MODAL VERBS -WITH KEY

MODAL VERBS
MODAL VERBS MCQ
1.“ Write to me when you get home.” -“ ______.“
A. I must B. I should C. I will D. I can
2. Mr Kent is on time for everything. How _____ it be that he was late
for the opening ceremony?
A. can B. should C. may D. must
3. - “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
4. An awful accident _____ , however, occur the other day.
A. does B. did C. can D. may
5. 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
6. “Will you stay for lunch?” - “Sorry, I _____. My brother is coming to
see me.”
A must B. can’t C. needn’t D. won’t
7 - “Alice, you feed the bird today, _____ ?“ - “But I fed it yesterday.”
A. do you B. will you C. didn’t you D. don’t
you
8. 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
9 “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
10. “When can I come for the photos? I need them tomorrow
aftrnoon.” - “They _____ be ready by 12:00.”

A. can B. should C. might D. need
11. The fire spread through the hotel very quickly but everyone
_____ get out.
A had to B. would C. could D. was able
to
12. Jack _____ yet, otherwise he would have telephoned me
A. mustn’t have arrived B. shouldn’t have arrived
C. can’t have arrived D. need not have arrived
13. 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/
shouldn’t
14. 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
15. Yesterday, Jane walked away from the discussion.Otherwise, she
_____ something she would regret later.
A. had said B. said C. might say . D.
might have said
16. 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
17. - “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
18. It’s nearly seven o’clock. Jack ____ be here at any moment.
A. must B. need C. should D. can
19. - “Mary looks sad. Did you tell her about the accident?” - “Yes,
but I _____ her later.”

A. ought not to have told B. shouldn’t have told
C. must have told D. should have told
20. - “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
21. - “Don’t forget to come to my birthday party tomorrow.” -“ _____. “
A. I don’t B. I won’t C. I can’t D. I haven’t
22. 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
23. _____ it rain tomorrow, we would have to put off the visit to the
Marble Mountains.
A. Were B. Should C. Would D. Will
24. Tom ought not to _____ me your secret, but he meant no harm.
A. have told B. tell C. be telling D. having told
25. Peter _____ come with us tonight, but he isn't very sure.
A must B. may C. can D. will
26. "Could I borrow your dictionary?" - "Yes, of course you _____.”
A might B. will C. can D. should
27. We _____ _last night, but we went to the concert instead.
A. must have studied B. might study
C. should have studied D. would study
28. A computer _____ think for itself; it must be told what to do.
A. can’t B. couldn’t C. may not D.
might not
29 Jane _____ have kept her word. I wonder why she changed her
mind.
A. must B. should C. need D.
would

30. - “Do you have to leave now?” - “Sorry, but I really _____.”
A can’t B. mustn’t C. have D.
should
31. He _____ you more help, even though he was very busy.
A. might have given B. might give
C. may have given D. may give
32. It's a fine day. Let's go fishing, _______ ?
A. won't we B. will we C. don't we D. shall we
33. I didn't hear the phone. I _____ asleep.
A. must be B. must have been C. should be D.
should have been
34. Mother ______ us stories when we were young.
A. was used to tell B. is used to telling
C. used to tell D. used to telling
35. You _____ return the book now. You can keep it till next week.
A can't B. mustn't C. needn't D. may not
36. The plant is dead. I ______ it more water.
A will give B. would have given
C must give D. should have given
37. There was plenty of time. She _____ .
A mustn't have hurried B. couldn't have hurried
C must not hurry D needn't have hurried
38. No matter how hard I have tried, the door ______ .
A. doesn’t B. won’t open C. won't be
opened D. can't
39 "Must we do it now
?
" -"No, you _____ .”
A. won't B. needn't C. can't D. don't
40 Hurry up! Tom______ for us at the school gate.

