Modals of Ability, Permission and Advice: B1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. ___ you pass me the salt, please? → Could

Could is the standard polite request form, and has nothing to do with past time here.

2. She ___ speak three languages by the time she was ten. → could

Could describes a general ability that lasted over a period in the past.

3. The fire was fierce, but everyone ___ escape through the back door. → was able to

For a single successful occasion in the past, English needs was or were able to rather than could.

4. You ___ see a dentist about that tooth. → should

Should gives advice about the sensible course of action.

5. ___ I leave early today? I have a hospital appointment. → May

May is the careful, formal way of asking permission from someone senior.

6. Which sentence is grammatically wrong? → She cans swim.

Modal verbs never take a third-person s.

7. You ___ apologise before this gets any worse. → had better

Had better gives strong advice with an implied warning about the consequences.

8. It ___ rain later, so take an umbrella just in case. → might

Might expresses a genuine possibility that is neither certain nor unlikely.

9. What is the difference between 'You should call her' and 'You must call her'? → Should is advice, must is obligation

Should recommends; must imposes. Confusing the two makes ordinary advice sound like an order.

10. I ___ ride a bicycle until I was almost twelve. → couldn't

Couldn't is the negative of past ability.

11. ___ I help you with those bags? → Shall

Shall I is the standard form for offering to do something, used with I and we.

12. You ___ to tell him the truth sooner or later. → ought

Ought is the only modal in this group that keeps to before the verb.

13. Students ___ not use dictionaries during the exam. → may

May not states an official prohibition in formal written rules.

14. He ___ have forgotten — he never forgets anything. → can't

Can't have expresses confident disbelief about a past event.

15. After six months of lessons she ___ hold a real conversation. → can

Can states a present ability that now exists.

16. Which request is the most polite? → Could you possibly open the window?

Could plus possibly is the softest of these; the imperative is the bluntest.

17. I ___ have gone to the party, but I was too tired. → could

Could have plus a past participle describes an unrealised past possibility.

18. You ___ have told me it was her birthday! → might

Might have here is a reproach about something the listener failed to do.

19. Visitors ___ take photographs in the main gallery. → may

May grants permission in formal notices.

20. 'You ought to rest' is closest in meaning to ___. → You should rest

Ought to and should give advice of essentially equal strength.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. ___ you help me lift this box, please? → Could

Could opens a polite request, with no reference to past time.

2. She ___ read fluently before she started school. → could

Could describes a general ability held over a period in the past.

3. The lock had rusted badly, but I ___ able to open it eventually. → was

One specific past success needs was able to rather than could.

4. You ___ see a doctor if the pain continues. → should

Should recommends a sensible course of action.

5. ___ I borrow your charger for ten minutes? → May

May is the most formal way of requesting permission.

6. You ___ better leave now or you will miss the train. → had

Had better gives urgent advice with a warning attached.

7. It ___ snow tonight, so drive carefully. → might

Might expresses an uncertain future possibility.

8. I ___ swim at all until I was fifteen. → couldn't

Couldn't states the absence of an ability in the past.

9. ___ I carry that for you? → Shall

Shall I is the conventional way of offering help.

10. You ___ to apologise to her in person. → ought

Ought is unique among modals in keeping to before the verb.

11. Passengers ___ not smoke anywhere on board. → may

May not states a formal prohibition in official language.

12. He ___ have left already — his coat is still here. → can't

Can't have expresses confident disbelief about the past.

13. After a year of practice she ___ play the whole sonata. → can

Can states an ability that exists in the present.

14. We ___ have caught the earlier flight, but we overslept. → could

Could have plus a participle marks a past possibility that never happened.

15. You ___ have warned me about the roadworks! → might

Might have here reproaches somebody for a failure to act.

16. ___ you mind waiting a few minutes? → Would

Would you mind is a very polite request, followed by an -ing form.

17. Children under twelve ___ enter free of charge. → may

May grants permission in the formal register of public notices.

18. I really ___ eat so much chocolate. → shouldn't

Shouldn't gives advice against a course of action.

19. ___ we meet at seven instead of eight? → Shall

Shall we makes a suggestion involving both speaker and listener.

20. He ___ hardly walk after the operation. → could

Could with hardly describes a severely limited past ability.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Make a polite request. → Could you open the window, please?

Make a polite request.

2. Describe a general ability in childhood. → She could play chess at the age of five.

Describe a general ability in childhood.

3. Describe one specific past success. → We were able to book the last two seats.

Describe one specific past success.

4. Give ordinary advice. → You should apologise to your sister.

Give ordinary advice.

5. Request permission formally. → May I ask you a personal question?

Request permission formally.

6. Give advice with a hint of warning. → You had better take an umbrella.

Give advice with a hint of warning.

7. Express an uncertain possibility. → It might be closed on a Monday.

Express an uncertain possibility.

8. State a present inability. → He cannot drive a manual car.

State a present inability.

9. Offer to do something. → Shall I make us some coffee?

Offer to do something.

10. Use the modal that keeps to. → You ought to check the expiry date.

Use the modal that keeps to.

11. Word a formal prohibition. → Visitors may not feed the animals.

Word a formal prohibition.

12. Express disbelief about the past. → She cannot have forgotten her own wedding.

Express disbelief about the past.

13. Describe an unrealised past possibility. → I could have helped if you had asked.

Describe an unrealised past possibility.

14. Make a very polite request. → Would you mind closing that door?

Make a very polite request.

15. Advise against a risky habit. → You should not leave your laptop unattended.

Advise against a risky habit.

16. Suggest something to a companion. → Shall we take the earlier train?

Suggest something to a companion.

17. Speculate about a past event. → He might have missed the announcement.

Speculate about a past event.

18. Ask about present ability. → Can you hear me at the back?

Ask about present ability.

19. Grant permission in a formal notice. → Students may use the library until midnight.

Grant permission in a formal notice.

20. Suggest an option gently. → You could always ask her yourself.

Suggest an option gently.