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Worksheets

past modals

Total questions: 39

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

I’m not a fan of their logo. I think they ______ changed it years ago.

a)

could have

b)

would have

c)

must have

d)

should have

2.

I can’t believe you met Steve Jobs in person. That _______ been amazing!


a)

should have

b)

must have

c)

couldn't have

d)

might have

3.

Do you think we _______ avoided the economic crisis if we had taken greater precaution?

a)

should have

b)

might not have

c)

could have

d)

must have

4.

The investigators have several ideas about what _______ caused the fire.

a)

should have

b)

might have

c)

would have

d)

wouldn't have

5.

You _______ mentioned it in front of the rest of the team. I would have talked to him in private about it.

a)

shouldn't have

b)

should have

c)

would have

d)

could have

6.

They said they were going to pick us up at 7 p.m. I think they _______ taken a wrong turn somewhere.


a)

must not have

b)

should have

c)

may have

d)

would have

7.

Our security system shows that he swiped in with his badge at 8:14 AM, so he ________ been in the office yesterday.

a)

should have

b)

must have

c)

might have

d)

could have

8.

Tim’s supposed to be here, but it looks like he _______ forgotten.


a)

may have

b)

would have

c)

couldn't have

d)

shouldn't have

9.

Teresa’s English is flawless. She _______ had a lot of exposure to the language.

a)

should have

b)

may have

c)

could have

d)

must have

10.

You ________ told me you needed help. I would have pitched in.

a)

must not have

b)

shouldn't have

c)

should have

d)

may have

11.

The virus _______ done us a lot of harm. Fortunately, it didn’t.


a)

could have

b)

should have

c)

shouldn't have

d)

can't have

12.

If you wanted to stay in that hotel you __ booked before!


a)

could have

b)

might have

c)

should have

13.

He __ committed the crime, as he had both the motive and the opportunity.


a)

can't have

b)

could have

c)

would have

14.

Lucy __ attended the concert, but we aren't sure.


a)

can't have

b)

may have

c)

should have

15.

You __ finished that book already! You only started reading it an hour ago.


a)

can't have

b)

might have

c)

shouldn't have

16.

I think they __ got lost - surely they'd be here by now!


a)

can have

b)

must have

c)

should have

17.

Oh no! My phone isn't in my bag. I __ left it on the train.


a)

can have

b)

might have

c)

should have

18.

You __ gone to Dan's party - it was fantastic!


a)

must have

b)

should have

c)

would have

19.

Detective, my son __ (not / steal) that car last Sunday afternoon. He was getting married at that time in front of 200 guests!

a)

can't have stolen

b)

shouldn't have stolen

c)

may not have stolen

20.

That smart girl studied a lot, so she __ (do) well on the test, but she didn’t.

a)

may have done

b)

should have done

c)

must have done

21.

—Who broke the big vase in the back office?

—It __ (be) Brian – he’s very clumsy.

a)

should have been

b)

ought to have been

c)

might have been

22.

A giant asteroid hit the Earth in the Gulf of Mexico 65 million years ago. Scientists have reached a conclusion they’re pretty confident about: that __ (cause) the extinction of the big dinosaurs.

a)

may have caused

b)

should have caused

c)

must have caused

23.

I’m not sure where the boss went this morning. He __ (go) to our other branch office in Glendale.

a)

may have gone

b)

should have gone

c)

would have gone

24.

The big grammar test is today. I’m in trouble – I __ (study) last night, but I didn't!

a)

should have studied

b)

must have studied

c)

may have studied

25.

Uh-oh, you broke Dad’s favorite pool cue. You __ (not / do) that – you’re going to be in big trouble.

a)

may not have done

b)

must not have done

c)

shouldn't have done

26.

—Wow, Sally has never missed a day of work before.

—Well, she was coughing yesterday, and she didn’t look good. She __ (get) sick.

a)

should have gotten

b)

must have gotten

c)

ought to have gotten

27.

he passed her exam with flying colours. She ... very hard.

a)

had to study

b)

must have been studying

c)

need have studied

28.

You ... such insulting things to her. She's still crying.

a)

may have said

b)

mustn't have said

c)

shouldn't have said

29.

They haven't arrived yet. Well, they ... their train.

a)

could miss

b)

might have missed

c)

were able to miss

30.

Nobody is answering the phone. They ...

a)

must go out

b)

must have gone out

c)

had to go out

31.

No wonder you feel sick now. You ... all the cake.

a)

didn't have to eat

b)

shouldn't have eaten

c)

must have eaten

32.

He ... your car. I'm 100% sure it was someone else.

a)

can't have destroyed

b)

might not have destroyed

c)

shouldn't have destroyed

33.

Where is she? She ... here an hour ago.

a)

had to be

b)

may have been

c)

should have been

34.

I’m sorry I’m late. You _____waiting for a long time.

a)

should have been

b)

need to be

c)

must have been

d)

might have been

35.

Why are you wasting time? You______ your work

already.

a)

need to have finished

b)

could be finishing

c)

must be finishing

d)

should have finished

36.

It’s strange that he hasn’t said any more about his

plans to emigrate. He______ his mind about it.

a)

should have changed

b)

would have changed

c)

must change

d)

might have changed

37.

We_____ for the bus for over an hour that under

heavy rain before it arrived. We have both caught

cold.

a)

can’t have waited

b)

couldn't have waited

c)

shouldn’t have waited

d)

may not be waiting

38.

know I ___ the letter earlier today.

a)

need to post

b)

ought to post

c)

must have posted

d)

could have posted

39.

Oh no! Fred's wallet is lying on the coffee table.

He _____ it here last night.

a)

might leave

b)

ought to have left

c)

should have left

d)

must have left