Modal verbs Exercises

1.-.- Express the following ideas by using modal verbs.

a) Tell your brother that its prohibited to speak loud in a library

b) Ernest has the obligation to post the letters every day.

c) Ral has the ability to speak 8 foreign languages

d).- There is a possibility of raining this afternoon

e).- Give some advice to your brother. He never does his homework

f).- Ask for permission to phone your friend

g) Your friend drives very fast. Give him some advice

h) Express that your sister will have the ability to speak Portuguese.

i) Tell your mother that she doesnt need to drive you to school.

2.- Rewrite the sentences using the words given in bold type.
1. It isn't necessary to buy a ticket

NEEDNT You neednt buy a ticket

2. I advise him to be more careful.
OUGHT

3. I think that's John's car.

MUST

4.I don't think he is her brother.

CAN'T

5. He couldn't swim when he was 5.

ABLE

6. It's possible that he will win the race.

MIGHT

7. You are not allowed to play in their garden.

MUSTNT

8. It isn't necessary for them to repair the car.

NEED

9. It's not possible for you to eat so much.

CANT
10.I advise you to study harder.
SHOULD

11. It's just possible she's still at work.

MAY

12.- I cant believe youre serious. No way

CAN'T

13. We don't have to go shopping with her

NEEDN'T

14. It isnt necessary for us to fix the car.

NEED

Rewrite these sentences substituting the underlined words by a

modal verb:
Mustnt
Could

Cant
Must

Should

Shouldnt

Would

Might

a- It is not very probable that Ann will arrive from Brazil before July.
Ann arrive from Brazil before July but we are
not sure.
b- Thats top secret: it is not permitted to say anything about it.
Thats top secret: you say anything
about it.
c- Well, I advise you to buy that CD-set from the greatest hits of the Queen.
Well, you buy that CD-set from the
greatest hits of the Queen.
d-Look, theres some light on the 1st floor. Patrick is certainly at home.
Look, theres some light on the 1st floor. Patrick
be at home.
e-I heard a car approaching our house. It is certainly Barbra and Tim coming
to our party.
I heard a car approaching our house. It
be Barbra and Tim coming to our party.
f-I wouldnt be surprised if we saw Adriana shopping for her party here.

We see Adriana shopping for her

party here.
g-The team has walked several miles, they are all very tired. Do something
about it: let them rest.
You let the team rest.
h-Dogs are not allowed in the new restaurant by the river.
You take dogs into the new restaurant by
the river.
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence. Make sure to put the verb in
the correct tense (PAST or PRESENT).

MUST / HAVE TO

CANT / MUSTNT

CAN / BE ABLE TO

DONT HAVE TO

1) She _____________ finish the essay yesterday because her teacher asked her to do
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

so.
You _____________ come back in the afternoon. All classes have been cancelled.
You _____________ take a break! Youve been studying too long.
_____________ you speak Spanish when you were 8?
You _____________ tip a taxi driver, its optional.
My brother David is very talented. He _____________ hold his breath for 3 minutes. Its

amazing!
7) The teacher yelled at me yesterday. She said, Sally! You _____________ do all of your
homework or you will fail this semester of school!
8) You _____________ be late for the exam tomorrow! Its very important for your
educational future.
9) Peter _____________ ride a bike when he was only 3 years old.
10) We _____________ play video games after school for more than an hour when I was a
child. My mother always thought that it could made us intellectually stupider.
11) My father told me that I _____________ go to the movie theatre with you tomorrow
night.
3. Circle the correct modal verb that means the same as the first sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

We are forbidden to leave our car here.

We dont have to / mustnt leave our car here.
I recommend this book to you. Its fantastic.
You have to / can read this book. Its amazing!
I was very good at art when I was younger.
I could / had to paint very well when I was little.
Diving isnt possible in the pool. Its too shallow.
You mustnt / arent able to dive in the pool.
Its not necessary to come to work tomorrow but you can come for overtime if you want.
You dont have to / mustnt come to work tomorrow but well pay you overtime if you want.
Is it OK if I turn on the television?
Can / Must I turn on the television?