English Grammar Exercises for B2 – Modals: present and future

1. Write the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1   a / you / guidebook / buy / needn’t

     …………………………………

2   book / table / need / don’t / we / to / a

     …………………………………

3   apologise / her / ought / she / to / behaviour / for

     …………………………………

4   we / take / are / to / a / supposed / gift / ?

     …………………………………

5   a / don’t / to / tip / you / have / leave

     …………………………………

6   eat / your / hand / have / you / to / with / right

     …………………………………

2. Match the sentence halves.

1   This is supposed

2   It can

3   You’ll be able to

4   He needn’t

5   It can’t

6   Everyone ought

a   take a boat trip tomorrow if the weather improves.

b   be easy travelling on your own as you may get lonely.

c   to be the most beautiful city in the world.

d   to keep an open mind about other cultures.

e   be extremely hot in Australia at Christmas.

f   check out of the hotel yet.

3. Choose the correct verbs (a-d) to complete the text.

Customs in different countries 1……… vary widely and it’s sometimes difficult to know how to behave. If you’re visiting Turkey, for example, and you’re asked to dinner at someone’s house, you 2……… take a gift. It 3……… be anything expensive -flowers or pastries are a good idea. Try to eat everything on your plate or you 4……… upset your host! Remember that you 5……… point at people with your finger – it’s considered very rude. And you 6……… show the bottoms of your feet for the same reason. Watch what other people do and follow their example and you 7……… be fine!

1   a   ought to   b   can                  c   must               d   should

2   a   need          b   might not      c   mustn’t           d   ought to

3   a   must          b   needn’t           c   has to             d   may

4   a   could         b   can                  c   should             d   are able to

5   a   should       b   mustn’t           c   don’t need to            d   have to

6   a   may            b   are supposed to         c   shouldn’t     d   must

7   a   can             b   have to           c   should             d   might

4. Correct the mistakes in the sentences. Tick the correct sentences.

1   The winters are able to be very cold in Austria. ……………………..

2   When we visit Norway next month, we should see the Northern Lights. ……………………..

3   This needs be the right house – it’s got a green door and blue curtains, just as Lara described. ……………………..

4   That man mustn’t be Ella’s dad – he looks too old. ……………………..

5   This can be the last time I see you! I have to see you again! ……………………..

6   You have to wait for me if you’re in a hurry – I’ll see you there! ……………………..

7   In a year’s time, I’ll be able to drive. ……………………..

5. Complete the second sentences so that it means the same as the first. Use modal verbs.

1   Sometimes our neighbours are very noisy.

      Our neighbours ………………………. very noisy.

2   You may not have another opportunity to see this film.

      This ………………………. last opportunity to see this film

3   I’m sure we’re not late because we left on time.

      We left on time so ………………………. late.

4   Surely you recognise that woman from TV?

     ………………………. that woman from TV!

5   I hope it’ll be possible to go skiing in the winter.

     I hope I ………………………. go skiing in the winter.

6   It’s possible that tomorrow’s match will be cancelled.

     Tomorrow’s match ………………………. cancelled.

6. Complete the text with the words below.

able      might      mustn’t      needn’t      should (x2)      supposed

Every country around the world has its own customs and traditions, usually connected with bringing good luck or trying to avoid bad luck. For example, in Japan, if a beggar comes to your house, you are 1……………………….. to throw salt where they’ve been, otherwise you 2……………………….. have bad luck. In Brazil, you 3……………………….. place a small container of salt in the corner of the house and this 4……………………….. bring you good luck. In India, if there is a birth or death, the family members 5……………………….. go to a temple or light a lamp in the house for fifteen days. Unmarried people in Russia should avoid sitting at the corner of the table or they won’t be 6……………………….. to find a life partner. And in Vietnam, you 7……………………….. take an expensive gift to a wedding; in fact, two less expensive ones are better!

7. Complete the text with the words below.

you don’t have      you must      you mustn’t       you needn’t

you’re supposed      you should

If you’re planning on visiting Australia in the future, here a few tips. 1…………………………… have a visa to enter the country, unless you’re an Australian or New Zealand citizen. 2…………………………… to register with the police while you’re there, but 3…………………………… to leave before your vise expires. 4…………………………… take fresh or packaged food into the country, and plants and seeds are also banned. The greatest risk to personal safety comes from the sun, which, in Australia, is very strong. 5…………………………… spend all of your visit indoors, but 6…………………………… stay out of the sun in the middle of the day, when it’s at its strongest.

8. Choose the correct words to complete the dialogue.

A   Spring at last! It ¹ can / may / must be your birthday soon.

B   It is – on 5 April. I’m having a barbecue that weekend.

A   You ² can’t / may / should be serious!

B   Why? What’s the problem?

A   It ³ can’t / might / must rain!

B   Do you think so?

A   Yes. April ⁴ can / should / must be very showery, you know.

B   Perhaps. It ⁵ can’t / must / should be all right, though. It didn’t rain last year.

A   But you won’t ⁶ be able to / can / could eat in the garden if the weather’s bad!

B   No problem. We’ll eat in the house instead!