MODAL VERBS QUIZ

Quiz

modal verbs

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Question 1/15

What modal verbs express deduction and possibility?

MUST, MAY/MIGHT/COULD, CAN'T

MUST, MUSTN'T, MAY/MIGHT/COULD

MAY/MIGHT/COULD, SHOULD, CAN'T

Question 2/15

What modal verbs express obligation, prohibition, necessity and advice?

MUST, HAVE TO, CAN'T, NEED TO, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

MUST, HAVE TO, HAD TO, MUSTN'T, (DON'T) NEED/HAVE TO, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

MUST, HAVE TO, MUSTN'T, NEED TO, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

Question 3/15

Paul ........... be at home; he always works until 9 p.m.

can't

mustn't

must

Question 4/15

My sister ............... come back from London tonight, but I’m not sure.

must

ought to

may

Question 5/15

Carl ............... speak a word of English before travelling to Britain.

can't

wasn't able to

wasn't allowed to

Question 6/15

Mary ............ have forgotten our appointment. Why isn’t she here?

can

might

must

Question 7/15

............ I help you?

must

can

may

Question 8/15

My son has always been a clever boy; he ......... read when he was three.

might

may

could

Question 9/15

I’m afraid I ............ go out tonight, I ............ work late.

can't / can

can't / ought to

can't / have to

Question 10/15

You often have headaches. I think you ............ visit a neurologist.

may

can

should

Question 11/15

There are some black clouds in the sky. It ............... rain this evening.

must

may

ought to

Question 12/15

The children ............ have finished their homework by the time we get home, but I’m not sure.

aren't able to

might

have to

Question 13/15

Most children ............ wear school uniforms in private schools.

might

must

can

Question 14/15

A. “Isn’t that John over there?”B. “It ......... be John, he’s at work now.”

can't

shouldn't

mustn't

Question 15/15

You .................. have eaten the chocolate cake, children! It was for dad’s party.

mustn't

might not

can't

Go back

wrong

MUST: Obligation / deductionHAVE TO: Obligation / (DON'T) HAVE TO: Lack of obligationMUSTN'T: Prohibition MAY/MIGHT/COULD: Possibility SHOULD/OUGHT TO: Advice CAN'T: Impossibility / Inability / Negative deduction CAN: Ability / Permission BE ABLE TO: Ability MAY: Permission / Offer / Possibility

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

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• OBLIGATION: I must do my homework / You have to put on your seatbelt!
• PROHIBITION: You mustn't chew gum in class.
• (LACK OF) NECESSITY: She doesn't need/have to work today. It's her day off. / She needs/has to visit her doctor soon.

• ADVICE: They should/ought to call her mom

Continue

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

Continue

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

Continue

Continue

¡congratulations!

BE ABLE TO: "having the power, skill or means to do something".

• We sometimes use "be able to" instead of "can" or "could" for ability, when there is an obstacle or difficulty we have overcome.
• I was able to walk despite having my legs broken.
• Sometimes modal verbs can’t form some tenses e.g. future, perfect and continuous tenses. Instead, we use some modal expressions like “be able to" to express the rest of the tenses.
• I would be able to buy a house if I had enough money.

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

Continue

Continue

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MAY can express:

• Possibility:
• I may go to the cinema tonight, but I feel tired now.
• Permission:
• You may go to the toilet. (You can go to the toilet).
• May I use your pen, please?
• Offer:
• May I help you?

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ABILITY:

• CAN:
• ability in the present => I can sew. My mother taught me!
• COULD:
• ability in the past => I could dance very well when I was young.
• BE ABLE TO:
• I will be able to pass my exams if I study more.
• I would be able to afford a house if I had more money.

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OBLIGATION:

• MUST / HAVE TO (in the present):
• self-imposed => I must do my homework.
• external imposition (authority, law) => I have to wear a uniform.
• HAD TO:
• obligation in the past => I had to babysit my brother when he was a kid.

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• OBLIGATION: I must do my homework / You have to put on your seatbelt!
• PROHIBITION: You mustn't chew gum in class.
• (LACK OF) NECESSITY: She doesn't need/have to work today. It's her day off. / She needs/has to visit her doctor soon.

• ADVICE: They should/ought to call her mom

Continue

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

Continue

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

Continue

Continue

¡congratulations!

OBLIGATION:

• MUST / HAVE TO (in the present):
• self-imposed => I must do my homework.
• external imposition (authority, law) => I have to wear a uniform.
• HAD TO:
• obligation in the past => I had to babysit my brother when he was a kid.

¡congratulations!

• 100% CERTAIN: These are sales. Prices must be very low.
• POSSIBLE: It might sound like a joke, but it's not. / This could become a problem. / They may learn how to do it with some help.
• 100% IMPOSSIBLE: He's ill. He can't be here.

Continue

¡congratulations!

• OBLIGATION: I must do my homework / You have to put on your seatbelt!
• PROHIBITION: You mustn't chew gum in class.
• (LACK OF) NECESSITY: She doesn't need/have to work today. It's her day off. / She needs/has to visit her doctor soon.

• ADVICE: They should/ought to call her mom

Continue

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