Modal auxiliary verbs exercise

Fill in the blanks with appropriate auxiliary verbs. Choose your answers from the options given below each question.

1.       When I was a child, I ………………………. watch TV whenever I wanted to.

a)      must
b)      could
c)       shall
d)      should

2.       He ……………………….. borrow my car if he asked.

a)      must
b)      should
c)       could
d)      would

3.       Don’t throw the battle out of the window. Somebody …………………….. get hurt.

a)      should
b)      could
c)       must
d)      need

4.       This coat ……………………… be washed in the machine.

a)      can’t
b)      won’t
c)       ought not
d)      would not

5.       This time tomorrow, I …………………. be sitting in the sun.

a)      will
b)      can
c)       would
d)      ought

6.       Sulphuric acid ……………………… dissolve most metals.

a)      will
b)      shall
c)       would
d)      should

7.       On Saturdays, when we were kids, we ………………………. all get up early and go swimming.

a)      will
b)      would
c)       shall
d)      should

8.       Look at the clouds and they ……………………. often remind you of animals.

a)      will
b)      shall
c)       should
d)      may

9.       Don’t phone them now – they …………………….. be having dinner.

a)      will
b)      shall
c)       should
d)      ought

10.   I ……………………. to have phoned him this morning, but I forgot.

a)      ought
b)      should
c)       must
d)      could

Answers

1. b)      could
2. c)       could
3. b)      could
4. a)      can’t
5. a)      will
6. a)      will
7. b)      would
8. a)      will
9. a)      will
10. a)      ought