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Modals are special verbs which behave very irregularly in English. Englishpage.com has created one
of the most in-depth modal tutorials in print or online. Study the modal explanations and complete
the associated exercises and take another step toward English fluency. If you want to use the Modal
Verb Pages as a reference only and do not want to complete the tutorial Click Here.
The tutorial should be completed as follows:
1. Read this introduction page including the section below titled "What are Modal Verbs?"
2. Complete the exercises below. After each exercise, we have listed the modals covered. Just click
on the modal link to learn more about its use.
EXERCISES
TOPICS COVERED
Modal Exercise 1 Can, Could, Have to, Must, Might and Should
Modal Exercise 2 Have to and Must
Modal Exercise 3 Might, Must and Should. Afterwards, you can repeat the exercise using Could,
Have to and Ought to
Modal Exercise 4 Couldn't and Might not
Modal Exercise 5 Have got to, Had Better, May and Shall
Modal Exercise 6 Could, Might, Should and Would
Modal Exercise 7 Modal Verbs Forms
Modal Final Test
NOT CORRECT
Ought to
Could
Shall
May
Should
Might
Will
Must
Would
IMPORTANT: For the purposes of this tutorial, we have included some expressions which are not
modal verbs including had better, have to and have got to. These expressions are closely related
to modals in meaning and are often interchanged with them.
Can
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
You can
also use:
to be able
can
ability during a
specific event
child's leg.
to be able
to be able
time.
3. I won't have any time later. I
can't help her then.
can
1. I can drive Susan's car when she 1. I can't drive Susan's car when
permission
is out of town.
may
while she was out of town last week. car while she was out of town last
3. I can drive Susan's car while she week.
is out of town next week.
can
request
future.)
future.)
Anyone can become rich and famous It can't cost more than a dollar or
can
possibility /
impossibility
two.
challenge.
could
Could
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
could
possibility
the money.
the money.
2. John could have been the one who 2. Mary couldn't have been the one
stole the money.
investigation.
You can
also use:
might,
may
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. You could have spent your vacation
could
in Hawaii.
suggestion
NO NEGATIVE FORMS
Hawaii.
could
I could run ten miles in my twenties. I couldn't run more than a mile in my
I could speak Chinese when I was a
twenties.
kid.
could
polite
past ability
be able to
can,
request
a second?
(Requests usually refer to the near
might
future.)
Have to
1. Present
You can
Negative Forms
also
3. Future
use:
1. SHIFTS TO "MUST"
1. That has to be Jerry. They said he That must not have been Jerry we saw. He
was tall with bright red hair.
have to
2. SHIFTS TO "MUST"
certainty
3. NONE
must,
have
got to
3. NONE
1. She doesn't have to read "Grapes of
1. She has to read four books for this
literature class.
have to
necessity
must
choice/
no
obligation
Must
Modal Use
1. Present
Negative Forms
You can
2. Past
also use:
3. Future
1. That must be Jerry. They said
must
2. That must have been the right 2. That must not have been the right
certainty
3. NO FUTURE FORM
3. NO FUTURE FORM
have to
must not
prohibition
in the tropics.
(Prohibition usually refer to the
near future.)
must
strong
recommendation
(Americans
prefer
the form
"should.")
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD"
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD"
You should have taken some time You shouldn't have drunk so much.
off last week to get some rest.
3. SHIFT TO "SHOULD"
3. SHIFT TO "SHOULD"
should
have
Might
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
You can
also use:
might
1. She might be on the bus. I think her car 1. She might not be on the bus.
could,
possibility
is having problems.
may
home.
ride.
win.
2. If I had entered the contest, I might
actually have won.
3. If I entered the contest tomorrow, I
might actually win. Unfortunately, I can't
enter it.
might
suggestion
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. You might have tried the cheese cake.
