Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1The lights are off and the office is locked, so they ............... for the day.
Wrong!
Use "must have left" for a strong deduction about a past action based on present evidence.
2You ............... told me you were running late, because I waited outside in the rain for twenty minutes.
Wrong!
Use "should have" to criticise a past action that did not happen.
3If you ............... sign the contract today, we can still hold the price until Friday.
Wrong!
Use "do not have to" to show that something is not necessary.
4He ............... be in the meeting right now. I just saw him get on a train to Manchester.
Wrong!
Use "cannot" for a strong negative deduction based on clear evidence.
5I ............... have taken the earlier flight, but I chose to stay for the farewell dinner.
Wrong!
Use "could" with "have taken" for a past possibility that did not happen.
6You ............... speak during the ceremony. It is a strict rule, and the ushers will stop you.
Wrong!
Use "must not" to express prohibition, not lack of necessity.
7She ............... be joking. No one would seriously propose that in front of the board.
Wrong!
Use "must" for a strong positive deduction about the present.
8We ............... have booked a table. The restaurant was fully booked, and we ended up eating at the bar.
Wrong!
Use "should" with "have booked" to express regret about a past mistake.
9Given the traffic, we ............... arrive before eight, but I would not bet on it.
Wrong!
Use "might" to show a weak possibility rather than certainty.
10You ............... apologise, but it would be a nice gesture after what you said.
Wrong!
Use "do not have to" to show that there is no obligation.
11He ............... all night. He looks exhausted, and his laptop is still open.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "might have been working" and "must have been working" are possible deductions about a recent past situation.
12If you want to be taken seriously, you ............... stop interrupting people in meetings.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "had better" and "need to" express strong advice or necessity in this context.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The lights are off and the office is locked, so they must have left for the day.
- You should have told me you were running late, because I waited outside in the rain for twenty minutes.
- If you do not have to sign the contract today, we can still hold the price until Friday.
- He cannot be in the meeting right now. I just saw him get on a train to Manchester.
- I could have taken the earlier flight, but I chose to stay for the farewell dinner.
- You must not speak during the ceremony. It is a strict rule, and the ushers will stop you.
- She must be joking. No one would seriously propose that in front of the board.
- We should have booked a table. The restaurant was fully booked, and we ended up eating at the bar.
- Given the traffic, we might arrive before eight, but I would not bet on it.
- You do not have to apologise, but it would be a nice gesture after what you said.
- He might have been working / must have been working all night. He looks exhausted, and his laptop is still open.
- If you want to be taken seriously, you had better / need to stop interrupting people in meetings.
