MODAL VERBS ACTIVITIES

1 Complete the sentences using these modal verbs. Some gaps may have several options.
Can * could * must * might * should
1. Lucy's engagement ring is enormous! It …….. have cost a fortune.
2. If you want to get a better idea about Bristol, you ….. walk uptown and explore Clifton.
3. Please water my plants while I am gone on holiday. If they don't getenough water, they …… die.
4. You ……. take your umbrella. The weather forecast said there will be some heavy showers today.
5. I'm not really sure where Helen is. She …… be in the living room, or perhaps she's in the garden.
6. You ……. be kidding! It can't be true.
2. Complete the sentences with one of the two choices.
1. You really shall / shouldn’t watch tv this much.
2. She must / could be at work, she always works at this time.
3. Speak up, I can’t / couldn’t hear you!
4. I can’t / couldn’t hear a word he said.
5. Andrew must / shouldn’t call his wife urgently.
6. Thank you for calling Zee Company, how can’t / may I help you?
7. If I go to New York, I will / would see the Statue of Liberty.
8. If I went to New York, I will / would see the Statue of Liberty.
9. It shall / could happen, but it is very unlikely.
10. Emma can’t / may go out tonight, her parents said no.
3. Elige el verbo modal que conviene.
1 He ……..phone today, you should stay if you want to talk to him.
2 Sarah has a flexible body. She ……. practice gymnastics very well.
3 ……..I drive your car?
4 He ……. wear a helmet when he rides his motorbike.
5 Yesterday he ……. run to catch his train because he was late.
6 I looked everywhere yesterday and I …… find my mobile phone. Today it's in my room!
7 It ……. rain this afternoon, the sky is really cloudy.
8 I ….. speak with you as soon as possible.
9 If they want to buy a bigger house next year they …………save money.
10 Their son has passed all his exams. They …….be really pleased!
4. Complete the sentences with a modal verb from this list, without using the same one twice:
can, could, may, might, should, must, shall, will, would
1. Children ….. go to school.
2. Before you make a decision, you….. speak to a specialist.
3. I…..ride a horse, I love horse riding.
4. Let’s go,….. we?
5. Jake….. speak some English before the training.
6. ….. I please speak to Mrs. Sanders?
7. I promise I….. buy you a new phone.
8. He….. join us later, he is not sure.
9. If I were you, I ….. take this opportunity.
5. Match each sentence to a sentence with the same meaning.
1. Jack must write a report tomorrow.
2. Jack couldn’t write it yesterday.
3. Jennifer says she can help him tomorrow.
4. She has to help him, or the report will not be finished on time.
5. Jennifer’s boss says she may help Jack.
a. She needs to help him, or the report will not be finished on time.
b. Jennifer’s boss says she is allowed to help Jack.
c. Jack will have to write a report tomorrow.
d. Jennifer says she will be able to help him tomorrow.
e. Jack wasn’t able to write it yesterday.
6. Answer the questions
1. Should children spend a limited time in front of the computer?
2. What else could children do to have fun?
3. If your child spent too much time on the computer, what would you do?
4. Do you think a parent must be strict about this?
5. Do you think it may cause weight problems?
6. What could we do to protect the environment?
7. Rewrite the sentences using the words given in capital letters.
1. It isn't necessary to buy a ticket. NEEDN’T
2. I advise him to be more careful. OUGHT
3. I think that's John's car. MUST
4.I don't think he is her brother. CAN'T
5. He couldn't swim when he was five. ABLE
6. It's possible that he will win the race. MIGHT
7. You are not allowed to play in their garden. MUSTN’T
8. It isn't necessary for them to repair the car. NEED
9. It's not possible for you to eat so much. CAN’T
10. I advise you to study harder. SHOULD
11. It's just possible she's still at work. MAY
12.- I can’t believe you’re serious. No way. CAN'T
13. We don't have to go shopping with her. NEEDN'T
14. It isn’t necessary for us to fix the car. NEED
8. Put these sentences in the past and future (if possible)..
1. I can get in because I am invited.
2. We must finish our work before going out.
3. You should ask a professional to fix your roof.
4. You may understand his explanation.
9. Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb
a) It’s prohibited to speak loud in a library
b) Ernest has the obligation to post the letters every day.
c) Raúl has the ability to speak 8 foreign languages
d) There is a possibility of raining this afternoon
e) I advise you to do your homework
f) Is it possible to phone my friend?
g) Your friend drives very fast. Give him some advice
h) My sister will have the ability to speak Portuguese.
i) You don’t need to drive me to school.
10. Complete the sentences with the right modal verb to form song titles or song lyrics:
1. We ….. as well be strangers.
2. I ….. get you out of my head.
3. I know I ….. be what I want to be.
4. You ….. put on the red light.
5. The show ….. go on!
6. My make up ….. be flaking, but my smile still stays on.
7. ….. I stay or ….. I go?
