Fill in the blanks with appropriate modal auxiliary verbs.
1. You ........................... slow down. (Order)
Correct!
Wrong!
Must shows strong obligation. It is also used to give orders.
2. You ............................... go shopping this week.
Correct!
Wrong!
Need not shows lack of necessity. You have to use a to-infinitive after do not need.
3. .................................. we throw a party next week? (Make a suggestion)
Correct!
Wrong!
Shall we is used to make a suggestion.
4. ........................... I carry your bag? (Make an offer)
Correct!
Wrong!
Should I is used to make offers.
5. You .............................. vote unless you are 18. (Inability)
Correct!
Wrong!
Cannot shows present inability.
6. You .............................. to wake me up early tomorrow. I am on holiday. (Lack of necessity)
Correct!
Wrong!
Before a to-infinitive, use do not need....
7. You .............................. get that carpet cleaned. (Necessity)
Correct!
Wrong!
Should shows necessity.
8. You ............................... pack so many clothes. We are only going for one day. (Lack of necessity)
Correct!
Wrong!
9. You ................................ smoke at work. (Prohibition)
Correct!
Wrong!
10. I love music. I ............................. play the piano really well. (Ability)
Correct!
Wrong!
Can shows ability.
11. I lost my phone yesterday but I ................................ find it. (Ability)
Correct!
Wrong!
Could is not wrong here. To say that you managed to do something on one occasion, use be able to.
12. She ............................. walk when she was just 8 months old. (Past ability)
Correct!
Wrong!
Use could to talk about past ability in general.
Answers
- You must slow down. (Order)
- You need not go shopping this week. (Lack of necessity)
- Shall we throw a party next week? (Asking for suggestion)
- Should I carry your bag? (Make an offer)
- You cannot vote unless you are 18. (Inability)
- You do not need to wake me up early tomorrow. I am on holiday. (Lack of necessity)
- You should get that carpet cleaned. (Necessity)
- You need not pack so many clothes. We are only going for one day. (Lack of necessity)
- You cannot smoke at work. (Prohibition)
- I love music. I can play the piano really well. (Ability)
- I lost my phone yesterday but I was able to find it.
- She could walk when she was just 8 months old. (Past ability)
