Modal verbs of assumption or deduction
Modal verbs CAN and ABLE TO
Modal verbs DON´T NEED/ NEEDN´T
Correct the modal verbs
Meaning of modal verbs
100
Oh no! I put my bag down by the door and it´s gone! Someone ...... (steal) it!

Oh no! I put my bag down by the door and it´s gone! Someone must have stolen it!

100
Sorry I ..... get out to meet you last night but I had to babysit for some friends.

Sorry I couldn´t get out to meet you last night but I had to babysit for some friends.

100
Look, there´s no one else on the tennis courts. We ....(bother) to book one in advance.

Look, there´s no one else on the tennis courts. We needn´t have bothered to book one in advance.

100
Surely you mustn´t be retiring this eyar? You look so young!

Surely you can´t be retiring this eyar? You look so young!

100
You don´t have to / need to
it isn´t necessary to do it
200
Someone ... (come) in quietly, picked it up and slipped out with it. It´s possible, you know.

Someone might have come in quietly, picked it up and slipped out with it. It´s possible, you know.

200
One day, we ..... cure many common illnesses.

One day, we might/may/will be able to  cure many common illnesses.

200
Apparently there are still plenty of tickets left for this year´s festival, so we ..... (worry) about getting hold of some.

Apparently there are still plenty of tickets left for this year´s festival, so we don´t have to worry / needn´t worry about getting hold of some.

200
You musnt´t make up your mind about the job offer yet if you don´t want to.

You don´t have to make up your mind about the job offer yet if you don´t want to.

200
you shouldn´t
it isn´t advisable to do it
300
You ... (left) it on the bus on the seat next to you when you got off.

You might have left it on the bus on the seat next to you when you got off.

300
It took a lot of work but in the end the mechanic ..... get the car going.

It took a lot of work but in the end the mechanic was able to get the car going.

300
My work colleagues kindly took me out to dinner to celebrate my promotion, and I .... (pay) a penny.

My work colleagues kindly took me out to dinner to celebrate my promotion, and I didn´t need to pay a penny.

300
How lovely to see you, Bill! And this should be your wife, Betty?

How lovely to see you, Bill! And this must be your wife, Betty?

300
everyone has to
the rules say so
400
No, I .... (do), because I remember looking in it on the way here.

No, I can´t have done, because I remember looking in it on the way here.

400
I .... go ice skating for the past few weeks because I´ve injured my leg.

Ihaven´t been able to go ice skating for the past few weeks because I´ve injured my leg.

400
You .... (apply) for a visa to travel round this country, as far as I know.

You needn´t apply / don´t need to apply for a visa to travel round this country, as far as I know.

400
After many failed attempts, they could rescue the trapped miners.

After many failed attempts, they were able to rescue the trapped miners.

400
you ough to
it´s advisable to do it
500
I .... (be) more careful with it, I know. Thank goodness there wasn´t much in it.

I should have been more careful with it, I know. Thank goodness there wasn´t much in it.

500
I love ..... stay in bed on Sunday mornings.

I love being able to stay in bed on Sunday mornings.

500
It was much too cold to go swimming when I was on holiday, so I .... (pack) my bikini after all.

It was much too cold to go swimming when I was on holiday, so I needn´t have packed my bikini after all.

500
I´ve just seen the weather forecast and it could not be warm enough for a barbecue after all.

I´ve just seen the weather forecast and it might not be warm enough for a barbecue after all.

500
you mustn´t
it´s forbidden to do it