ELC Study Zone: Modals of Possibility and Probability for Past Situations

Modals of Possibility and Probability for Past Situations - Exercise 2

Choose the correct modal to complete the sentence.

Click on the button beside the correct answer.

I don't know why Vivian didn't attend the staff meeting this afternoon. She ______________________________________________
1. might be too busy.
2. may have been too busy.
3. must have been too busy.
4. might not have been too busy.
I waved when I saw Betty in town yesterday afternoon, but she just kept on walking.
1. should not have seen me.
2. musn't see me.
3. can't have been seeing me.
4. can't have seen me.
I wonder why our neighbours decided to move. They _____________________________________
1. might have bought a new house.
2. must have bought a new house.
3. have bought a new house.
4. can't have bought a new house.
Steve starts work at 8:30. I phoned him at 8:00, but he didn't answer. He _________________________________________________
1. might have to leave for work.
2. might leave for work.
3. can't have left for work.
4. must have left for work.
The DVD machine was on when I got up this morning. Somebody ________________________________________________
1. could have forgotten to turn it off.
2. might have forgotten to turn it off.
3. must have forgotten to turn it off.
4. must be forgetting to turn it off.
William has been sneezing and coughing a lot today. He ______________________________________________
1. might have caught a cold.
2. might to catch a cold.
3. must have caught a cold.
4. must to have caught a cold.
Maggie had a date with her boyfriend last night, and today she is wearing an engagement ring. Her boyfriend __________________________________
1. might have asked her to marry him.
2. can have asked her to marry him.
3. must have asked her to marry him.
4. could have asked her to marry him.
______________________________________________________ He can't have studied.
1. The student made a lot of mistakes on the quiz.
2. The students made a lot of mistakes on the quiz.
3. The students could make a lot of mistakes on the quiz.
4. The student makes a lot of mistakes on the quiz.
His wife returned the sweater he bought her to the store. She __________________________________________
1. can't have liked it.
2. must not have liked it.
3. might not have liked it.
4. may have liked it.
My gloves were on the table when I went to the washroom, and now they are gone. Somebody _________________________________________
1. might have taken them.
2. will have taken them.
3. must have took them.
4. must have taken them.