These modal verb exercises cover various use cases such as expressing ability, permission, advice, necessity, and possibility.
1. Exercise 1: multiple-choice questions
Choose the modal verb that best completes each sentence.
1. I like your glasses. You _____ wear it more often.
2. I'm late. I _____ leave now.
3. There's a suspicious man outside. I think we _____ call the police.
4. It's too dark here. I _____ open the window.
5. He is your friend. You _____ help him.
6. Ouch! I broke my ankle. I _____ walk.
7. I'm not sure if he is at home or not. She _____ be working.
8. If I were you, I _____ leave her alone.
9. I love you so much. I _____ never break up with you.
10. They all look alike. They _____ be brothers and sisters.
2. Exercise 1: past modals
Use past modals to make a complete sentence.
1. Her eyes looked wet. She _____ been crying.
2. I can't find my keys. I _____ left it in the office.
3. There's no more juice in the fridge. The kids _____ drunk them all.
4. Why did you throw your old clothes away? You _____ given them to the poor.
5. Why didn't you tell me that you were coming so late at night? I _____ picked you up.
6. His office was closed when I passed by. He _____ gone for lunch.
7. There was so much noise last night. There _____ been a party nearby.
8. I missed my plane. I _____ left early.
9. He looked so slim when I last saw him. He _____ been sick.
10. I can't find my keys. I _____ have left them in the office.
3. Modal verb worksheet
This modal verb worksheet contains 14 sentences to complete using can, could, can't, should, should have, might, must, and will.
4. Answers to the worksheet
2. I’m sorry, I can't help you.
3. Oh my God! It's two o’clock already. I must leave now, or I will miss my train.
4. How can I help you?
5. When I was your age, I could not swim.
6. You must be kidding! That can't be true.
7. It’s too dark here. I will open the window.
8. Should I be worried if my cat is sneezing?
9. He looks suspicious. I’m not sure, but I think he might/could be the murderer.
10. You should have asked for my permission before you gave him my phone number.
11. If you don’t stop smoking, you will die soon.
12. You must leave now, or I will call the police.
13. Jack is a good man. He can’t be the one who killed my husband.
14. Elenna is a smart girl. I’m sure she will pass her exam.
We have covered various aspects of modal verbs in these exercises. If you want to learn more, see more examples of modal verbs in our grammar lesson.