Fill in the blanks with appropriate modal auxiliary verbs. Each question is followed by three suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one.
1Help! He ............... drown if no one saves him.
Wrong!
Use "will" to predict what is likely to happen if nobody helps him.
2............... I send an application?
Wrong!
Use "Should" when asking for advice about the right thing to do.
3Pay your fees in time lest you ............... be fined.
Wrong!
After formal "lest", use "should" to express prevention of an unwanted result.
4If I were you, I ............... do it.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't" in the main clause of the hypothetical pattern "If I were you".
5That ............... have been a shooting star.
Wrong!
Use "must" with "have been" to show a strong deduction about the past.
6............... you like to go to the cinema tonight?
Wrong!
Use "Would" in the polite invitation "Would you like...?"
7I think it ............... rain tonight.
Wrong!
Use "will" for a simple prediction about the future.
8............... I wait any longer?
Wrong!
Use "Should" when asking whether an action is advisable.
9............... you be able to visit us tomorrow?
Wrong!
Use "Will" before "be able to" to ask about future ability or availability.
10In my younger days I ............... run four miles at a stretch.
Wrong!
Use "could" to talk about general ability in the past.
Exercise complete
0 out of 10
correct answers
Answers
- Help! He will drown if no one saves him.
- Should I send an application?
- Pay your fees in time lest you should be fined.
- If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.
- That must have been a shooting star.
- Would you like to go to the cinema tonight?
- I think it will rain tonight.
- Should I wait any longer?
- Will you be able to visit us tomorrow?
- In my younger days I could run four miles at a stretch.