Summary of modal verbs

“ The entire focus of our campaign must be shifted to the youth market…”

Present	Past	Future
he can	he could	he can
he’s able to	he was able to	he’ll be able to
he should		he should
he’s supposed to	he was supposed to	he’s supposed to
he ought to		he ought to
he must		he must
he has to	he had to	he has to (will have to)
he may		he may
he’s allowed to	he was allowed to	he’ll be allowed to
he might		he might

Exercise 10. Choose the modal verb that best completes the sentences.

Example:		Take you raincoat, it a) rain.	might should must
	To apply for this secretarial position, you _____take a typing test.		may can must
	I _____ speak to Mr. Martin yesterday because his phone was busy all day.		can’t couldn’t might not
	If the waiter gives you good service, you _____ leave a good tip.		can might should
	You _____ smoke, but only in the back of the plane.		must may might
	A man _____ stand up when a lady enters the room.		should may can
	I’m not sure whether I’ll be in tomorrow: I _____ take the day off.		might should have to
	John forgot to take the tickets with him, so we _____ get into the theatre last night.		can’t won’t be able couldn’t
	The meeting is very important; you _____ be on time.		can must had to
	There’s just too much work; I _____ finish it before I leave today.		shouldn’t can’t must
	I _____ go to the party last night, but I _____ work late at the office.		had to should