Modals (Elementary / Pre-Intermediate) Test 3


20 questions · about 7 min · Printable PDF

0 of 20 answered

Question 1

_____ you answer the phone?

We use Will you…? to ask someone to do something: Will you answer the phone? Not Shall, because Shall you is not used to ask for help.

Question 2

A: I _____ play the guitar.

B: But you said yesterday you _____ play it.

A says it is not possible now: can't. B reports what A said yesterday, so can becomes could: you said you could play it.

Question 3

I missed the bus this morning so I _____ walk to school.

This morning and missed show the past. The past of have to and must is had to. Not must, because it has no past form.

Question 4

Vegetables _____ be washed carefully.

Vegetables is plural, so we say have to, not has to. Ought needs to (ought to).

Question 5

He _____ drive a car when he was eighteen.

When he was eighteen is the past. For ability in the past we use could: He could drive a car.

Question 6

You _____ watch TV when you are studying.

This is advice, so we use shouldn't: it is not a good idea to watch TV when you study.

Question 7

I _____ like to listen to guitar music.

We say I would like (I'd like) to say what we want politely.

Question 8

We _____ see him tomorrow.

Might means 'maybe' for the future: We might see him tomorrow = perhaps we will see him.

Question 9

_____ you able to understand the lesson this morning?

The phrase is be able to. This morning is past, so we use Were you able to…? Not Could, because Could you able is not correct.

Question 10

I don’t think we _____ be able to get to the airport in time.

For the future we use will be able to. Not can, because can is never followed by be able to.

Question 11

I _____ see the President. There were too many people.

There were shows the past, so we use couldn't (not possible in the past). Not weren't able to, because with I we say wasn't able to.

Question 12

_____ you mind if I used your dictionary?

Would you mind if I used…? is a polite way to ask for permission. After Would you mind if, we use the past form (used). Not Do, because we say Do you mind if I use…? (present).

Question 13

_____ run if you feel tired.

The sentence has no subject (you), so it is an order or advice: Don't run if you feel tired. Not Mustn't or Shouldn't, because they need a subject: You mustn't run.

Question 14

A horse _____ go twice as fast as an elephant.

We use can for ability that is always true: A horse can go twice as fast as an elephant. Is able needs to.

Question 15

A: I don’t like this medicine.

B: Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll soon _____ it.

Get used to means 'become familiar with' something new: You'll soon get used to it. After will we need the base form get.

Question 16

A: Do you like Florida?

B: Not really. I’m not _____ the heat.

Be used to + noun means it is normal for you. I'm not used to the heat = the heat is new and difficult for me.

Question 17

A: Does your father smoke?

B: He _____ but not any more.

Used to is for a habit in the past that has stopped: He used to (smoke), but not any more. Not was used to, which means 'was familiar with'.

Question 18

It is funny. I really enjoy jogging now but I _____.

I enjoy jogging now, but in the past I did not: I didn't use to. After didn't we write use to, without -d.

Question 19

A: Did your mother tell you stories when you were small?

B: Yes, she _____ tell me Nasrettin Hodja’s stories.

Would + verb can describe a repeated action in the past: she would tell me stories = she often told me stories. Not used, because we need used to tell.

Question 20

A: I’m getting a bit fat.

B: _____.

B gives advice with shouldn't: You shouldn't eat so much. This is the right answer to someone getting fat.

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