3. You might try the cheesecake.
might
request
(British
form)
future.)
could
may,
can
Should
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
You can
also use:
ought to
obligation
be
NO NEGATIVE FORMS
supposed,
to
should
assumption/
last week. Let's call her and see what she is arrived in New York until
be
expectation/
up to.
yesterday.
supposed
probability
to
ought to,
week.
Modal Verbs 1
could
have to
must
might
should
1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He ______________be exhausted after
such a long flight. He ______________prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.
2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you ______________walk
downtown and explore the waterfront.
3. Hiking the trail to the peak ______________be dangerous if you are not well prepared for
dramatic weather changes. You ______________research the route a little more before you attempt
the ascent.
4. When you have a small child in the house, you ______________leave small objects lying around.
Such objects ______________be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.
5. A: ______________you hold your breath for more than a minute?
B: No, I can't.
6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It ______________have cost a fortune.
7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they
______________die.
8. I ______________speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we
moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I
knew as a child. Now, I ______________just say a few things in the language.
9. The book is optional. My professor said we ______________read it if we needed extra credit. But
we ______________read it if we don't want to.
10. A: Where is the spatula? It ______________be in this drawer but it's not here.
B: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It
______________be in there. That's the only other place it
______________be.
11. You ______________take your umbrella along with you today. The weatherman on the news
said there's a storm north of here and it ______________rain later on this afternoon.
12. ______________we pull over at the next rest stop? I really ______________use the bathroom
and I don't know if I ______________hold it until we get to Chicago.
13. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He ______________have left it here last
night.
14. A: ______________I borrow your lighter for a minute?
B: Sure, no problem. Actually, you ______________keep it if you want to. I've given up
smoking.
15. I ______________believe she said that to Megan! She ______________insult her cooking in
front of everyone at the party last night. She ______________have just said she was full or had
some salad if she didn't like the meal.
16. Do you ______________chew with your mouth open like that? Geez, it's making me sick
watching you eat that piece of pizza.
17. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still warm! Nobody has
left the mansion this evening, so the killer ______________be someone in this room. It
______________be any one of us!!!
18. A: I don't know why Denise starting crying when I mentioned the wedding.
B: It ______________have been what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is just
nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow.
19. ______________you always say the first thing that pops into your head? ______________you
think once in awhile before you speak?
20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this room. It
______________be lying around here somewhere. Where ______________it be?
Modals 2
Modals and Related Expressions
must
have to
in nature. You ______________be afraid of them, but educating yourself about the dangers can
help keep you safe.
10. I ______________go to work tomorrow because it is Memorial Day. The best thing about a day
off from work is that I ______________get up at 6:00; I can sleep in till noon if I want to.
11. Yesterday, I ______________cram all day for my French final. I didn't get to sleep until after
midnight.
12. A: Oh no! I completely forgot we were supposed to pick Jenny up at the airport?
B: She ______________still be sitting there waiting for us.
13. Ingrid received a scholarship to Yale University which will cover 100% of the tuition. She
______________worry at all about the increasing cost of education.
14. When I was a child my grandmother was continually correcting our manners. She always used
to say, "One ______________eat with one's mouth open." Or, she would correct us by saying, "One
______________rest one's elbows on the table." And every time I wanted to leave the table, she
would say, "One ______________ask to be excused."
15. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the
answer key. The answer in the book ______________be wrong! forget to pay the rent tomorrow.
The landlord is very strict about paying on time.
Ought to
You can
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
1. Margaret ought to exercise
more.
2. Margaret ought to have
ought to
recommendation/
advisability
marathon.
3. Margaret ought to come to
the fitness center with us
also
use:
should
tonight.
ought to
assumption/
package by now.
should
10
probability
ought not
(Americans prefer
"should not".)
might
should
must
1. Nancy said you didn't need to buy her anything for her birthday, but I really think you
______________at least get her some flowers or a nice bottle of wine.
2. Debbie said she was really busy this week, but I think she ______________show up at the party
if she doesn't have to work overtime on Friday.
3. Nina said she would come over right after work, so she ______________be here by 6:00.
4. Oh my God, he's unconscious. Don't move him - he ______________have internal injuries.
Somebody call an ambulance.
