Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal or semi-modal auxiliary verb.
1She didn't answer her phone, so she ............... have been asleep.
Wrong!
Use "might" to make a possible guess about the past.
2You ............... have listened to me. Why didn't you?
Wrong!
Use "should" to say that listening was the right thing to do in the past.
3Yesterday, he pushed the cart with all his strength, but it ............... an inch.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't move" for a thing that refused or failed to move in the past.
4When I was younger, I ............... sing very well.
Wrong!
Use "could" for a general ability in the past.
5My grandfather traveled a lot, and he ............... speak many languages.
Wrong!
Use "could" to talk about a general past ability.
6If we hadn't lost our way, we ............... on time.
Wrong!
Use "would have reached" for the unreal result of an unreal past condition.
7After hours of surgery, the doctors ............... her.
Wrong!
Use "were able to save" for success on a particular occasion in the past.
8When we lived in Chennai, we ............... often go to the beach.
Wrong!
Use "would" for a repeated past habit.
9I ............... come to your party next Sunday because I'll be working.
Wrong!
Use "won't be able to" for a future lack of ability or possibility.
10I asked her again and again, but she ............... me anything.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't tell" for a refusal in the past.
11Ask her. She ............... be able to help you.
Wrong!
Use "might" to express possibility.
12If you ............... see him, tell him that he owes me a drink.
Wrong!
Use "should" in this conditional to mean "if you happen to."
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- She didn’t answer her phone, so she might have been asleep.
- You should have listened to me. Why didn’t you?
- Yesterday, he pushed the cart with all his strength, but it wouldn’t move an inch.
- When I was younger, I could sing very well.
- My grandfather traveled a lot, and he could speak many languages.
- If we hadn’t lost our way, we would have reached on time.
- After hours of surgery, the doctors were able to save her.
- When we lived in Chennai, we would often go to the beach.
- I won’t be able to come to your party next Sunday because I’ll be working.
- I asked her again and again, but she wouldn’t tell me anything.
- Ask her. She might be able to help you.
- If you should see him, tell him that he owes me a drink.