8. I ….. get no satisfaction
11. Fill in the blank with the appropriate modal verbs in order to express the following ideas.
1. obligation - ….. (I/stop) smoking doctor?
possibility - No, but if you don't stop you ….. die.
2. advice It's going to be very cold tonight so you ….. turn on the central heating
3. obligation That job is only open to university graduates. You …… have at least a bachelor's degree to
apply.
4. no necessity - I can stay in bed on Saturday because I …… work.
5. permission - ….. (I / borrow) your car tomorrow ?
possibility – No, because I …..need it if I go shopping.
6. possibility It ….. rain, but I doubt it.
12. Choose the correct substitute for each modal verb.
1. He needs to go to the hospital. a) has to b) is allowed to c) is able to
2. I can use a word processor. a) have to b) am supposed to c) am able to
3. The children may watch TV tonight. a) have to b) can c) should
4. You mustn't drive without a license. a) don’t have to b) can’t c) needn’t
13. True or False?
1. The most polite modal verb to ask for permission is may.
2. We use to between a modal verb and another verb.
3. We can use the future with modal verbs.
4. Could is the past of can.
14. Fill in the blank with the appropriate modal based on the situational hints
1. I'm in terrible shape. I ....... exercise more!
(I feel that more exercise is an absolute necessity for me)
2. ........ you copy this and learn it by heart for tomorrow morning.
(Do you have the capacity to do this)
3. Jane ......... be sent to Australia for her job but nothing's decided yet
(the trip is possible but at the moment nothing is certain)

ANSWER KEY
1 Complete the sentences using these modal verbs. Some gaps may have several options.
Can * could * must * might * should
1. Lucy's engagement ring is enormous! It must have cost a fortune.
2. If you want to get a better idea about Bristol, you should / could / can walk uptown and explore Clifton.
3. Please water my plants while I am gone on holiday. If they …, they could / can die.
4. You should take your umbrella. The weather forecast said there will be some heavy showers today.
5. I'm not really sure where Helen is. She might / can / could be in the living room, or perhaps she's ….
6. You must be kidding! It can't be true.
2. Complete the sentences with one of the two choices.
1. You really shall / shouldn’t watch tv this much.
2. She must / could be at work, she always works at this time.
3. Speak up, I can’t / couldn’t hear you!
4. I can’t / couldn’t hear a word he said.
5. Andrew must / shouldn’t call his wife urgently.
6. Thank you for calling Zee Company, how can’t / may I help you?
7. If I go to New York, I will / would see the Statue of Liberty.
8. If I went to New York, I will / would see the Statue of Liberty.
9. It shall / could happen, but it is very unlikely.
10. Emma can’t / may go out tonight, her parents said no.
3. Elige el verbo modal que conviene.
1 He may phone today, you should stay if you want to talk to him. (Puede que llame, tal vez llame)
2 Sarah has a flexible body. She can practice gymnastics very well. (Ella puede, sabe)
3 May I drive your car? (Ella puede, sabe)
4 He must / should wear a helmet when he rides his motorbike. (debe por norma / debería como consejo)
5 Yesterday he had to run to catch his train because he was late. (Él tuvo que)
6 I looked everywhere yesterday and I couldn’t find my mobile phone. Today it's in my room! (No pude)
7 It may rain this afternoon, the sky is really cloudy. (Tal vez llueva)
8 I must / have to speak with you as soon as possible. (Debo)
9 If they want to buy a bigger house next year they will have to save money. (Tendrán que)
10 Their son has passed all his exams. They must be really pleased!
4. Complete the sentences with a modal verb from this list, without using the same one twice:
can, could, may, might, should, must, shall, will, would
1. Children must go to school.
2. Before you make a decision, you should speak to a specialist.
3. I can ride a horse, I love horse riding.
4. Let’s go, shall we?
5. Jake could speak some English before the training.
6. May I please speak to Mrs. Sanders?
7. I promise I will buy you a new phone.
8. He might join us later, he is not sure.
9. If I were you, I would take this opportunity.
5. Match each sentence to a sentence with the same meaning.
1. Jack must write a report tomorrow. Jack will have to write a report tomorrow.
2. Jack couldn’t write it yesterday. Jack wasn’t able to write it yesterday.
3. Jennifer says she can help him tomorrow. Jennifer says she will be able to help him tomorrow.
4. She has to help him, or the report will not be finished on time. She needs to help him, or the report will
not be finished on time.