5. You ______________be kidding! That can't be true.
6. A: Where's the remote control? I want to change the channel.
B: I don't know. It ______________be under the couch. Or, perhaps I absent-mindedly took it
into the kitchen. I'll check in there.
7. For most people, learning a language is a challenging undertaking. Experts agree that to make
the most of your language learning experience, you ______________practice the language
regularly and push yourself to maintain old vocabulary while acquiring new words and expressions.
8. New research suggests that exercise can reduce the chance of heart disease as well as cancer.
That's why I told my father that he ______________start walking once a day.
9. We should invite Sally and her husband to come to the picnic on Saturday. We haven't seen them
in weeks, and they ______________really enjoy a nice day at the beach.
11
10. A: While I was a student, I spent a year and a half studying pygmy culture in the Central African
Republic. My research focused on unique aspects of the their social structure and religion.
B: That ______________
11. We had better call Tony to see if he's at home before we go over to his house. He
______________
be there and we don't want to drive all the way over there for nothing.
12. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told
my boss that he ______________
the position.
worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the
job, or you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.
14. I would love to go on the cruise to Tahiti with Robin and Michelle. But such a luxurious trip
______________
15. The book recommends adding fresh soil and using plant food to make your garden flowers grow.
Since some people might be allergic to chemicals in artificial plant foods, the book says that you
______________
Answers
*9. We should invite Sally and her husband to come to the picnic on Saturday. We haven't seen
them in weeks, and they might really enjoy a nice day at the beach. In this sentence, "might" is
preferred because "could" suggests that they have the ability to have a nice day at the
beach. Most native speakers will use "might."
*11. We had better call Tony to see if he's at home before we go over to his house. He might not be
there and we don't want to drive all the way over there for nothing. In this sentence, "might
not" is the only correct answer. "Could not" would suggest that it is impossible that Tony
is at home. "Might not" suggests that it is possible that he is there and it is possible that
he is not there.
*13. You ought not worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don't.
If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work. "Ought not" is not
commonly used in American English.
Modals 4
Modals and Related Expressions
12
couldn't
might not
1. Unfortunately, James and Michelle had already made plans, so they ______________
come with us to the exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
2. They have had several major snow storms in the mountains during the last month. We had better
call the highway patrol to check road conditions. The road to Smithsville ______________
be passable.
be there. I
5. I know Eve wants to go to the ballet with us , but we'd better call her before we get her ticket.
She works Wednesday nights, and she ______________
evening.
6. Susan
7. It ______________
be a bad idea to take some snacks along while we're hiking. Last
time, we got so hungry we had to come back early without finishing the hike.
he's so temperamental.
9. Jerry ______________
11. When you were a child, you could swim from here to the little island in the middle of the river,
______________
13
possibly be the winner of the talent show! The other acts were
14. I heard that band is really popular, and tickets sell out quickly. You ______________
get tickets if you wait too long.
15. That concert has been sold out for weeks. You ______________
16. It ______________
be a bad idea to get a car alarm for your new sports car. New cars
why they didn't show up. I doubt they would actually skip your birthday party - they're your best
friends!
20. I ______________
drive home if I had done that. They must be somewhere here in the apartment. Let's keep looking.
Have Got to
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
You can
also use:
have got to 1. People have got to be on time if they want to get 1. SHIFT TO "DON'T
have to,
necessity
must
HAVE TO"
14
HAVE TO"
You had to be on time if you wanted to get a seat in You didn't have to be
the crowded theater.
seat.
3. SHIFT TO "DON'T
HAVE TO"
You won't have to be
there on time to get a
seat.
haven't got
to
future
obligation
Don't
you, have
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
had better
TO"
"OUGHT TO"
recommendation TO"
You should have unplugged the
"OUGHT TO"
should,
ought to
toaster before you tried to clean it. toaster without unplugging it first.
had better
They had better be here before we They had better not forget Tom's
birthday gift.
warning
15
You can
1. Present
Modal Use 2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
use:
may
also
might
can
requests
NO NEGATIVE FORM
can,
might
future.)
