Modal Verbs Practice Test — Basic

All 45 questions with answers

Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.

1. Q1She ___ speak three languages fluently.

   Acan Bcould Cshould Dmust

   Answer: A. can

   We use 'can' to talk about a person's skills or abilities in the present.

2. Q2My brother ___ play the guitar very well.

   Acan Bcould Cshould Dmust

   Answer: A. can

   'Can' shows that someone has the ability to do something right now.

3. Q3When I was young, I ___ run much faster than I can now.

   Amust Bcould Cshould Dcan

   Answer: B. could

   We use 'could' to talk about abilities in the past. It is the past form of 'can'.

4. Q4She ___ swim when she was only four years old.

   Acan Bmust Ccould Dshould

   Answer: C. could

   Since the sentence talks about the past (when she was four), we use 'could' instead of 'can'.

5. Q5I have always ___ to understand math, but it is difficult.

   Amust Bbeen able Ccan Dcould

   Answer: B. been able

   After 'have' or 'has', we cannot use 'can'. We must use 'been able to' instead.

6. Q6I'm not sure where he ___ park his car.

   Acan Bdo Cis Dhas

   Answer: A. can

   'Can' is used here to talk about what is possible in this situation.

7. Q7Could you explain why we ___ leave so early according to the rules?

   Amight Bhave to Cmay Dcan

   Answer: B. have to

   We use 'have to' when there is a rule or a law that makes something necessary.

8. Q8Do you happen to know if she ___ speak French?

   Acan Bare Cdo Ddoes

   Answer: A. can

   We use 'can' to ask about someone's ability or skill, like speaking a language.

9. Q9I wonder if they ___ finish the project by tomorrow noon.

   Awere able to Bwill be able to Care able to Dneeded to

   Answer: B. will be able to

   To talk about ability in the future, we use 'will be able to.' 'Were able to' is past tense and cannot refer to tomorrow. 'Are able to' is present tense and also cannot refer to a future event. 'Needed to' is a past tense form expressing obligation and does not describe ability or future events.

10. Q10I wonder if she will ___ finish the report by Friday.

    Amust Bcan Cbe able to Dcould

    Answer: C. be able to

    We cannot use two helper verbs together (like 'will can'). Instead, we use 'will be able to' for the future.

11. Q11Which sentence is correct?

    AHe can to sing very well. BHe can singing very well. CHe can sing very well. DHe can sings very well.

    Answer: C. He can sing very well.

    After 'can', we use the simple action word without 'to', '-s', or '-ing'. We don't say 'can to sing' or 'can sings'.

12. Q12Which sentence is correct?

    AWhen I was young, I could run fast. BWhen I was young, I am able to run fast. CWhen I was young, I can run fast. DWhen I was young, I must run fast.

    Answer: A. When I was young, I could run fast.

    We use 'could' for things we were able to do in the past. 'Must', 'am able to', and 'can' are used for the present.

13. Q13Which sentence is correct?

    AI can to swim. BI can swims. CI can swimming. DI can swim.

    Answer: D. I can swim.

    Always use the basic form of the verb after 'can'. Do not add 'to' (can to swim) or 's' (can swims).

14. Q14Which sentence is correct?

    AShe could running fast. BShe could to run fast. CShe coulded run fast. DShe could run fast.

    Answer: D. She could run fast.

    'Could' is the past form of 'can'. We don't add '-ed' to it (coulded) or 'to' after it (could to run).

15. Q15Which sentence is correct?

    AI will can go. BI will be able to go. CI will be can go. DI will to be able to go.

    Answer: B. I will be able to go.

    We cannot say 'will can'. For the future, we use the phrase 'will be able to'.

16. Q16___ I leave the table, please?

    AMay BMust CHave to DShould

    Answer: A. May

    'May' is a polite and formal way to ask for permission.

17. Q17___ I borrow your pen for a moment?

    AHave to BDo CCould DMust

    Answer: C. Could

    'Could' is a common and polite way to ask for permission or make a request.

18. Q18Visitors ___ not park their cars in this area.

    Aable Bdo Cmust Dcould

    Answer: C. must

    'Must not' is used for strong rules or things that are strictly not allowed. 'Could not' refers to past inability. 'Do not' simply states a fact, but 'must not' conveys the force of a prohibition. 'Able' cannot be used alone as a helping verb here.

19. Q19You ___ sit here if you like.

    Acan Bmust Chave to Dshould

    Answer: A. can

    'Can' is used here to give someone permission to do something.

20. Q20I'd like to know if I ___ sit in this chair.

    Aare Bdo Cam Dmay

    Answer: D. may

    'May' is used to ask for permission politely.

21. Q21Could you tell me if we ___ use the library after hours by law?

    Aare allowed to Bmight Cmust Dshould

    Answer: A. are allowed to

    'Are allowed to' is used to talk about what the rules or laws permit.

22. Q22I'm curious if visitors ___ take photos in the gallery if they ask first.

    Acan Bshould Cmust Dwill

    Answer: A. can

    'Can' is often used to say that something is permitted or allowed.

23. Q23Do you know if we ___ bring guests to the party based on the invitation?

    Acan Bwould Cmust Dshould

    Answer: A. can

    We use 'can' to talk about what is allowed according to the current situation or an invitation.

24. Q24Which sentence is correct?

    AMay I opening the window? BMay I opens the window? CMay I open the window? DMay I to open the window?

