Modal Verbs · Exercises
A2Elementary practice
should, must, have to, might and polite Could I…?
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- Practice10 exercises at your own pace
- Time Attack60 seconds, as many as you can
- Survival3 lives, harder as you go
- Tense SortDrag sentences into their tense — 60 seconds
- Timelines10 sentences to match to their timelines
- A2 Boss12 hits before you lose 3 lives
- Irregular MatchPair verbs with their past forms — 60 seconds
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What you’ll practise at A2
- Modal + base form (no -s, no to)
- Ability: can / could / be able to
- Negatives: can’t, shouldn’t, don’t have to
- Questions: Can I…? Do I have to…?
- Permission: can / can’t / may
- Advice: should / ought to / had better
- Obligation: must / have to / had to
- Possibility: might / may / could
Need a refresher? Learn the modal verbs: rules, tables and audio examples.
Sample exercises
A taste of what’s inside. In practice mode every exercise is freshly generated.
Complete the sentence. Meaning: maybe.
My aunt _____ go to the beach this weekend.
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My aunt could go to the beach this weekend.
might / may / could = maybe: it’s possible, but not certain. My aunt could go to the beach this weekend.
Write a modal verb. Meaning: it’s allowed.
You _____ bring a friend.
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You can bring a friend.
can (or may) = it’s allowed. You can bring a friend.
Write a modal verb. Meaning: maybe.
Mateo _____ be busy this afternoon.
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Mateo might be busy this afternoon.
might / may / could = maybe: it’s possible, but not certain. Mateo might be busy this afternoon.
Choose the right form.
Next week, Ines _____ do the washing-up.
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Next week, Ines will have to do the washing-up.
must has no past or future: use had to for the past and will have to for the future. Next week, Ines will have to do the washing-up.
Complete the sentence. Meaning: it isn’t allowed.
The children _____ swim here — the water is dangerous.
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The children mustn't swim here — the water is dangerous.
mustn’t / can’t = it isn’t allowed. The children mustn't swim here — the water is dangerous.
Is this sentence correct?
Kofi cans read music.
Show answer
Kofi can read music.
“cans” should be “can”. After a modal (can, should, must, might), use the base form: no -s, no to, no -ing.