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Modal Verbs Exercise for ESL Students

October 12, 2025 - A2pdf

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.

Progress 0 of 12 answered
1Where is she? She ............... by now.
Wrong!
Use "should have arrived" for an expected action that was probably completed before now.
2I ............... be there by 8 o'clock.
Wrong!
Use "have to" to express a necessary obligation or requirement.
3"Where is Jane?" "She ............... to the library."
Wrong!
Use "may have gone" to talk about a possible past action that explains the present situation.
4They ............... returned by now.
Wrong!
Use "should have" before a past participle to show an expected completed action.
5What ............... you have done if you had lost your job?
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "would" and "could" are possible in a third conditional question, with different meanings.
6What do you think we ............... do?
Wrong!
Use "should" to ask for advice about the best action.
7............... she have missed the bus?
Wrong!
Use "Could" to ask whether a past event was possible.
8............... you refuse this offer if you were in my position?
Wrong!
Use "Would" for a question about an imaginary situation.
9Where ............... he have disappeared?
Wrong!
Use "could" to ask about a possible past explanation.
10The accident ............... if you had been more careful.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't have happened" for the unreal past result in a third conditional sentence.
11The fire spread quickly, but luckily everyone ............... escape.
Wrong!
Use "was able to" to show successful ability in one past situation.
12If you had listened to your mother, you ............... yourself in trouble.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't have landed" for the unreal past result in a third conditional sentence.
Done.
Score: 0/12
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Answers

  1. Where is she? She should have arrived by now.
  2. I have to be there by 8 o’clock.
  3. “Where is Jane?” “She may have gone to the library.”
  4. They should have returned by now.
  5. What would / could you have done if you had lost your job?
  6. What do you think we should do?
  7. Could she have missed the bus?
  8. Would you refuse this offer if you were in my position?
  9. Where could he have disappeared?
  10. The accident wouldn’t have happened if you had been more careful.
  11. The fire spread quickly, but luckily everyone was able to escape.
  12. If you had listened to your mother, you wouldn’t have landed yourself in trouble.
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