Exercise 3: Modal Verb

The x-rays at the airport .... the unprocessed film since the photos were foggy.

• must have been damaged

• must damage

• must be damage

• must have damage

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'must have damage' because it indicates a past action that affected the unprocessed film, resulting in foggy photos.

Muktar .... the car regularly, otherwise his car would have functioned well.

• should not have serviced

• should service

• cannot have serviced

• must not have serviced

Answer explanation

Muktar must not have serviced the car regularly, otherwise his car would have functioned well.

Obama .... green gas emissions by 40 percent in the coming year to inspire other nation to help reduce manmade climate change.

• would cut

• will cut

• cuts

• has cut

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'will cut' because it indicates a future action that Obama plans to take to reduce green gas emissions in the coming year.

Her birthday is coming up. I think we .... her a card.

• should send

• should be sent

• may sent

• might send

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'should send' because it is the appropriate modal verb to express a suggestion or recommendation for sending a card for her birthday.

We .... assume that this information is correct. We must double-check it.

• must not

• must not be

• should not have been

• cannot have been

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'must not' because it indicates a necessity to double-check the information, implying that assuming the information is correct is not acceptable.

When I was younger, my mother .... me that story until I fell asleep.

• would tell

• will tell

• could tell

• might tell

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'would tell' because the sentence is in the past tense, and 'would tell' is used to describe a habitual action in the past.

She .... thrilled with these high marks on her test.

• can be

• could be

• must be

• will

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'must be' because it indicates a high level of certainty that she was thrilled with the high marks on her test.

James fell asleep in the class this morning. He .... too late last night.

• should have stayed up

• can't have stayed up

• would stay up

• must have stayed up

Answer explanation

James fell asleep in the class this morning. He must have stayed up too late last night, indicating a high probability that he did stay up late.

I hurt my back. I .... that heavy box up two flights of stairs.

• should not have carried

• should carry

• must not have carried

• could be carried

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'should not have carried' because it indicates a past action that was not advisable, reflecting the regret of carrying the heavy box and hurting the back.

Ed just bought his wife a diamond necklace with matching earrings. He .... rich.

• must be

• must

• could

• might

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'must be' because the purchase of a diamond necklace with matching earrings suggests that Ed is wealthy.