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Modal verbs practice: must, have to, may, could, should

Modal verbs express obligation, prohibition, permission, ability and how sure you are. These questions practice the difference between must and have to, mustn't and needn't, and past forms such as could have and couldn't have.

Try these 10 questions, then open the answer to check yourself. The trainer has all 43 questions on this topic, mixed in a new order each time, with your mistakes saved for review.

  1. You ______ salute a senior officer; it is a regulation.

    • Amight
    • Bmust
    • Ccould
    • Dmay
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    B. must

    An absolute obligation, such as a regulation: must.

  2. Visitors ______ not enter the restricted area.

    • Amay
    • Bwould
    • Cshould
    • Dused to
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    A. may

    A formal written prohibition: may not.

  3. She ______ speak three languages fluently.

    • Acan
    • Bmust
    • Cshould
    • Dought
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    A. can

    Ability: can.

  4. He ______ have missed the bus; he is never late.

    • Amustn't
    • Bcan't
    • Cshouldn't
    • Dwouldn't
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    B. can't

    Deduction negative -> can't have.

  5. You ______ have told me earlier - I would have helped.

    • Ashould
    • Bmust
    • Ccan
    • Dwill
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    A. should

    Reproach about the past -> should have.

  1. We ______ to report at 0700 sharp.

    • Amust
    • Bare
    • Chave
    • Dought
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    D. ought

    ought to + infinitive.

  2. You ______ worry; the situation is under control.

    • Amustn't
    • Bneedn't
    • Ccan't
    • Dshouldn't have
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    B. needn't

    No necessity: needn't.

  3. He ______ be at the office; his car is outside.

    • Amust
    • Bcan't
    • Cneedn't
    • Dmay not
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    A. must

    A logical conclusion that something is true: must.

  4. ______ we begin the briefing now?

    • AWill
    • BShall
    • CWould
    • DDo
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    B. Shall

    A suggestion with we takes Shall.

  5. Recruits ______ to have a haircut when they arrive.

    • Aare supposed
    • Bmust
    • Cshould
    • Dmay
    Show the answer

    A. are supposed

    What other people expect you to do: be supposed to.

Practice all 43 questions

With the explanation after each answer and a mistake box.

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