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Grammar WorksheetmoDAlS of SPeCUlAtion

1 Choose the correct answer. then write what the modal verbs indicate. Write P (something is possible), i (something is impossible) or C (something is certain).

1 It must / can’t be a ghost. They don’t exist! I2 You might / must have thirty pairs of shoes! They don’t

fit in the cupboard! _3 Mum can’t / might know Timothy. We should ask if she

works with him. _4 Max couldn’t / can’t come with me because he had to

revise. _5 It couldn’t / must be true because it’s in all the

newspapers. _6 Sophie must / can’t learn to drive yet. She’s only 15. _

2 tick ( ) or correct the sentences. Some of them are wrong.

1 You might be serious! I don’t believe that Kylie would do that!You can’t be serious! I don’t believe that Kylie would do that!

2 Someone might be able to solve the riddle one day, but I don’t think it will be soon.

3 Dad mustn’t buy a new car today! We’re excited!

4 He couldn’t just disappear without a trace. Someone must know where he is.

5 Toby’s train might be late. He said it would arrive at 8pm, but it’s already 8.15pm.

6 You must swim in the sea today. There’s a flag warning that it is dangerous.

3 Complete the sentences with the correct modal. there may be more than one possible answer.

1 That old house down the road might be haunted. People say they have seen something strange.

2 Sorry, I help you at the moment. I’m really busy.

3 Danni come to the cinema last night because she was feeling ill.

4 The secret disappear forever, if something happens to Mrs Grant.

5 There be something sinister here. I’ve got goosebumps.

6 The English class be at 2pm. My timetable says 2.30.

moDAl PerfeCtS of SPeCUlAtion

4 match the parts of the sentences. Complete them with the modal perfect forms of the verbs in brackets.

1 The house might A2 I couldn’t _3 Sally and Tom can’t _

4 Dad must _5 Could you _6 Mum might not _

A have been (be) haunted. I had heard strange noises.B (forget) their

appointment. I reminded them yesterday.C (hear) the phone ring.

She had the radio on.D (fail) my exam. I

prepared really well for it.E (work) late. He didn’t

get home till nearly nine.

F (get) a refund?

5 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs below.

cannot / remember could not / see might / be might not / hear must / be

1 Jack might have been able to come, but he had to visit his grandparents that evening.

2 Mrs Martin the bicycle, or she wouldn’t have had the accident.

3 Aunt Amy we were going to visit or she would have been at home.

4 Frank busy or he would have answered the phone.

5 You of him, but he’s a really famous actor.

6 Complete the sentences with a modal perfect and the verbs below.

be cause forget head miss

1 Tom may have forgotten to open a new savings account yesterday. He definitely didn’t go out. (may)

2 Oh, no! Cathy is back. She the bus! (must)

3 It icy conditions that caused the accident. (could not)

4 I don’t think Toby’s here. He home earlier. (might)

5 The tsunami a lot of damage. It was devastatingly powerful. (could)