A. must wait B. must be waiting
C must be waited D. must have been waited
41 - "I think Jane is at home." - "No, she _____ be at home, for
she phoned me from the airport just ten minutes ago."
A. mustn't B. needn't C. can't D. daren't
42.There are so many types here, and I really don't know which
one I _____ choose.
A. should B. can C. may D. must
43.Your coat is rather dirty. ________ I wash it for you?
A Do B. Will C. Have D. Shall
44. I _____ play basketball than football.
A. would rather B. had better C. like better D.
prefer
45. You'd better ______ late next time.
A. don't B. not be C. not being D. won't be
46. I ______ like to know where you were born.
A. shall B. should C. could D. may
47. Peter _____ like to meet Mary.
A. does B. would C. should D. had
48 "Did you visit the famous museum?" - "No. We _____it, but we
spent too much time shopping.
A must have visited B. could have visited
C. can't have visited D. shouldn't have visited
49. My mother ______ such a thing.
A. cannot say B. couldn't say
C. may not say D. cannot have said
50. You ______ the look on his face when he won the prize.
A. would have seen B. can be seeing
C. must see D. should have seen
Exercise 2

1. Nancy was refused to be given a scholarship to study abroad two days ago.
A B C
She could have been very sad.
D
2. There is no parking sign here so you would better take your car out of here
now.
A B C D
3. If you are free today, you will join our party at the club.
A B C D
4. The company is going to held a party to celebrate the establishment .
A B C D
5. The manager would dismiss his secretary if the secretary makes such stupid
mistakes A B C
in the reports.
D
6. The little girl says that her parents have been out but she could contact them
easily
A B C
D
7. The men are able work better than they did last year.
A B C D
8. When we were children, we use to climb over the wall to get into the neighbor’s
garden.
A B C D
9. If the boy had come home last night, he will have seen a gift lying on the table.
A B C D
10. The New Year’s Eve party can be held in a person’s house to celebrate the
changing
A B C
of the calendar next week.

D
11. Do you please tell us the way to the nearest post office here?
A B C D
12. When you feel tired of working so hard, you will take a break to relax.
A B C D
13. There is a No Parking sign, so you won’t park your car here.
A B C D
14. You have to be hurry if you do not want to miss the last bus.
A B C D
15. The man is very intelligent because he is able to speak five languages.
A B C D
16. You have to do your homework every day.
A. Your homework has been done every day.
B Your homework has to do by you every day.
C Your homework has to be done every day.
D Your homework have to be done every day.
17. You shouldn’t tell her the news. It might kill her.
A. She shouldn’t be told by the news. She might be killed.
B. The news shouldn’t be told her. She might be killed.
C. She shouldn’t be told the news. She might be killed.
D. She shouldn’t been told the news. It might be killed.
18. It wasn't obligatory to submit my assignment today.
A. My assignment must have been submitted today.
B. I needn't have submitted my assignment today.
C. My assignment was required to submit by today.
D. I mustn't submit my assignment today.
19. It's time we left for the disco.
A. We may leave for the disco now. B. We needn't leave for the
disco now.
C. We should leave for the disco now. D. We must have left for the disco

now.
20. It was a mistake of you to lose your passport.
A. You shouldn't have lost your passport.
B. There must be a mistake in your passport.
C. You needn't have brought your passport.
D. Your passport must be lost.
21. My car keys are possibly in the kitchen.
A. My car keys should be put in the kitchen.
B. My car keys cannot be in the kitchen.
C. I don’t know whether my car keys are in the kitchen.
D. My car keys might be in the kitchen.
22. Is it possible for me to come to your house at about 7pm?
A. Must I come over to your house at about 7pm?
B. Could I be coming to your house at about 7pm?
C. Can I come to your house at about 7pm?
D. Will I come to your house at about 7pm?
23. You must never take off your helmet while you are riding a motorcycle.
A. If you are riding a motorcycle, you needn’t wear a helmet.
B. When you are riding a motorcycle, wearing a helmet is not a must.
C. You needn’t wear a helmet whenever you are riding a motorcycle
D. Helmets must be worn at all times when you are riding a motorcycle
24. I have done this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong
according to the answer key.
A. The answer in the book should be wrong!
B. The book needn't have a wrong answer.
C. There is a wrong answer in the book.
D. The answer in the book must be wrong!
25. Can you tell me directions for the station near here?
A. Would you tell me where to get to the station near here?
B. Could you tell me how to get to the station near here?