    Answer: C. May I open the window?

    After 'may', use the basic verb. Do not add 'to' (may I to open) or 's' (may I opens).

25. Q25Which sentence is correct?

    ACan I sitting here? BCan I sits here? CCan I to sit here? DCan I sit here?

    Answer: D. Can I sit here?

    After 'can', we use the plain verb without 'to', '-s', or '-ing'.

26. Q26Which sentence is correct?

    ACould I borrows your pen? BCould I borrowing your pen? CCould I to borrow your pen? DCould I borrow your pen?

    Answer: D. Could I borrow your pen?

    After 'could', we use the plain verb. For example: 'Could I go?' (not 'Could I to go?').

27. Q27Which sentence is correct?

    ACan I to enter? BCan I enter? CCan I entering? DCan I enters?

    Answer: B. Can I enter?

    Use the simple form of the verb after 'can'. Do not use 'enters', 'entering', or 'to enter'.

28. Q28Which sentence is correct?

    ACould I sitting here? BCould I to sit here? CCould I sit here? DCould I sits here?

    Answer: C. Could I sit here?

    'Could' is followed by the basic action word. We don't say 'Could I to sit' or 'Could I sitting'.

29. Q29Which sentence is correct?

    AMay I leaves? BMay I leaving? CMay I to leave? DMay I leave?

    Answer: D. May I leave?

    'May' is followed by the base form of the verb. 'May I leave?' is correct, while 'May I to leave?' is wrong.

30. Q30Which sentence is correct?

    AYou may not smoking. BYou may not to smoke. CYou may not smokes. DYou may not smoke.

    Answer: D. You may not smoke.

    After 'may not', use the simple verb. We don't use 'to smoke', 'smoking', or 'smokes'.

31. Q31I ___ call my mother; I haven't spoken to her in weeks.

    Awill Bneed Cmust Dmight

    Answer: C. must

    We use 'must' when we feel strongly that something is necessary or important for us to do.

32. Q32We ___ wear uniforms at work; it's the company rule.

    Aneed Bcan Cmight Dhave to

    Answer: D. have to

    We use 'have to' for rules or things that other people tell us we must do.

33. Q33You ___ touch the exhibits; it is strictly forbidden.

    Acan Bdon't have to Cmay Dmustn't

    Answer: D. mustn't

    'Mustn't' (must not) is used to say that something is against the rules or forbidden.

34. Q34You ___ pay for the tickets; they are free of charge.

    Amustn't Bcan't Cdon't have to Dmay

    Answer: C. don't have to

    'Don't have to' means it is not necessary. You can do it if you want, but you don't need to.

35. Q35I ___ study harder if I want to pass the exam.

    Awill Bcould Ccan Dmust

    Answer: D. must

    Use 'must' when you personally feel that something is a necessity.

36. Q36We ___ leave now, or we will miss the train.

    Aneed Bmust Cmay Dwould

    Answer: B. must

    We use 'must' for something that is very important or necessary in the moment. 'Would' is a past or conditional form and does not express immediate necessity. 'May' suggests permission or possibility, not urgency. 'Need' without 'to' is not grammatically correct here.

37. Q37I'm not sure what I ___ do to fix this; can you give me some advice?

    Amust Bwill Cshould Dmight

    Answer: C. should

    'Should' is the best word to use when asking for or giving advice.

38. Q38Could you tell me why we ___ wear safety goggles?

    Ahave to Bcan Cmight Dcould

    Answer: A. have to

    'Have to' is used for rules made by an authority (like a teacher or a boss).

39. Q39I wonder if I ___ pay the fine immediately or if I can wait.

    Awill Bmust Ccan Dcould

    Answer: B. must

    'Must' shows that something is necessary or required.

40. Q40Which sentence is correct?

    AYou mustn't park here. BYou mustn't parks here. CYou mustn't to park here. DYou mustn't parking here.

    Answer: A. You mustn't park here.

    After 'mustn't', use the simple verb without 'to' or '-ing'. We don't say 'mustn't to park' or 'mustn't parking'.

41. Q41Which sentence is correct?

    AI has to go now. BI have to go now. CI have to going now. DI have to goes now.

    Answer: B. I have to go now.

    We say 'I have to' with the word 'I.' Use 'go' after it, not 'going' or 'goes'.

42. Q42Which sentence is correct?

    AYou don't have to smoke here. BYou don't have to smokes here. CYou don't have to to smoke here. DYou don't have to smoking here.

    Answer: A. You don't have to smoke here.

    After 'don't have to', use the simple verb. We don't say 'don't have to smoking' or 'don't have to to smoke'.

43. Q43Which sentence is correct?

    AYou mustn't runs. BYou mustn't run. CYou mustn't running. DYou mustn't to run.

    Answer: B. You mustn't run.

    Use the simple form of the verb after 'mustn't'. Do not add 'to', '-ing', or '-s'.

44. Q44Which sentence is correct?

    AI have to going. BI has to go. CI have to go. DI have to goes.

    Answer: C. I have to go.

    The phrase 'have to' is followed by the basic verb. We don't use 'going' or 'goes' here.

45. Q45Which sentence is correct?

    AYou don't have to paying. BYou don't have to pay. CYou don't have to pays. DYou don't have to to pay.

    Answer: B. You don't have to pay.

    Use the base form of the verb after 'don't have to'. Do not use 'paying', 'pays', or 'to pay'.