Modals In Past

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1. Paul didn't come to the party. It's a pity, because I __________ to see him.

Could have liked

Should have liked

Would have liked

Will have liked

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2. 'How was your holiday in the Carribean?''Different! On the second and third day we had to stay indoors because we were hit by a hurricane.''Oh! That _____________ terrifying!'

Should have been

Might have been

Must have been

Will have been

3. 'Sarah says she's almost finished painting the house.''And you believe her? I bet you that when we visit her at Christmas she ___________.'

Mustn't have finished

Shouldn't have finished

Wouldn't have finished

Won't have finished

4. I can't find my keys!
They ______________ out of my pocket when I was getting out of the car.

Should have fallen

Must have fallen

Might have fallen

Had to fall

Submit

5. Of course we're lost! That map is ten years old at least.
I told you we _____________ Tom's SatNav (GPS)

Can have borrowed

Could have borrowed

Should have borrowed

Might have borrowed

Submit

6. I'm reading a murder mystery story by Agatha Christie. You have to guess who killed Sir Reginald. From what I have read, he __________ killed by the chambermaid, but you never know.......

Can have been

Can't have been

Must have been

Mustn't have been

The possible answers are direct opposites: CAN'T HAVE BEEN means you believe it wasn't her, while MUST HAVE BEEN means you are sure she was the murderer.
CAN HAVE BEEN and MUSTN'T HAVE BEEN do not exist!

Explanation

Submit

7. I didn't know they had divorced! I spent 5 minutes telling Helen how lucky she was to have a husband like David. You _________ me!

Could have told

Should have told

Ought to have told

Had to tell

Submit

8. England _____________ the match if the referee hadn't been so obviously on Germany's side!

Could have won

Should have won

Might have won

Would have won

Submit

9. 'No, Simon didn't want to take me to the interview, so I went by train.''That's not fair! He ______________ you anyway, because he had to look after Granny.'

Couldn't have taken

Can't have taken

Might not have taken

Shouldn't have taken

The two possible answers have different meanings: COULDN'T HAVE TAKEN implies that he would have done it, while MIGHT HAVE TAKEN keeps an element of doubt.

Explanation

The two possible answers have different meanings: COULDN'T HAVE TAKEN implies that he would have done it, while MIGHT HAVE TAKEN keeps an element of doubt.

Submit

10. 'I haven't seen Rob. Hasn't he come today?''No, he hasn't. He ___________ told to work late.'

Could have been

Might have been

May have been

Must have been

Submit

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Current Version
Mar 19, 2022

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
Nov 21, 2015

Quiz Created by
Jonathan Olliffe