Modal verbs

Exercise 1. Use must not or do not have to in the following.

1. I’ve already finished all my work, so I … study tonight. I think I’ll read for a while.

2. I … forget to take my key with me.

3. You … introduce me to Dr.Grey. We’ve already met.

4. A person … become rich and famous in order to live a successful life.

5. In order to be a successful salesclerk, you …be rude to a customer.

6. I … go to the doctor. I’m feeling much better.

7. A person …get married in order to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

8. Johnny! You …play with sharp knives.

9. We … go to the concert if you don’t want to, but it might be good.

10. An entering freshman … declare a major immediately. The student may wait a few semesters before deciding upon a major.

11. Bats … see in order to avoid obstacles. They can navigate in complete darkness.

12. This is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. We … let it pass. We must act.

13. If you encounter a growling dog, you … show any signs of fear. If a dog senses fear, it is more likely to bite a person.

14. Tigers are magnificent animals. We … allow them to become extinct.

15. The class trip to the art museum is optional. You … go, but you might enjoy it.

Exercise 2. Use either should or must/have to in the following.

1. A person … eat in order to live.

2. A person … eat a balanced diet.

3. If you want to become a doctor, you …go to medical school for many years.

4. We … go to Colorado for our vacation.

5. According to my academic advisor, I … take another English course.

6. I … write to my folks tonight, but I think I’ll wait and do it tomorrow.

7. You … have a passport if you want to travel abroad.

8. Everyone …have certain goals in life.

9. Rice … have water in order to grow.

10. I … go to class, but I don’t feel good. I think I’d better stay at home.

11. If a door is locked, you …use a key to open it.

12. I don’t have enough money to take the bus, so I … walk home.

13. If you don’t know how to spell a word, you … look it up in the dictionary.

Exercise 3. Use should have + past participle in your response.

Example: You failed the test because you didn’t study.

Response: I should have studied.

1. You are cold because you didn’t wear a coat.

2. You misspelled a word because you didn’t look it up in the dictionary.

3. Your friend is upset because you didn’t write him a letter.

4. You are broke now because you spent all your money foolishly.

5. The room is full of flies because you opened the window.

6. You don’t have any food for dinner because you didn’t go to the grocery store.

7. You overslept this morning because you didn’t set your alarm clock.

8. Your friends went to Lviv over vacation. They had a good time. You didn’t go with them, and now you are sorry.

9. John loved Mary, but he didn’t marry her. Now he is unhappy.

10. John loved Mary, and he married her. But now he is unhappy.

Exercise 4. Find and correct the errors in the following sentences.

1. The building custodian supposed to unlock the classrooms every morning.

2. You’re not suppose to open that door.

3. Where are we suppose to meet?

4. I have a meeting at seven tonight. I suppose to be there a little early to discuss the agenda.

5. When we go to the store, Annie, you do not suppose to handle the glassware. It might break, and then you’d have to pay for it out of your allowance.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences by using must or might/may/could with the

expressions in the list or with your own words.

be about ten be very proud like green

be at a meeting feel terrible miss them very much

be crazy fit Jimmy

be rich have the wrong number

1. Have you noticed that Professor Adams wears something green every day? - I know. He ….

2. Ed just bought his wife a diamond necklace with matching earrings. - That’s expensive! He …

3. Look at the man standing outside the window on the fifteenth floor of the building. - He … - I agree. Only a nut would do something like that.

4. Hello? - Hello. May I speak to Ron? - I’m sorry. You … There’s no one here by that name.

5. I’ve heard that your daughter recently graduated from law school and that your son has got a scholarship to the state university. You … - We are.

6. You are coughing and sneezing, blowing your nose, and running a fever. You ... - I do.

7. This winter jacket is still in good shape, but Tommy has outgrown it. Do you think it would fit one of your sons? - It’s probably too small for Johnny, too, but it …

8. How long has it been since you last saw your family? - Over a year. - You … - I do.

9. How old is their daughter now? - Hmmm. I think she was born around the same time our daughter was born. - She…

Exercise 6. Complete the dialogues. Use an appropriate form of must with the verbs in parentheses. Use the negative if necessary

1. Paula fell asleep in class this morning. - She (stay up) too late last night.

2. Jim is eating everything in the salad but the onions. He’s pushed all of the onions over to the side of his plate with his fork. - He (like) onions.

3. George had to give a speech in front of 500 people. - Whew! That’s a big audience. He (be) nervous. - He was, but nobody could tell.

4. What time is it? - Well, we came at seven, and I’m sure we’ve been here for at least an hour. So it (be) around eight o’clock.

5. My favourite magazine doesn’t come in the mail any more. I wonder why. - Did your subscription run out? - That’s probably the problem. I (forget) to renew it.

6. I met Mary’s husband at the reception and we said hello to each other, but when I asked him a question in English, he just smiled and nodded. - He (speak) much English.

