MIXED MODALS EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
B1–B2 · IntermediateUseful for:✓ TOEIC✓ IELTS
Modal verbs are short but carry a lot of meaning — the difference between can, should, and must can change the tone of a sentence completely. This exercise focuses on the three most common modals at B1/B2 level and the contexts where each one is natural.
Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓
Choose the more natural-sounding modal to complete each sentence.
1. She looks pretty sick. I think she ________ go to a doctor.
Correct answer: should
2. You've been driving all day. You ________ be exhausted!
Correct answer: must
3. You ________ smoke so much. It's bad for your health.
Correct answer: shouldn't
4. Hey I'm lost. ________ you help me?
Correct answer: Can
5. You have such a beautiful voice. You ________ sing for us!
Correct answer: should
6. I know he speaks five languages, but ________ he speak Arabic?
Correct answer: can
7. That looks very expensive. It ________ cost a fortune!
Correct answer: must
8. I ________ believe that you failed your test!
Correct answer: can't
9. I'm on my way. I ________ be there in about 10 minutes.
Correct answer: should
10. I ________ afford that.
Correct answer: can't
11. AI tools sometimes give incorrect answers. I think you ________ check important facts before using them.
Correct answer: should
12. This translation app works without an internet connection, so we ________ use it on the plane.
Correct answer: can
13. That online shop has no contact details and hundreds of bad reviews. You ________ trust it with your card details.
Correct answer: shouldn't
14. The electric bike is too expensive for me. I ________ afford it right now.
Correct answer: can't
15. ________ you show me how to turn on subtitles for this video, please?
Correct answer: Can
16. Every ticket for her livestream sold out in two minutes. She ________ have a lot of fans!
Correct answer: must
17. I think you ________ check social media every few minutes while you're studying.
Correct answer: shouldn't
18. Our school has a strict rule: students ________ say when they have used AI in their homework.
Correct answer: must
19. The concert starts at eight, and the journey takes an hour. I think we ________ leave by seven.
Correct answer: should
20. The battery is completely empty. We ________ use the wireless headphones until we charge them.
Correct answer: can't
Next exercise: Mixed Modals – Exercise 2 →
Grammar review
Modal verbs — ability, advice, and obligation
The three modals in this exercise each express a different type of attitude towards an action, ranging from what is possible to what is required. Getting them right is largely about understanding the strength of necessity or possibility being expressed.
Three levels of strength:
• The weakest expresses ability or possibility — what someone is able or permitted to do.
• The middle level expresses advice or recommendation — the right course of action, without forcing it.
• The strongest expresses obligation or logical necessity — something required or almost certainly true.
Negative forms change the meaning significantly: The negative of the “ability” modal signals that something is not allowed or impossible. The negative of the “obligation” modal signals prohibition — not just lack of necessity.
For each sentence, ask yourself: is this about what someone is able to do, what they should do, or what they must/must not do? That question will usually point you to the right answer.
Did you know? Unlike most English proficiency tests, the Cambridge English Qualifications include a dedicated grammar section called “Use of English.” This appears in the FCE (B2 First), CAE (C1 Advanced), and CPE (C2 Proficiency) exams and tests grammar and vocabulary directly through tasks such as multiple-choice cloze, open cloze, word formation, and sentence transformations. If you’re preparing for a Cambridge exam, targeted grammar practice — including modal verbs — is essential.
The three modals in this exercise each express a different type of attitude towards an action, ranging from what is possible to what is required. Getting them right is largely about understanding the strength of necessity or possibility being expressed.
Three levels of strength:
• The weakest expresses ability or possibility — what someone is able or permitted to do.
• The middle level expresses advice or recommendation — the right course of action, without forcing it.
• The strongest expresses obligation or logical necessity — something required or almost certainly true.
Negative forms change the meaning significantly: The negative of the “ability” modal signals that something is not allowed or impossible. The negative of the “obligation” modal signals prohibition — not just lack of necessity.
For each sentence, ask yourself: is this about what someone is able to do, what they should do, or what they must/must not do? That question will usually point you to the right answer.
Did you know? Unlike most English proficiency tests, the Cambridge English Qualifications include a dedicated grammar section called “Use of English.” This appears in the FCE (B2 First), CAE (C1 Advanced), and CPE (C2 Proficiency) exams and tests grammar and vocabulary directly through tasks such as multiple-choice cloze, open cloze, word formation, and sentence transformations. If you’re preparing for a Cambridge exam, targeted grammar practice — including modal verbs — is essential.
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