Unit3 - Modals of deduction – Extra practice

A. Complete these sentences by writing a suitable modal verb and the verb in brackets in

the correct form (present or past) in the gaps. In some cases, more than one answer may

be possible.

1. Everyone in the class ………………………… (work) incredibly hard because you have all

passed the exam!

2. I think she ………………………… (be) a really happy person because she’s always smiling

and laughing.

3. Jamie woke up in the night screaming. He ………………………… (have) a nightmare.

4. I don’t know why Irina hasn’t arrived yet. She ………………………… (have to) stay on late

at school, or she ………………………… (stop) on the way home to see some friends.

5. I don’t know how old the teacher is, but he looks quite young, so he …………………………

(be) more than 25.

6. They say it ………………………… (rain) at the weekend, so we won’t be able to play

football on Saturday.

B. Rewrite the sentences in italics using a modal verb: might, may, could, must or can’t in

the right tense.

1. Ryan is behaving very strangely. I’m sure he’s in love.

He ……………………………… must be……………………………………………………… in love.

2. Deborah is looking a bit tired. Perhaps she’s working too hard.

She……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. .

3. He never goes on holiday. I don’t suppose he earns much.

He…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

4. She’s studying full-time and she has a job in a restaurant. I imagine that’s very hard.

That…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

5. That man’s quite young. He’s definitely not Claire’s grandfather.

That…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

6. He’s just bought a new car and a yacht. He obviously sold his business for a lot of

money.

He…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

7. Andy and Sarah aren’t speaking to each other. I don’t believe they’ve had another

argument.

They…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

8. You seem very familiar. Perhaps we’ve met before.

We …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

9. She says she doesn’t like children. I’m sure she didn’t have a happy childhood herself.

She …………………………………………………………………………………………a happy childhood.

10. I don’t know why she didn’t tell me she’d left her job. It’s possible she thought I would

be angry.

She …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .