B2

Mixed Modals Exercises PDFSet 5: Comprehensive Modal Verbs Review: All Functions & Tenses Exercises

20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included

Preview: Questions

Fill in the blank with the correct option.

1.She ___ have been very upset when she heard the news. She was crying for hours.

a) mustb) shouldc) mightd) could

2.You ___ wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. It's required by law.

a) shouldb) have toc) mayd) ought to

3.He ___ have taken a taxi. That's probably why he arrived so early.

a) shouldb) mustc) mightd) would

4.We ___ to book the hotel in advance. When we arrived, all the rooms were full.

a) could rememberb) must rememberc) might have rememberedd) should have remembered

5.___ you close the window, please? It's a bit cold in here.

a) Couldb) Mustc) Shouldd) May

... and 15 more questions in the PDF

Preview: Answers

1.must

2.have to

3.might

4.should have remembered

5.Could

... and 15 more answers in the PDF

Preview: Explanations

1."must"(a)

Use 'must have + past participle' for a strong past deduction. Crying for hours is strong evidence that she was very upset. 'Might have' would express uncertainty, but the evidence here is convincing.

2."have to"(b)

Use 'have to' for external obligations, especially legal requirements. The law makes wearing a helmet compulsory. 'Should' and 'ought to' are too weak for legal requirements.

3."might"(c)

Use 'might have + past participle' to express a possible past explanation. 'Probably' suggests reasonable possibility but not certainty. If the speaker were certain, 'must have' would be correct, but 'probably why' shows speculation.

4."should have remembered"(d)

Use 'should have + past participle' to express regret about a past action. They didn't book in advance, and the consequence was no rooms available. The speaker regrets not remembering to book.

5."Could"(a)

Use 'Could you...?' to make a polite request. It is softer and more polite than 'Can you...?' and much more natural than 'Must you...?' (which implies annoyance) or 'Should you...?' (which questions appropriateness).

... and 15 more explanations in the PDF

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