick! (past negative
advice / regret)
12. Luke (pass) the exam if he’d studied a bit more. (past
possibility)

13. John (call) Amy, but he didn’t have her number.

(past willingness)
14. You (be) rude to him. He’s going to be really angry now.
(past negative advice / regret)
15. She (come) to the restaurant if she’d left work earlier.
(past possibility)
16. You (take) this job. I can see you’re not enjoying it.
(past negative advice / regret)
17. The race was really difficult. She (win) because
she’s not fit enough. (past negative possibility)
18. Our neighbours (cut) down the tree in their garden. It
was a really beautiful tree. (past negative advice / regret)
19. The children (do) their homework last night. Then they
wouldn’t be panicking on the way to school. (past advice / regret)
20. I’m really cold! I (bring) my coat. (past advice /
regret)
21. I (come) to see you! I didn’t know you were ill. (past
willingness)
22. Andrew (go) to Cambridge University, but he decided to
travel instead. (past possibility)
23. They (be) kinder to me. They were absolutely lovely. (past
negative possibility)
24. You (buy) some milk at the shops. We don’t have any
milk. (past advice / regret)
25. They (come) to have breakfast with us, but they went to
bed too late the night before. (past willingness)
 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.
 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.
8. You smoke inside the school.
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.
 Modals of Probability

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 (practise) 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.