Modality Advanced Level MCQs Test With Answers 3

Needn't + infinitive means something is not necessary: you are free to skip this meeting. Can go gives permission or possibility for the next one. Not can't attend: that would mean you are not allowed, which contradicts 'if you are too busy'.

Would you like me to…? is the polite fixed pattern for offering help. Not Shall: we say Shall I help you?, not Shall you like me to….

Must have + past participle expresses a confident deduction about the past. The speaker can't find the keys in this coat, so the logical conclusion is I must have left them in my other coat.

Had better + bare infinitive gives strong advice, often with a warning of a bad result ('or you can't get a good mark'). The past forms (must have tried, might have tried) don't fit advice about the future.

Ought to + infinitive gives advice, like should. The next sentence explains why going to bed early is a good idea. Not may go: that gives permission, not advice.

Would you mind is followed by the -ing form; the negative is not + -ing: Would you mind not playing…? Not not to play: mind never takes a to-infinitive.

Used to + infinitive describes a past habit or state that is no longer true. Never used to talk contrasts the former president with the current one, who is 'much more accessible'.

Don't have to means there is no obligation. 'Hurray!' and 'today' show it is a present situation: school is off because of the snow. The have + past participle forms refer to the past and don't fit.

Should have + past participle criticises a past action that did not happen. The clue is 'but he didn't'. Not must have stopped: that is a deduction that he did stop, which contradicts the sentence.

May expresses a future possibility (a weather forecast is not certain). In the first conditional the result clause uses a future form, so will have to cancel expresses a future obligation. Must rain is a deduction, not a forecast.

Shouldn't have + past participle criticises something that was done in the past. 'It is your own fault' shows the person did leave everything until the last minute. Not can't have left: that says it is impossible that they did it.

Would rather is followed by the bare infinitive. The continuous infinitive be surfing is used because the speaker means an action in progress 'at the moment'. Not to surf or to be surfing: would rather never takes to.

Needn't have + past participle means you did something, but it was not necessary. You bought the ticket early, but flights are never full, so it was unnecessary. Not couldn't have bought: that would mean it was impossible.

Have to + infinitive expresses an obligation, often a rule. The contrast with 'it is optional' shows that wearing a helmet is required. Not might cover: that only expresses possibility, not a rule.

Could have + past participle refers to a past possibility that was not realised. The third conditional clause 'if I had wanted to' and 'but I thought…' show that the speaker didn't become a stockbroker. Not was able to become: that suggests he actually did it.

Ought to have been + -ing criticises how someone behaved during a past action. The accident has already happened, so a past form is needed. Not must have been driving: that is a deduction, not criticism.

When would rather is followed by a different subject (I'd rather you…), we use the past simple to talk about the present or future: I'd rather you didn't go out tonight. Not not to go: this pattern doesn't take an infinitive.

Shouldn't gives advice against doing something. The reason (monsoon season, too hot and too wet) shows the friend was advising the speaker. Not needn't visit: that only means it is not necessary, which doesn't match the warning.

Have to expresses an obligation that comes from circumstances: high prices and low wages force people to work hard 'just to get by'. The present simple shows a general situation.

Be supposed to refers to what a rule or law expects: during a curfew nobody is allowed out except the patrols. Not has to be: No one has to be out would mean nobody is obliged to go out, which is a different meaning.

Had to is the past form of have to and expresses a past obligation. After his father died, Mike was forced to support his family, so he couldn't go to university. Must have supported is a deduction, not an obligation.

May be expresses possibility. 'Can occur almost anywhere' shows that the deposits are possibly in any of these places, not certainly. Not must be: that expresses certainty, and the list of different places shows this is only a possibility.

Be able to expresses ability, and the present form are able to matches 'now'. Thanks to the new technology, scientists now have the ability to probe distant parts of the solar system. The past forms contradict 'now'.

Mustn't expresses a strong prohibition or a strong warning from the speaker, like a coach's instruction: don't try to run too fast. The past forms (shouldn't have tried) don't fit advice about a future race.

Can expresses natural ability: dogs are able to hear sounds that humans cannot. Not ought to hear or have to hear: these express advice or obligation, not ability.