7. Where’s Dorothy? I’ve been looking all over for her. - I saw her about ten minutes ago in the living room. Have you looked there? - Yes, I’ve looked everywhere. She (leave).

8. Listen. Do you hear a noise downstairs? - No, I don’t hear a thing. - You don’t? Then something (be) wrong with your hearing.

9. You have black eye! What happened? - I walked into a door. - Ouch! That (hurt). - It did.

10. I grew up in a small town. - That (be) dull. - It wasn’t at all. You can’t imagine the fun we had.

Exercise 7. Use will, should/ought to or must in the following. In some more than one modals is possible.

1. Look at all the people standing in the line to get that movie. It … be a good movie.

2. Let’s go to the lecture tonight. It … be interesting.

3. Look. Jack’s car is in front of his house. He … be at home. Let’s stop and visit him.

4. Hello. May I speak to Jack? - He isn’t here right now. - What time do you expect him? - He … be at home around nine or so.

5. Who do you think is going to win the game tomorrow? - Well, our team has better players, so we … win, but you never know. Anything can happen in sports.

6. It’s very important for you to be there on time. - I … be there at seven o’clock. I promise!

7. What time are you going to arrive? - Well, the trip takes about for hours. I think I’ll leave sometime around noon, so I … get there around four.

8. Susie is yawning and rubbing her eyes. -She …be sleepy. Let’s put her early to bed tonight.

9. Martha has been working hard all day. She left for work before dawn this morning. - She … be really tired when she gets home this evening.

10. Where can I find the address for the University of Chicago? - I’m not sure, but you …be able to find that information at the library. The library carries catalogues of most of the universities in the United States.

11. When’s dinner? - We’re almost ready to eat. The rice … be done in five minutes.

12. Where’s your dictionary? - Isn’t it on my desk? - No. - Then it must be in the bookcase. You … it on the second shelf. Is it there?

13. Hmmm. I wonder what’s causing the delay. Ellen’s plane … have been here an hour ago.

14. I thought I had a dollar in my billfold, but I don’t. I … have spent it.

15. Ed has been acting strangely lately. He … be in love.

Exercise 8. Complete the sentences with the verbs in parentheses. Use must, should, or may/might/could. Use the appropriate progressive form.

1. Look. Those people who are coming in the door are carrying wet umbrellas. It (rain).

2. Why is Margaret in her room? - I don’t know. She (do) her homework.

3. Do you smell smoke? - I sure do. Something (burn).

4. The line’s been busy for over an hour. Who do you suppose Frank is talking to? - I don’t know. He (talk) to his parents. Or he (talk) to his sister in Chicago.

5. What’s all that noise upstairs? It sounds like a herd of elephants. - The children (play) some kind of game. - That’s what it sounds like to me, too. I’ll go and see.

6. I need to call Howard. Do you know which hotel he is staying at in Boston? - Well, he (stay) at the Hilton, but I’m not sure. He (stay) at the Holiday Inn.

7. What are you doing? - I’m writing a letter to a friend, but I (study). I have a test tomorrow.

8. Did you know that Andy just quit school and started to hitchhike to Alaska? - What? You (kid).

9. Did Ed really mean what he said yesterday? - No, I don’t think so. I think he (kid).

Exercise 9. Use a modal or similar with each verb in parentheses. More than one auxiliary is possible.

1. It looks like rain. We (shut) the window.

2. Ann, (hand, you) me that dish? Thanks.

3. I returned a book to the library yesterday. It was two weeks overdue, so I (pay) a fine of $1.40. I (return) the book when it was due.

4. Spring break starts on the thirteenth. We (go, not) to classes again until the twenty-second.

5. (make, I) an appointment to see Dean Witherspoon?

6. Neither of us knows the way to their house. We (take) a map with us or we’ll probably get lost.

7. The baby is only a year old, but she (say, already) a few words.

8. You (tell, not) Jack about the party. It’s a surprise birthday party for him.

9. Excuse me. I didn’t understand. (repeat, you) what you said?

10. In the United States, elementary education is compulsory. All children (attend) six years of elementary school.

11. When I was younger, I (run) ten miles without stopping. But now I (run, not) more than a mile or two.

12. There was a long line in front of the theatre. We (wait) almost an hour to buy our tickets.

13. I don’t feel like going to the library to study this afternoon. I (go) to the shopping mall more than to the library.

14. Microwave ovens make cooking fast and easy. If you have a microwave, you (cook) this frozen dinner in five minutes.

15. Annie, you (clean) this mess before Dad gets home. He’ll be mad if he sees all this stuff the living room floor.

Exercise 10. Use a modal or similar expression with each verb in parentheses more than one auxiliary is possible.