C. Could you tell me what to get to the station near here?
D. Must you tell me the way to get to the station near here?
26. A: John passed his exam with a distinction. B: _______.
A. He was too lazy to succeed B. He can't have studied very hard
C. He must have studied very hard D. He needs studying harder
27. I often get up early in the morning.
A. I’m used to getting up early in the morning
B. I’m used to get up early in the morning.
C. I used to get up early in the morning
D. I used to getting up early in the morning.
28. Please don’t use the shower after midnight
A. Would you mind not to use the shower?
B. Would you like to use the shower before midnight?
C. I don’t want you to use the shower.
D. Would you mind not using the shower after midnight?
29. The carpet still needs cleaning.
A. The carpet has been cleaned. B. The carpet hasn’t
cleaned yet.
C. The carpet has not been cleaned. D. The carpet has
cleaned.
30. I prefer going out for a meal to staying at home.
A. I’d like to go out for a meal.
B. Going out for a meal is very interesting.
C. I’d rather go out for a meal than stay at home.
D. Staying at home is more boring than going out for a meal.
31. He said that he _________ enter the examination room because he was late.
A. mustn’t B. couldn’t C. needn’t D. might not
32. “__________ taking me downtown on your way to work this morning?” –
Not at all.
A. Can you B. Why don’t you C. Could you please D. Would

you mind
33. You haven’t eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. You ______ be really
hungry!
A. must B. might C. will D. can
34. “Why are you so late?” – I _________ take my aunt to the airport. The traffic
was terrible!”
A. might B. could C. had to D. should
35. I wonder who drank all the milk yesterday. It _____ have been Mary because
she was out all day.
A. can’t B. must C. could D. needn’t
36. Susan ___________ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so
loudly.
A. might not B. couldn’t C. can’t D. mustn’t
37. Ted’s flight from Britain took more than 11 hours. He _____ be exhausted
after such a long flight.
A. had better B. can C. must D.
should
38. You ___________ do the job if you didn’t speak Japanese fluently.
A. couldn’t B. can’t C. won’t be able to D. needn’t
39. When I was young, I __________ go fishing with my father.
A. was used to B. would C. may D. used to
40. You ________ take along some cash. The restaurant may not accept credit
cards.
A. has to B. had better C. can D. could
41. Your wedding ring is very precious. You ___________ lose it.
A. must B. could C. needn’t D. mustn’t
42. “How old do you think Peter is?” - “I just looked at his driver’s license. He
______ 33.”
A. might be B. may be C. must be D. should
be

43. It ________ rain this evening. Why don’t you take an umbrella?
A. had better B. might C. must D.
could
44. You ________ forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict
about paying on time.
A. don’t have to B. mustn’t C. couldn’t D. can’t
45. It’s a school rule. All the students _________ wear a uniform.
A. have to B. might C. must D. need
46. Passengers _______ smoke until the signs have been switched off.
A. mustn't B. can't C. needn't D. mightn't
47. We must obey the traffic laws. Otherwise, we __________ be punished.
A. will B. might C. should D. need
48. This is the key. You _________ forget to take it with you when going out.
A. should B. have to C. mustn’t D. needn’t
49. You _________ introduce me to Dr. Gray. We have already met.
A. shouldn’t B. needn’t C. mustn’t D. couldn’t
50. “I have got a headache.” – “You _________ go to see the doctor.”
A. may B. could C. should D. might
KEY TO MODAL VERBS
1.D 2. C 3.C 4. B 5. A 6. C 7. B 8. B 9. C 10. B
11.A 12. C 13.C 14. A 15. D 16. C 17. C 18. B 19. C 20. A
21.D 22. C 23.D 24. D 25. B 26. C 27. A 28. D 29. C 30. C
31.B 32. D 33.A 34. C 35. A 36. B 37. C 38. A 39. D 40. B
41.D 42. C 43.B 44. B 45. C 46. A 47. A 48. C 49. B 50. C