Modal Verbs Exercises Worksheet - Interactive learning activity with illustrated examples and sentence gaps to practice using modal verbs correctly.

This worksheet focuses on the use of modal verbs (e.g., must, should, can, may, might, could, need to, etc.) in different contexts. Each picture and sentence provides a clue about which modal verb is appropriate based on the context (e.g., obligation, advice, certainty, impossibility, prohibition, etc.). Below is the solution with explanations for each question.

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1. You ______ be quiet. Dad is having a rest.

- Answer: must
- Explanation: The context indicates an obligation or necessity to be quiet because Dad is resting. "Must" expresses strong necessity.

2. You ______ behave yourself. Don't do silly things!

- Answer: should
- Explanation: This is a piece of advice or a recommendation to behave well. "Should" is used for giving advice.

3. He ______ be Paul's brother. He looks like him.

- Answer: might/could
- Explanation: There is uncertainty here, as the person only looks like Paul's brother. "Might" or "could" are used to express possibility.

4. He ______ open the door. The knob is broken.

- Answer: can't
- Explanation: The door cannot be opened because the knob is broken. "Can't" expresses inability.

5. He has been running 10 miles. He ______ be exhausted.

- Answer: must
- Explanation: Given that he has run 10 miles, it is certain that he is exhausted. "Must" expresses strong certainty.

6. Drivers ______ use their mobiles when they're driving.

- Answer: mustn't
- Explanation: Using a mobile while driving is prohibited by law. "Mustn't" expresses prohibition.

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7. He ______ lose some weight if he did more exercise.

- Answer: could/might
- Explanation: Losing weight through exercise is possible but not guaranteed. "Could" or "might" expresses possibility.

8. People ______ wear a helmet when they ride a motorbike.

- Answer: must/should
- Explanation: Wearing a helmet is either mandatory (obligation) or strongly recommended (advice). Both "must" and "should" work here, depending on the context.

9. ______ you hold your breath for one minute?

- Answer: Can
- Explanation: This asks about ability—whether the person can hold their breath for one minute. "Can" is used for ability.

10. Look at that ring! It's so nice! It ______ be very expensive.

- Answer: must
- Explanation: The ring is described as nice, so it is highly likely to be expensive. "Must" expresses strong certainty.

11. If you arrived home late, your wife ______ get angry with you.

- Answer: might/could
- Explanation: This expresses a possibility that the wife might get angry if you arrive late. "Might" or "could" works here.

12. My teacher said this book is good, but we ______ read it if we don't want to.

- Answer: don't have to
- Explanation: The teacher recommends the book, but reading it is not obligatory. "Don't have to" expresses lack of obligation.

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13. It looks as if it's going to rain. You ______ take your umbrella.

- Answer: should
- Explanation: This is a suggestion or advice to take an umbrella because it might rain. "Should" is used for giving advice.

14. You ______ chew gum while you are working. It is not allowed.

- Answer: mustn't
- Explanation: Chewing gum during work is prohibited. "Mustn't" expresses prohibition.

15. You ______ shout at me. I'm not deaf.

- Answer: needn't
- Explanation: Shouting is unnecessary since the person is not deaf. "Needn't" expresses lack of necessity.

16. I ______ go jogging every day when I was younger. Now I'm too lazy to get up early in the morning.

- Answer: used to
- Explanation: This describes a past habit of jogging daily. "Used to" is used for past habits.

17. Dave ______ go skiing because he has broken his leg.

- Answer: can't
- Explanation: Dave cannot go skiing due to his broken leg. "Can't" expresses inability.

18. ______ you close the window? It's getting cold in here.

- Answer: Could/Would
- Explanation: This is a polite request to close the window. "Could" or "Would" are used for making requests.

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19. What are you doing in the evening? - I don't know. I ______ play a tennis match.

- Answer: might/could
- Explanation: Playing a tennis match is a possibility, but it is not certain. "Might" or "could" expresses possibility.

20. You ______ take a passport when you travel to most countries.

- Answer: must
- Explanation: Taking a passport is necessary when traveling to most countries. "Must" expresses obligation.

21. ______ I help you with the exercises? - Yes, please.

- Answer: Could/May
- Explanation: This is an offer to help. "Could" or "May" are used for making offers.

22. You ______ study much harder if you want to pass your exams.

- Answer: should
- Explanation: This is advice to study harder to pass exams. "Should" is used for giving advice.

23. ______ you prepare some coffee before I leave for work?

- Answer: Could/Would
- Explanation: This is a polite request to prepare coffee. "Could" or "Would" are used for making requests.

24. My neighbour ______ come to the party as he has got a cold and feels terrible.

- Answer: can't
- Explanation: The neighbour cannot come to the party because of illness. "Can't" expresses inability.

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Final Answer:

\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. must & 2. should \\
3. might/could & 4. can't \\
5. must & 6. mustn't \\
7. could/might & 8. must/should \\
9. Can & 10. must \\
11. might/could & 12. don't have to \\
13. should & 14. mustn't \\
15. needn't & 16. used to \\
17. can't & 18. Could/Would \\
19. might/could & 20. must \\
21. Could/May & 22. should \\
23. Could/Would & 24. can't \\
\end{array}
}