Shall
You
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
shall
can
also
use:
will
previous obligation.
I shall never forget you.
will
volunteering/ I shall make the travel arrangements. There's I shall never give up the fight for
promising
no need to worry.
freedom.
16
(British form)
shall
inevitability
universe.
may
had better
have got to
shall
pocket watch? I have been looking for one like that for my father.
2. You ______________
look good for your interview if you want to get the sales job. You
wear the the white shirt and the maroon tie. I think that'll look really professional.
3. I ______________
give a
______________
more.
5. You ______________
leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely
excused yourself.
awhile while you get rid of them. When I get back, they ______________
7.
be gone.
I try a little of your Black Forest cake? I looks absolutely delicious - I______________
______________
8. You ______________
taste it!
17
9. You ______________
cards.
10. ______________
we move into the living room? It's more comfortable in there and
get a
good score on the test if she wants to qualify to study abroad in Tokyo next semester.
12. ______________
I have a look at that necklace there in the display case. It's exactly
13. We ______________
be joking! If you think I'm going to give you a tip after you
mixed up the meal orders, spilled wine on me and insulted my wife, you
examined!!!
be attending as well.
Would
You
1. Present
Modal Use
2. Past
Negative Forms
3. Future
can
also
use:
would
conditional
cost of education.
raise taxes.
18
would
past of will
would
repetition in
past
8:00.
before 8:00.
the beach.
When he was young, he would always do When he got older, he would never
his homework.
used to
do his homework.
Modals 6
Modals and Related Expressions
would
could
should
might
1.
Donna: If I won the ten million dollar lottery jackpot, I
world.
Sam: Where
go to
Kenya.
Sam: How often do you buy lottery tickets?
Sam: That
help.
2.
Waitress: Hi, my name is Sandy - I'll be your waitress tonight. What can I get for you?
19
think I
try?
Waitress: You
try the Cajun catfish - or perhaps the Gumbo. They're both delicious.
Waitress: Sure,
3.
Jan: What
vote for a President who has the ability to improve the quality of life
Jan: What
Peter: I
Jan: Every candidate always says he's going to do that, but it's a really complicated problem - it's
not one which is easily solved. What makes you think you
Modal 7
Modals and Related Expressions
1. I'm not really sure where Beverly is. She __________________ in the living room, or perhaps
she's in the backyard.
might sit
might be sitting
2. Doug __________________ the video we rented on his way to work. It was on the table, but
now it's gone.
20
must return
3. You __________________ the air pressure in your tires. You don't want to get a flat tire on your
trip.
ought to be checking
ought to check
ought to checked
5. The package __________________ tomorrow afternoon. It was sent by express mail this
morning.
should be delivered
should be delivering
6. You __________________ the tickets for the play in advance - they sell out quickly.
have to book
has to book
have to be booked
8. If Debbie hasn't come home yet, she __________________ for us in the coffee shop.
must still wait
9. Mike decided not to join us for lunch. He __________________ at work to finish the marketing
report.
should have been staying
had to stay
10. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I __________________ on a white sand beach right
now.
would be lying
would lie
11. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I __________________ come to work this week.
would not must
12. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I __________________ scuba diving lessons.
