Modals (3): deduction – B2 English Grammar Test

1  Match statements 1–7 to the correct response (A–H). There is one extra response which you do not need to use.

1   ‘She eats in that restaurant every day.’   …F…

2   ‘We were at the protest until 3 am.’

3   ‘Where are my trainers?’

4   ‘Whose jumper is this?’

5   ‘Charlie received hundreds of donations.’

6   ‘Look at all that black smoke.’

7   ‘Do you think it was a shark we saw?’

A   ‘Not yet. I may need another half an hour.’

B   ‘It could be Jen’s. She wears one like that.’

C   ‘I’m not sure. It could have been a catfish.’

D   ‘Oh no. You can’t have slept very much.’

E    ‘He must have been so grateful.’

F    ‘She must love the food there.’

G   ‘They might be in the garage.’

H   ‘Terrible. It can’t be very good for the environment.’

2  Complete the sentences with a modal verb from Box 1 and a word from Box 2.

1   She ……might have broken…… her leg. She’s having an X-ray now to find out.

2   I dropped my phone this morning. The shop said it ……………………… $100 to repair it. I can’t afford that!

3   This building is enormous. It ……………………… ages to build.

4   It’s the most famous film ever made. You ……………………… it!

5   Your flight was delayed for eight hours? Poor you. That ……………………… much fun.

6   It ……………………… a good idea to bring an umbrella. There’s some chance of rain tomorrow.

7   Look at all those paparazzi outside that house. Someone famous ……………………… there.

8   For a politician, he’s very young. I mean, he ……………………… older than twenty.

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

1   Oh no, it’s burned. I must forget to turn off the cooker. ✗

      ……Oh no, it’s burned. I must have forgotten to turn off the cooker……

2   It’s cloudy now but the weather can change later. ……

      ……………………………………………………

3   They’re all cheering loudly. They must be supporters. ……

      ……………………………………………………

4   I loved the caveman exhibition. It must be very hard to live in prehistoric times. ……

      ……………………………………………………

5   He must have felt very proud when he was elected. ……

      ……………………………………………………

6   The lights went out and everyone was wondering what could have been the strange noise. ……

      ……………………………………………………

7   This mustn’t be my bag. Mine’s blue. ……

      ……………………………………………………

8   Watch your bag carefully. There could be pickpockets in the crowd. ……

      ……………………………………………………

4  Complete the conversation with must / might / could / may / can’t in the present (+ infinitive without to) or the past (+ have + past participle) and the correct form of the verbs in the box.

Victor:   Hey Dad, where’s Cody?

Dad:   I’m not sure, but I think he 1……might be…… in the shed.

Mum:   No. He 2……………………. in there. It’s locked.

Victor:   He’s probably sleeping somewhere, like he always is.

Dad:   No, I heard him barking a minute ago, so he 3……………………. .

Victor:   Oh, here he is. Look Mum, he’s completely wet!

Mum:   My goodness. He 4……………………. freezing. It’s the middle of winter.

Dad:   He 5……………………. the swimming pool to get his ball again.

Victor:   Silly thing!

Mum:   Quick. Fetch a towel and dry him off. He 6……………………. a cough and a cold.

Victor:   He’s a dog, Mum.

Mum:   Don’t argue. Just get the towel … David, we need to cover that pool properly, or one day, one of the kids 7……………………. over and fall in it.

Victor:   Mum, I can’t find the towel.

Mum:   Oh. I think it’s in the car, or … I 8……………………. it in the washing basket. Can you look in there?

Victor:   OK, found it!