Modals (2): modals in the past – B2 English Grammar Test

1  Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

1   You couldn’t hear? You should / would / will have asked me to speak louder.

2   We hadn’t / shouldn’t / didn’t need to show our passports as it was an internal flight.

3   It was really spicy. Nan shouldn’t / wouldn’t / needn’t have liked it.

4   You shouldn’t / wouldn’t / would have put that in the washing machine. It’s ruined!

5   Without your help, I definitely would / should / didn’t need to have failed.

6   I wouldn’t / should / shouldn’t have eaten so much. I feel sick.

7   I enjoyed the story but I can / would / should have changed the ending.

8   You should / needn’t / wouldn’t have brought me a present, but thank you so much.

2  Read what happened on Mandy’s trip to Rome.

A   She booked at the last minute. The tickets were very expensive.

B   She wanted to go later in the year, but her boss told her she couldn’t.

C   She didn’t take a raincoat. It rained a lot.

D   She bought a cheap umbrella. It broke immediately.

E    She didn’t visit the Colosseum (not enough time).

F    She packed a hairdryer, but the hotel had one.

G   She didn’t ask for directions to the Spanish Steps. She got lost.

H   She didn’t use cash at all. It wasn’t necessary.

Now write what Mandy says after the trip. Complete the sentences with would have, should(n’t) have, needn’t have or didn’t need to and the verbs in brackets.

1   ‘I ……should have booked…… my flights sooner. They cost me a fortune.’ (book)

2   ‘I ………………………………… later in the year, but I couldn’t get time off work.’ (go)

3   ‘I ………………………………… a raincoat. I got so wet.’ (take)

4   ‘I ………………………………… a cheap umbrella.’ (buy)

5   ‘I ………………………………… the Colosseum, but I ran out of time.’ (visit)

6   ‘I ………………………………… a hairdryer – the hotel had one.’ (pack)

7   ‘I ………………………………… directions to the Spanish Steps. I couldn’t find them.’ (ask for)

8   ‘I ………………………………… cash at all. I used cards the whole time.’ (use)

3  Put a tick (✓) if the sentence is correct or a cross (✗) if it is incorrect. Correct the mistakes.

1   I liked the cake but I will have prefer it a bit sweeter. ✗

      ……I liked the cake but I would have preferred it a bit sweeter……

2   Belinda was glad that she didn’t need to pay for parking. ……

      …………………………………………………….

3   The concert must have started at half past seven but it started at quarter past eight. ……

      …………………………………………………….

4   Our trip to London last week wouldn’t be so special with you. ……

      …………………………………………………….

5   You needn’t have walked so far. The number 14 bus takes you right to the door. ……

      …………………………………………………….

6   Even a few crisps would had been better than nothing. ……

      …………………………………………………….

4  Complete the story with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. When the verb has an asterisk (*), use should(n’t) have, would have, or didn’t need to.

Last week my friends and I 1……organised…… (organise) a surprise birthday party for our friend Isabel. It was a Friday and I 2………………. (*study), so I spent all afternoon putting up decorations. While she 3………………. (come back) from university, we all hid inside her apartment. Isabel loves surprises but we 4………………. (*tell) her about this one. When she walked in, she 5………………. (hold) a cake her classmates 6………………. (give) her. ‘Surprise!’ we all screamed. Isabel jumped and the cake fell on the floor. We 7………………. (*eat) some of the cake, but Isabel’s dog Tito ran straight up and gobbled it all. Isabel was still very grateful. ‘You really 8………………. (*do) all this. I don’t deserve it,’ she said, crying. ‘We wanted to,’ I told her. ‘It’s your birthday!’