Complete the following sentences using an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.
1The police warned the mob that they ............... start firing if they created trouble.
Wrong!
In reported speech after a past-tense verb, "would" is the correct past form of "will".
2Passengers ............... not smoke on the bus.
Wrong!
"Must" expresses a rule or prohibition in "must not smoke".
3............... I have a word with you?
Wrong!
"Can" is used to ask for permission in this informal request.
4Parents ............... accompany their children to the school.
Wrong!
"Cannot" shows that permission is not allowed in the present rule.
5There was a time when I ............... read till midnight, but these days I go to bed early.
Wrong!
"Used to" describes a past habit that is no longer true.
6You ............... not tell me. I know everything.
Wrong!
"Need" forms "need not", which means something is not necessary.
7I have promised to keep this secret. I ............... disclose it to anyone.
Wrong!
"Cannot" shows that keeping the promise makes disclosure impossible or not allowed.
8............... I tell you what happened?
Wrong!
"Shall" is used with "I" to offer to do something.
9How long ............... you take to complete this job?
Wrong!
"Will" asks about the expected future time needed to complete the job.
Done.
Score: 0/9
Answers
- The police warned the mob that they would start firing if they created trouble.
- Passengers must not smoke on the bus.
- Can I have a word with you?
- Parents cannot accompany their children to the school.
- There was a time when I used to read till midnight, but these days I go to bed early.
- You need not tell me. I know everything.
- I have promised to keep this secret. I cannot disclose it to anyone.
- Shall I tell you what happened?
- How long will you take to complete this job?
