Usage of Modals Verbs in English

I. Choose the correct answer:

1. “...... you open the door for me please?”

A  shall     B  must   C would

2. “Ben had a hard time trying to find the leak in the pipe”. – “But he .... stop it, wasn’t he?”

A   was allowed to       B  was able to C  would

3. “I saw Tina in town last night”. – “You .... have seen her. She is on holiday in Spain”.

A  would B  could C can’t

4. “Where’s Colin?” – “I’m not sure. He ....... be in the study”.

A  might B  will             C  ought to

5. “I feel very tired today”. – “You ....... have stayed up so late last night”.

A  shouldn’t B  could C might

6. “...... you give me a lift to work tomorrow?”

A  may  B  shall   C will

7. “...... I help you, madam?”

A  would B  must    C  may

II. Underline the correct word(s):

1. Shall / would / could I speak to the manager, please?

2. Could / may / shall you tell me where the bank is, please?

3. Would / shall / will we go for a walk this afternoon?

4. Can / shall / would I have a milkshake, please?

5. May / should / would I borrow your pen?

6. I put your blue trousers in the washine machine. – Oh, no! You shouldn’t / mustn’t / can’t have done that.

7. What are you doing on Saturday morning? – I have to / will / should go into the office for a couple of hours.  

8. When we were at school, we had to / ought to were a uniform.

9. You don’t have to / mustn’t wear your seatbelt during the whole of the flight.

10. You should / have got to tell her that you are sorry.

11. We weren’t allowed to / wouldn’t talk to our partner because it was an examination.

12. When I first came to Madrid I could / couldn’t speak only a few words of Spanish.

13. Did you have to / must you have your hair cut before the interview last week?