Could have + past participle shows a past possibility that did not happen. Her German made it possible, but 'she decided to become an accountant instead'. Not must have become: that is a deduction that she did become one.

Shouldn't have + past participle criticises a past action that did happen. The phone call made the boss angry, so the speaker says it was a mistake. Not can't have phoned: that means it is impossible that you phoned.

Used to + infinitive describes a past ability or state that is no longer true. Sally spoke Italian fluently in the past but 'has forgotten most of it' now.

May not be expresses a possibility about the future, which fits the experts' worry. Not don't have to be: that expresses lack of obligation, which makes no sense here.

Must have been expresses a confident deduction about the past. Battles 'in the days of sail' are in the past, so a perfect modal is needed. Not might be or could be: they refer to the present.

Didn't need to + infinitive means something wasn't necessary, so it usually wasn't done. The hosts did everything, so the speakers did nothing. Not needn't have done: that suggests they did it although it was unnecessary.

Must be + -ing expresses a confident deduction about an action happening now. B hears the noise and concludes: my brother must be looking for food. Not ought to be looking: that would mean he should be doing it.

Couldn't have + past participle means it was impossible for something to happen in the past. B was ill in bed all day, so he would not have been able to attend anyway.

Ought to expresses what is right or advisable: the speaker knows he should look for a job, but finds it discouraging. Not used to look: 'I know' and the present-tense reason show a present situation.

Used to use describes a past habit (at the bank). Should be expresses a logical expectation: it ought to be easy because the program is familiar. Not must have used / must be: the speaker knows his own past, so a deduction is wrong.

Can't have been + -ing is a negative deduction about an action in progress in the past. He hit the lamp post, so the speaker is sure he was not driving carefully. Not won't be driving: that refers to the future, not to what he was doing when he hit the lamp post.

Would you mind if I…? is followed by the past simple to make a polite request about the present or future: Would you mind if I left early? Not leaving: that is used without if I (Would you mind me leaving…?).

Was able to expresses success on one particular past occasion, often despite difficulty ('despite the heavy traffic'). Could is not normally used for one specific achievement. Not had to get: that is obligation, not success.

'Three months ago' needs the past simple (got). 'Since then' needs the present perfect, so hasn't been able to go expresses a lack of ability from that time until now. Not has got married: the present perfect can't be used with 'ago'.

'These days' shows a temporary present situation, so the present continuous is trying is needed. Not had to try: it is past and doesn't match 'these days'.

Ought to have + past participle asks whether a past action was the right thing to do. He did get married and now wonders if it was a good idea. Not may have got or must have got: these are deductions, but he knows he got married.

The past simple didn't know describes Sally's situation before she met the diver; 'she learned quickly' is also past simple. Not wouldn't know: that suggests refusal or a hypothetical, not a simple past fact.

Would + infinitive can describe a repeated action in the past, like used to. Whenever he could means each time he was able to. The past simple never earned shows the past time frame, so present forms like does or can don't fit.

Was/were supposed to describes an arrangement or expectation that was not met. You were expected at 2, but it's almost 3 and you've only just arrived. Not must have been: that is a deduction that you were here.

Must have + past participle expresses a confident deduction about the past. There is no bread, so the speaker concludes that the flatmate forgot. Not should have forgotten: that would mean forgetting was the right thing to do.

Can't have + past participle is a negative deduction about the past: the speaker is sure Sue did not learn Arabic in only a year. The clue is 'I'm sure she had started studying it before she left England'. Not shouldn't have learned: that criticises a past action and is not a deduction.

Would like + to-infinitive asks about someone's wishes: Would Jeff like to join us? Not would rather or had better: both are followed by a bare infinitive, not to.

Could have + past participle expresses a past possibility that didn't happen. Sam was good enough to break the record, but 'he didn't compete'. Not must have broken: that is a deduction that he did break it.

Should have been + -ing describes what was expected to be happening in the past but wasn't: three people were supposed to be clearing tables, but only one was. Not must have been clearing: that is a deduction that they were.

Could have + past participle describes something that was possible but didn't happen, often a narrow escape: You could have killed me! Not should have killed: that would mean killing was the right thing to do.