Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.
1Don't throw things out of the window. Somebody ............... hit.
Wrong!
After the modal verb "could", we use" be" plus the past participle to form the passive: somebody could be hit.
2She ............... awake. There is no light in her room.
Wrong!
"Can't be" shows that the speaker is almost sure something is not true now. No light in her room suggests she is not awake.
3There is no light in his room. He must ............... to bed.
Wrong!
"Have gone" is used after "must" to make a strong deduction about a past action: he must have gone to bed.
4Students ............... not take books out of the library.
Wrong!
"Must" expresses a rule or prohibition here: students must not take books out of the library.
5The zoo sign says: Visitors ............... not feed or tease zoo animals.
Wrong!
"Must" is used for a strict rule or prohibition. The sign says visitors must not feed or tease the animals.
6I am not sure, but there is something under the bed. It ............... a mouse.
Wrong!
"May be" shows possibility when we are not sure: it may be a mouse, but we do not know.
7If he had replied to my letter, it should ............... days ago.
Wrong!
"Have arrived" is used after "should" to talk about an expected action before now: it should have arrived days ago.
8Why did you wait for me? You ............... have gone without me.
Wrong!
"Could" plus have plus past participle expresses that something was possible in the past: you could have gone without me.
9It ............... be James. He is in San Francisco at the moment.
Wrong!
"Can't" expresses a strong conclusion that something is impossible: it can't be James because he is in San Francisco.
10In those days, you could ............... for stealing a goat.
Wrong!
"Be hanged" is the passive form needed here: a person could be hanged as a punishment.
11You ............... be her sister. You look just like her.
Wrong!
"Must" expresses a strong deduction based on evidence: you must be her sister because you look just like her.
12She left school at 4, so she ............... be here in half an hour.
Wrong!
"Should" expresses what is expected to happen: if she left at 4, she should be here in half an hour.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Don’t throw things out of the window. Somebody be hit.
- She can’t be awake. There is no light in her room.
- There is no light in his room. He must have gone to bed.
- Students must not take books out of the library.
- The zoo sign says: Visitors must not feed or tease zoo animals.
- I am not sure, but there is something under the bed. It may be a mouse.
- If he had replied to my letter, it should have arrived days ago.
- Why did you wait for me? You could have gone without me.
- It can’t be James. He is in San Francisco at the moment.
- In those days, you could be hanged for stealing a goat.
- You must be her sister. You look just like her.
- She left school at 4, so she should be here in half an hour.