5. Jennifer’s boss says she may help Jack. Jennifer’s boss says she is allowed to help Jack.
6. Answer the questions
1. Should children spend a limited time in front of the computer? Yes, they should / No, they shouldn’t
2. What else could children do to have fun? They could (play outside)
3. If your child spent too much time on the computer, what would you do? I would (give her a book)
4. Do you think a parent must be strict about this? Yes, he/she must / No, he/she mustn’t
5. Do you think it may cause weight problems? Yes, it may / No, it may not
6. What could we do to protect the environment? We could (recycle)
7. Rewrite the sentences using the words given in capital letters.
1. It isn't necessary to buy a ticket
NEEDN’T You needn’t buy a ticket
2. I advise him to be more careful. OUGHT He ought to / should be more careful
3. I think that's John's car. MUST That must be John’s car
4.I don't think he is her brother. CAN'T He can’t be her brother
5. He couldn't swim when he was five. ABLE He wasn’t able to swim when he was five
6. It's possible that he will win the race. MIGHT He might win the race
7. You are not allowed to play in their garden. MUSTN’T You mustn’t play in their garden
8. It isn't necessary for them to repair the car. NEED They don’t need to / needn’t repair the car
9. It's not possible for you to eat so much. CAN’T You can’t eat so much
10. I advise you to study harder. SHOULD You should study harder
11. It's just possible she's still at work. MAY She may be still at work
12.- I can’t believe you’re serious. No way. CAN'T You can’t be serious
13. We don't have to go shopping with her. NEEDN'T We needn’t go shopping with her
14. It isn’t necessary for us to fix the car. NEED We don’t need to / needn’t fix the car

8. Put these sentences in the past and future (if possible).

1. I can get in because I am invited. I could get in because I was invited / I will be able to get in because I
will be invited
2. We must finish our work before going out. We had to finish our homework before going out / We will
have to finish our homework before going out
3. You should ask a professional to fix your roof. You should have asked a professional to fix your roof
4. You may understand his explanation. You may have understood his explanation
9. Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb
a) It’s prohibited to speak loud in a library. You mustn’t speak loud in a library
b) Ernest has the obligation to post the letters every day. Ernest must post the letters every day
c) Raúl has the ability to speak 8 foreign languages. Raúl can speak 8 foreign languages
d) There is a possibility of raining this afternoon. It may rain this afternoon
e) I advise you to do your homework. You should do your homework
f) Is it possible to phone my friend?. May I phone my friend?
g) Your friend drives very fast. Give him some advice. You shouldn’t drive so fast / should slow down
h) My sister will have the ability to speak Portuguese. My sister will be able to speak Portuguese
i) You don’t have to drive me to school. You needn’t / don’t need to drive me to school
10. Complete the sentences with the right modal verb to form song titles or song lyrics:
1. We might as well be strangers. (Keane)
2. I can’t get you out of my head. (Kylie Minogue)
3. I know I can be what I want to be. (Nas, “I can”)
4. You don’t have to put on the red light. (Sting. “Roxanne”)
5. The show must go on! (Queen)
6. My make up may be flaking, but my smile still stays on. (Queen, “The show must go on”)
7. Should I stay or should I go? (The Clash)
8. I can’t get no satisfaction (The Rolling Stones, “I can get no”)
11. Fill in the blank with the appropriate modal verbs in order to express the following ideas.
1. obligation – Must I stop / Do I have to stop smoking doctor?
possibility - No, but if you don't stop you can / could die.
2. advice It's going to be very cold tonight so you should / ought to turn on the central heating
3. obligation That job is only open to university graduates. You must / need to have at least a bachelor's
degree to apply.
4. no necessity - I can stay in bed on Saturday because I don’t have to work.
5. permission – Can / Could / May I borrow your car tomorrow?
possibility – No, because I might / could / can need it if I go shopping.
6. possibility It might rain, but I doubt it.
12. Choose the correct substitute for each modal verb.
1. He needs to go to the hospital. a) has to b) is allowed to c) is able to
2. I can use a word processor. a) have to b) am supposed to c) am able to
3. The children may watch TV tonight. a) have to b) can c) should
4. You mustn't drive without a license. a) don’t have to b) can’t c) needn’t
13. True or False?
1. The most polite modal verb to ask for permission is may. True
2. We use to between a modal verb and another verb. False (only with have to, ought to and need to)
3. We can use the future with modal verbs. False (Only with have to, be able to and need to)
4. Could is the past of can. True (but also conditional)
14. Fill in the blank with the appropriate modal based on the situational hints
1. I'm in terrible shape. I must / have to / need to exercise more!
(I feel that more exercise is an absolute necessity for me)
2. Can you copy this and learn it by heart for tomorrow morning.
(Do you have the capacity to do this)
3. Jane could / may / might be sent to Australia for her job but nothing's decided yet
(the trip is possible but at the moment nothing is certain)