Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.
1They haven’t eaten anything for hours. They ............... be hungry.
Wrong!
Use "must" for a strong logical conclusion in the present.
2The product is selling well. It ............... be good.
Wrong!
Use "must" when the evidence makes a conclusion seem certain.
3She left home at six. She ............... be here soon.
Wrong!
Use "should" for something that is expected to happen soon.
4I can’t find my wallet. I left it on the table. Somebody ............... have stolen it.
Wrong!
Use "must" before "have stolen" to make a strong deduction about the past.
5There is something behind the curtain. It ............... be the cat.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "may" or "could" for a possible explanation in an affirmative sentence.
6There is someone outside the door. Who ............... it be?
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "can" or "could" in questions about possibility or identity.
7"Why is she so late today?" "She ............... be working late."
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "could" or "may" when giving a possible reason for a situation.
8How ............... anybody be so cruel?
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "can" or "could" in this question to express surprise or disbelief.
9You ............... have told me that you were not coming.
Wrong!
Use "should" before "have told" to criticize something that did not happen.
10We went skiing last week. That ............... have been fun.
Wrong!
Use "must" before "have been" to make a strong deduction about the past.
11You ............... have told her. She already knew.
Wrong!
Use "need not" before "have told" to show that the action was unnecessary.
12Winter ............... be quite harsh in this part of the world.
Wrong!
Use "can" to talk about what is sometimes typical or possible in a place.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- They haven’t eaten anything for hours. They must be hungry.
- The product is selling well. It must be good.
- She left home at six. She should be here soon.
- I can’t find my wallet. I left it on the table. Somebody must have stolen it.
- There is something behind the curtain. It may / could be the cat.
- There is someone outside the door. Who can / could it be?
- “Why is she so late today?” “She could / may be working late.”
- How can / could anybody be so cruel?
- You should have told me that you were not coming.
- We went skiing last week. That must have been fun.
- You need not have told her. She already knew.
- Winter can be quite harsh in this part of the world.