Auxiliary Verbs Exercise for ESL Students

Fill in the blanks.

1. Ask her. She .............................. help you.

might have

might be able

might be able to

Correct! Wrong!

2. I ........................... them.

couldn't help

was not able to help

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

3. .......................... I leave a little early today?

Can

Will

Would

Correct! Wrong!

4. I ........................... like to leave a little early today.

would

should

will

Correct! Wrong!

5. I .......................... out tonight but I have too much to do.

would go

will go

should go

Correct! Wrong!

6. You ........................... scolded him.

shouldn't

shouldn't have

shouldn't be

Correct! Wrong!

7. ........................... I wait for them?

Shall

Should

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

8. I ............................. leave a little early today.

would

would like

would like to

Correct! Wrong!

9. You ................................ to him ever again.

must not talk

must not have talked

must not talked

Correct! Wrong!

10. You ......................... wait.

needn't

don't need to

don't have to

All of these

Correct! Wrong!

11. I ............................... out last night, but I decided to stay at home.

could go

should have gone

could have gone

Correct! Wrong!

12. I ............................ gone out last night but I had much work to do.

would

could have

would have

Correct! Wrong!

Answers

1. Ask her. She might be able to help you.
2. I couldn’t help them.
3. Can I leave a little early today?
4. I would like to leave a little early today.
5. I would go out tonight but I have too much to do.
6. You shouldn’t have scolded him.
7. Should I wait for them?
8. I have to leave a little early today.
9. You must not talk to him ever again.
10. You needn’t wait. / You don’t have to wait.
11. I could have gone out last night, but I decided to stay at home.
12. I would have gone out last night but I had much work to do.