Modal auxiliary verbs exercise

Complete the following sentences using modal auxiliary verbs.

1. You …………………………. go out and play if you have finished your homework.

a) may

b) can

c) Either could be used here

2. …………………….. I come in, sir?

a) may

b) can

c) Either could be used here

3. ……………………….. I ask you something?

a) can

b) may

c) Either could be used here

4. Peter ……………………………. watch TV yesterday because he hadn’t finished his homework.

a) couldn’t

b) might not

c) Either could be used here

5. ……………………….. you put the children to bed?

a) can

b) may

c) Either could be used here

6. You ……………………….. ask before you borrow my car.

a) could

b) might

c) Either could be used here

7. When we were kids, we ………………………… watch TV whenever we wanted to.

a) could

b) might

c) Either could be used here

8. We …………………………….. go camping this summer.

a) may

b) might

c) Either could be used here

9. ………………………….. you put the heating on?

a) may

b) can

c) Either could be used here

10. ………………………………….. you come to a party on Saturday?

a) can

b) may

c) Either could be used here

Answers

1. You may /can go out and play if you have finished your homework.

2. Can / May I come in, sir?

3. Can / May I ask you something?

4. Peter couldn’t watch TV yesterday because he hadn’t finished his homework.

5. Can you put the children to bed?

6. You could ask before you borrow my car.

7. When we were kids, we could watch TV whenever we wanted to.

8. We may / might go camping this summer.

9. Can you put the heating on?

10. Can you come to a party on Saturday?