1. Don is putting on a little weight around his middle. He (get) more exercise.

2. I’m sleepy. I (keep, not) my eyes open. I (go) to bed before I fall asleep right here.

3. In my country, a girl and boy (go, not) out on a date unless they are accompanied by a haperone.

4. Jimmy was serious when he said he wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up. We (laugh, not) at him. We hurt his feelings.

5. (cash, you) this check for me?

6. This is none of his business. He (stick, not) his nose into other people’s business.

7. My wife and ten children are coming to join me here. They (live, not) in my dormitory room. I (find) an apartment.

8. Jane’s looking at the test paper the teacher just returned. She’s smiling. She (pass) the test.

9. It’s not like Tony to be late. He (be) here an hour ago. I hope nothing had happened.

10. The teacher called on Sam in class yesterday, but he kept looking out of the window and didn’t respond. He (daydream).

11. When I arrived home last night, I discovered that I had forgotten my key. My roommate was asleep, but I (wake) him by knocking loudly on the door.

12. A: (Speak, I) to Peggy? - She (come, not) to the phone right now. (Take, I) message?

Exercise 11. Rephrase the following situations using an appropriate modal verb.

1. It’s not possible that he’s finished already. He …

2. It wasn’t necessary for you to give him a present. You …

3. I advise you to stop eating chocolate. You …

4. I insist that you do your homework. You …

5. It was wrong of him to kick that dog. He …

6. It’s possible that she’s already phoned him. She …

7. I’ll like the dog out if you like. Would …

8. Will you let me speak to George, please? May …

9. Let’s go to a restaurant. What …

10. It’s possible that he is lying. He …

11. He wasn’t able to write until he was. He …

12. Talking is not permitted during the test. You …

13. It would be a good idea for me to give up smoking. I had …

14. I’m sure that he’s gone home. He …

15. It isn’t right to speak to your mother like that. You …

16. It isn’t possible for me to come to the party tonight. I …

17. He is obliged to go to the police station twice a week.

Exercise 12. How else can you express the following?

1. Can I have the last cake, please?

2. Let’s go for a bike ride?

3. She might be on holiday.

4. Could you hold this for me, please?

5. She couldn’t drive until last year.

6. You can’t take photos in here.

7. I’ve been scheduled to take you to the airport.

8. Shall we go to the basketball match?

9. Is it possible that he will be offered the job soon?

10. I should go to the laundrette today.

11. Would you mind moving your car, please?

12. Would you like me to make lunch?

13. You must post this before the end of the week.

14. He’ll be sleeping now, I’m sure.

15. You are expected to be here on time.

16. I’m sure Paula’s train left on time.

17. I’m sure Jim didn’t mention the matter to anyone.

18. It’s possible that Liverpool will win the match.

Exercise 13. Fill in a modal or a synonymous expression and the appropriate form of the verbs.

1. I’m getting fat. I really … (try) to lose some weight, like the doctor said.

2. What a lovely day! …(we/go) for a walk?

3. I’m not sure where Gary is. He … (be) in the library.

4. That … (not/be) Bill’s car. He doesn’t own one.

5. Tom …(sleep) but I’m not sure. Why don’t you go and see?

6. Don’t worry. You … (not/dress) formally for the party.

7. If you wanted to borrow my car, you … (ask) me.

8. This dog … (belong) to Harry. It’s got its address on its collar.

9. Only authorized personnel … (enter) this area.

10. You … (not/smoke) in some public places.

11. I saw John in the town centre this morning. He … (go) to Spain yet.

12. Fortunately he …(convince) the police that he was innocent.

13. Tom drives really well now. He … (pass) his driving test easily.

14. She … (be) at the party last night. She was ill.

15. They … (announce) the winners on March 16th. It’s scheduled.

16. She … (start) working on Monday. The manager has told her to.

17. I missed the film last night because I … (work) late.

18. Everyone in the world … (have) food and shelter.

19. You … (comply) with the regulations. We expect you to do so.

20. People … (treat) animals in a better way but they don’t always do so.

Exercise 14. Write what each person would say in each situation using modals, then identify their use. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

1. A student has just come into the class and left the door open. It is noisy outside. You say to him ….

2. You have opened the kitchen window to let in some fresh air. Your sister, who is recovering from a bad cold, comes in. You say to her ….

3. Your friend wants to pay for your dinner. You tell her it’s not necessary.

4. Your mother wants to know where your sister is. You think she is helping your father in the garden.

5. A friend from Portugal phones to tell you she will be coming to England for two weeks next summer. You want her to stay with you. You say to her ….

6. You’re going on holiday. Your sister wants to take so many pairs of shoes that her suitcase won’t fasten.

7. Your friend is sure your father goes to a gym every morning before work as he always looks so healthy. He says to you ….

8. Tom was driving fast when he accidentally went off the road. Fortunately no one was killed or injured. You say to him …

9. Your friend failed his exam. He hadn’t revised at all. You say to him …

10. John is taking part in a horse race. You don’t know if John will win. You ask your friends if it’s possible.