Chapter 2: Modal Auxiliaries

Al painted his bedroom black. It looks dark and dreary. He ________ a different color.

• had to choose

• should have chosen

• must have chosen

• could have been choosing

Tom is sitting at his desk. He's reading his chemistry text because he has a test tomorrow. He _______

• could study

• should be studying

• will studying

• must be studying

When Mr. Lee was younger, he ________ work in the garden for hours, but now he has to take frequent rests because he has emphysema.

• has got to

• can

• should be able to

• could

Whenever my parents went out in the evening, I ________ the job of taking care of my younger brother.

• would get

• should get

• must have gotten

• had better get

Yesterday I _______ to a furniture store. I bought a new lamp

• could go

• went

• could have gone

• ought to have gone

Jimmy and Maria were mischievous children. They ________ tricks on their teachers, which always got them into a lot of trouble

• could play

• used to play

• could have played

• may have played

Robert has a new car. He ________ it for a very good price. He paid 30 percent less than the regular retail cost.

• could buy

• had to buy

• was supposed to buy

• was able to buy

"Did you enjoy the picnic?'

"It was okay, but I'd rather _______ to a movie"

• go

• be going

• have gone

• went

"Why are you so sure that Ann didn't commit the crime she's been accused of committing?"

"She ________ that crime because I was with her, and we were out of town on that day."

• may not have committed

• wasn't supposed to commit

• committed

• couldn't have committed

"Since we have to be there in a hurry, we ________ take a taxi"

"I agree"

• had better

• may

• have been used to

• are able to