Instructions: Choose the correct modal verb or auxiliary for each sentence. Click "Show Answer" to check your response.
Section A: Ability, Permission, Possibility (10 Questions)
1. I ________ swim when I was five years old. (can/could/will)
Answer: could (past ability)
2. ________ I borrow your pen, please? (Will/Shall/May)
Answer: May (polite permission)
3. It ________ rain later, so take an umbrella. (can/may/must)
Answer: may (possibility)
4. She ________ speak three languages fluently. (can/may/must)
Answer: can (present ability)
5. ________ you pass the salt, please? (Can/Could/May)
Answer: Could (polite request)
6. You look tired. You ________ take a rest. (can/should/might)
Answer: should (advice)
7. He ________ be at home. The lights are on. (can't/must/might)
Answer: must (strong certainty)
8. ________ I come in, sir? (Can/May/Will)
Answer: May (formal permission)
9. It ________ be dangerous to swim here. (can/must/should)
Answer: can (general possibility)
10. I ________ run very fast when I was younger. (can/could/may)
Answer: could (past ability)
Section B: Obligation, Necessity, Advice (10 Questions)
11. You ________ wear a seatbelt while driving. (can/must/may)
Answer: must (strong obligation)
12. We ________ to respect our elders. (ought/should/must)
Answer: ought (ought to = moral obligation)
13. You ________ have told me you were coming! I would have prepared food. (should/must/can)
Answer: should (should have + V3 = past advice not followed)
14. I ________ wear a uniform to school. (have to/must/can)
Answer: have to (external obligation)
15. You ________ smoke here. It's prohibited. (mustn't/don't have to/shouldn't)
Answer: mustn't (prohibition)
16. Students ________ complete their homework on time. (should/might/could)
Answer: should (advice/expectation)
17. You ________ come if you don't want to. (mustn't/don't have to/shouldn't)
Answer: don't have to (no obligation)
18. We ________ protect the environment. (ought to/can/may)
Answer: ought to (moral duty)
19. Yesterday, I ________ work late. (must/had to/should)
Answer: had to (past obligation)
20. You ________ drive carefully in the rain. (should/must/can)
Answer: should (advice)
Section C: Auxiliary Verbs & Past Forms (10 Questions)
21. ________ you like coffee? (Do/Does/Are)
Answer: Do (question auxiliary)
22. She ________ studying for her exam. (is/am/are)
Answer: is (helping verb for continuous)
23. They ________ finished their work. (has/have/had)
Answer: have (helping verb for perfect)
24. I ________ not know the answer. (do/does/did)
Answer: do (negative auxiliary)
25. He ________ been waiting for an hour. (has/have/had)
Answer: has (perfect continuous)
26. ________ she go to school yesterday? (Do/Did/Does)
Answer: Did (past question)
27. We ________ going to the market. (is/am/are)
Answer: are (helping verb)
28. She ________ speak French when she was young. (can/could/was able to)
Answer: could (past general ability)
29. He ________ have been tired. He worked all day. (must/might/could)
Answer: must (must have + V3 = past certainty)
30. They ________ allowed to leave early yesterday. (were/are/was)
Answer: were (past permission - was allowed to)
