Modal Verbs · Exercises
B1Intermediate practice
mustn’t vs don’t have to, had to, ought to and must be.
Play
- 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
- B1 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 B1
- 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
- mustn’t or don’t have to?
- Possibility: might / may / could
- Deduction: must / might / can’t be
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.
Is this sentence correct?
You mustn't bring your laptops — there are computers in the room.
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You don't have to bring your laptops — there are computers in the room.
“mustn't” should be “don't have to”. mustn’t = it isn’t allowed. don’t have to = it isn’t necessary (you can if you want). You don't have to bring your laptops — there are computers in the room.
Write a modal verb. Meaning: maybe.
The new student _____ call back later.
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The new student might call back later.
might / may / could = maybe: it’s possible, but not certain. The new student might call back later.
What does the sentence mean?
You can't cross the road on a red light.
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You can't cross the road on a red light.
mustn’t / can’t = it isn’t allowed.
Complete the sentence. Meaning: maybe.
It _____ be true.
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It could be true.
might / may / could = maybe: it’s possible, but not certain. It could be true.
Put the words in order to make a question.
languages / can / speak / Lily / three
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Can Lily speak three languages?
Questions: put the modal before the subject — no do / does: Can Lily speak three languages?
Complete the sentence. Meaning: maybe.
My dad _____ take a taxi.
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My dad may take a taxi.
might / may / could = maybe: it’s possible, but not certain. My dad may take a taxi.