21
might be taken
ought to be taking
13. Margaret agreed to meet us at the entrance to the theater. She __________________ for us
when we get there.
ought to be waiting
ought to wait
14. It __________________ Sam who called and didn't leave a message on the answering
machine. He said he wanted to get together with us this weekend.
ought to be
can be turned
can be turning
16. She __________________. That could have been why her eyes were so red and swollen.
has to be crying
could be crying
shall be
19. Your diving equipment __________________ regularly if you want to keep it in good condition.
must be cleaned
20. If I hadn't taken a taxi, I __________________ for you at the train station for hours.
might have been waiting
1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He ________________ be exhausted
after such a long flight.
must
can
had better
22
2. The book is optional. My professor said we could read it if we needed extra credit. But we
________________ read it if we don't want to.
cannot
must not
don't have to
3. Susan ________________ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.
couldn't
can't
might not
must
must be
Might you
Can you
6. You ________________ be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know
haven't got a penny to their name.
can't
don't have to
shouldn't
7. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the
answer key. The answer in the book ________________ be wrong!
have to
must
should
won't be able to
couldn't
9. You ________________ worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the job, or
you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.
shouldn't
don't have to
can't
have to
ought to
11. You ________________ leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused
yourself.
23
would
might
may
must be costing
13. ________________ we move into the living room? It's more comfortable in there and there's a
beautiful view of the lake.
Shall
Must
Will
14. If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I ________________ down the Colorado
River right now.
would have float
would be floating
would float
15. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told
my boss that he ________________ take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the
position.
must
ought to
has to
16. You ________________ take along some cash. The restaurant may not accept credit cards.
had better
has to
can
could be turning
can be turned
18. I can't stand these people - I ________________ get out of here. I'm going to take off for
awhile while you get rid of them.
might
have got to
had better
19. You ________________ forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about
paying on time.
mustn't
don't have to
couldn't
20. Do you always have to say the first thing that pops into your head. ________________ you
think once in a while before you speak?
Can not
Can't
Don't can
24
21. Terry and Frank said they would come over right after work, so they ________________ be
here by 6:00.
have to
can
should
22. Yesterday, I ________________ cram all day for my French final. I didn't get to sleep until after
midnight.
had to
should
must
23. We ________________ no longer suffer the injustice of oppression! Freedom shall be ours!
would
might
shall
24. If I had gone to the University of Miami, I ________________ participated in their Spanish
immersion program.
could
could have
could be
25. The lamp ________________ be broken. Maybe the light bulb just burned out.
might not
must not
could not
Answers
Modal Final Test
Modals and Related Expressions
1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He ________________ be exhausted
after such a long flight.
must
can
had better
2. The book is optional. My professor said we could read it if we needed extra credit. But we
________________ read it if we don't want to.
cannot
must not
don't have to
3. Susan ________________ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.
couldn't
can't
might not
25
must
must be
Might you
Can you
6. You ________________ be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know
haven't got a penny to their name.
can't
don't have to
shouldn't
7. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the
answer key. The answer in the book ________________ be wrong!
have to
must
should
won't be able to
couldn't
9. You ________________ worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the job, or
you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.
shouldn't
don't have to
can't
have to
ought to
11. You ________________ leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused
yourself.
would
might
may
must be costing
13. ________________ we move into the living room? It's more comfortable in there and there's a
beautiful view of the lake.
Shall
Must
Will
26
14. If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I ________________ down the Colorado
River right now.
would have float
would be floating
would float
15. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told
my boss that he ________________ take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the
position.
must
ought to
has to
16. You ________________ take along some cash. The restaurant may not accept credit cards.
had better
has to
can
could be turning
can be turned
18. I can't stand these people - I ________________ get out of here. I'm going to take off for
awhile while you get rid of them.
might
have got to
had better
19. You ________________ forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about
paying on time.
mustn't
don't have to
couldn't
20. Do you always have to say the first thing that pops into your head. ________________ you
think once in a while before you speak?
Can not
Can't
Don't can
21. Terry and Frank said they would come over right after work, so they ________________ be
here by 6:00.
have to
can
should
22. Yesterday, I ________________ cram all day for my French final. I didn't get to sleep until after
midnight.
had to
should
must
27
23. We ________________ no longer suffer the injustice of oppression! Freedom shall be ours!
would
might
shall
24. If I had gone to the University of Miami, I ________________ participated in their Spanish
immersion program.
could
could have
could be
25. The lamp ________________ be broken. Maybe the light bulb just burned out.
might not
must not
could not
28