EXERCISES

I/ CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION TO COMPLETE THE

SENTENCES BELOW
1. You _________ tell anyone what I just told you. It's a secret.
A. mustn’t B. can’t C. shouldn’t D. don’t have to
( choose A, because the secret must kept and the listener had a duty to keep
that )
2. I ______ be delighted to show you round the factory.
A. ought to B. would C. might D. can
( choose B, this is a polite request, keyword is the delighted )
3. Leave early so that you ______ miss the bus.
A. didn’t B. won’t C. shouldn’t D. mustn’t
(choose B, used in the future tense, talking about certainty or prediction )
4. Young people ______ obey their parents.
A. must B. may C. will D. ought to
(choose A, talk about young people’s obligations and obligatory obedience to
parents )
5. I _________ finish my homework before the class starts.
A. shouldn’t B. had to C. don’t have to D. have to
(choose D, if “must” is about subjective compulsion, then “have to” has an
objective meaning ( due to compulsive circumstances ) )
6. You ________ stop smoking, it’s very bad for your lungs.
A. should B. must C. shouldn’t D. have to
( choose A, use the verb “should” to show that you have to do something )
7. We went to bed right after dinner because we _______ get up early the
following day.
A. must B. had to C. ought to D. should
( choose B, “get up early” is a mandatory job that doesn’t come from the subject
but external factors )
8. The concert is free, so we _______ pay.
A. have to. B mustn’t C. don’t have to D.shouldn’t
( choose C, free is the keyword, use “have to” because this is an existing rule )
9. What are you doing? You ________ be here!
A. shouldn’t B. mustn’t C. ought not to D. Both B and C
( choose D, because this is a forbidden order )
 10. They _____ play so much to video games, he will have a big
headache.
A. shouldn’t B. don’t have to C. needn’t D. must
( choose A, the should/shouldn’t is used in a sentence expressing advice or
suggestion )
11. Ashley _______ learn how to cook if she wants to get open her own
restaurant someday.
A. mustn’t B.has to C. shouldn’t D. had to
(choose B, we can se the subject “Ashley” and the present simple “she want”,
which means a conditional sentence, so we need the verb “has to”
12.You _________ clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.
A. didn’t have to B. needn’t C. mustn’t D. don’t have to
( choose D, based on it’s meaning, which is an external agent, we need “don’t
have to”, but we can also replace that with “don’t need to” without changing the
meaning )
13. So sorry, I can’t go to the cinema with you, I __________ babysit my
younger brother.
A. ought to B. shouldn’t C. have to D. don’t have to
( choose C, the sentence above describes actions from external objective
factors )
14. Jane was so tired. She ________ have worked days and nights.
A. must B. need C. would D. should
( choose A, “worked” is the keyword, this is a mandatory action, so the verb
“must” should be used )
15. I’d love to come to the cinema but I __________ hand in this
assignment tomorrow.
A. must B. have to C. mustn’t D. can
( choose B, “assignment” is the mandatory task to do )
16. You _____________ memorise the whole thing. Just try to remember
the key points.
A. don’t have to B. Must C. Have to D. Mustn’t
( choose A, to express an idea without doing something, use “don’t have to” )
17. If you are worried about getting fat, you _________ eat at McDonald's
every day. You _________ eat healthy, low-fat foods like fruits and vegetables.
A. shouldn’t / should
B. can’t / can
 C. don’t have to / fave to
D. mustn’t / must
( choose A, use the verb “should” because this is a sentence giving advice )
18. My teacher told me that I _________ review my notes every day. I
guess it's a good idea to look at them after class.
A. have to B. ought to C. must D. could
( choose B, like the verb “should”, “ought to” is also used in sentence giving
advice )
19. I hope I ______ find it.
A. will B. shall C. could D. must
( choose B, with “hope”, the sentence must be in the present or future tense. We
only have “shall” in the answers, and that is also the answers )
20. You ______ to write them today.
A. should B. must C. had D. ought
( choose C, this is a sentence describing an action from an objecctive factor )
21. ______ you be in Rome tonight.
A. Will B. May C. Might D. Maybe
(choose A, this is the future tense so use the verb “will” )
22. Robert arrived without his book. He _____ it.
A. could have lost
B. should have lost
C. would have lost
D. will have lost

II/ COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH THE MOST

APPROPRIATE MODAL VERB FROM THE LIST BELOW.

could / must / mustn’t / should / shouldn’t / don’t have to / ought to

/ ought not to.
 1. We hate big multinational companies. I think they _________ pay
more taxes. (should or ought to)
2. I’m not working tomorrow, so I ________ get up early. (don’t have
to)
3. The board agreed that employers _________ have access to an
medical file. (shouldn’t) or (ought not to)
4. This is a non-smoking area, you _________ smoke here. (mustn’t)
5. Lan _________ get up early tomorrow; She wants to go running very
early. (must)
6. You _________ eat so many sweets. They are bad for you. (shouldn’t)
or (ought not to)

7. The advice from the health committee is that all people with
symptoms __________ go to the doctor. (should or ought to)
8. When he was 4 years old, he ________ read perfect well. (could)