Should/Shouldn't
Fill in the blank with SHOULD or SHOULDN'T:
Friends _____ betray each other - it destroys trust.
shouldn't
Fill in the blank with MUST, HAVE TO or NEED TO:
You _____ respect other people's feelings — it's very important.
must / have to / need to
(All three are correct to express strong obligation.)
Fill in the blank with CAN or CAN'T:
He is very inconsiderate - he _____ see how his words hurt people's feelings.
can't
(Expressing inability or lack of understanding.)
Fill in the blank with the correct form of BE ABLE TO:
After their argument, they _____ (not) compromise and the friendship ended.
weren't able to
(Past negative of "be able to" = wasn't/weren't able to.)
Fill in the blank with MAY or MIGHT:
She _____ feel disappointed if you ignore her - be careful.
may / might
(Both express future possibility. "Might" is slightly less certain.)
Choose the correct option:
If you want to make friends, you _____ be kind and polite.
a) should
b) shouldn't
c) mustn't
a) should
"Should" expresses advice or a recommendation.
Choose the correct option for a rule or obligation:
Students _____ ignore their classmates during group work.
a) mustn't
b) don't have to
c) don't need to
a) mustn't
"Mustn't" = prohibition (it is NOT allowed).
"Don't have to" = it's not necessary, but it's allowed.
Choose the correct option:
When I was a child, I _____ not compromise easily - I was very stubborn.
a) can
b) could
c) may
b) could
"Could" is the past form of "can" and is used for past ability.
Choose the correct option:
I hope I _____ make new friends when I start my new school.
a) was able to
b) will be able to
c) am able to
b) will be able to
"Will be able to" is used for future ability.
Choose the correct option:
He _____ apologise later - he sometimes needs time to think.
a) might
b) mustn't
c) couldn't
a) might
"Might" expresses a future possibility - it's not certain but it's possible.
True or False:
"Should" and "shouldn't" are used to give advice or make recommendations.
Example: We should compromise when we disagree.
True.
"Should" = advice/recommendation.
"Shouldn't" = advice against doing something.
What is the difference in meaning?
a) You mustn't be dishonest with your friends.
b) You don't have to be friends with everyone in class.
a) mustn't = prohibition - being dishonest is NOT allowed/wrong.
b) don't have to = no obligation - it's not necessary, but you can if you want.
What does COULD express in this sentence?
"I could trust my best friend with anything when we were at school."
a) A future possibility
b) A past ability
c) A present permission
b) A past ability.
"Could" here describes something the speaker was able to do in the past.
What is the difference between these two sentences?
a) She can trust her new friends.
b) She was able to trust her old friends.
a) can = present ability/possibility.
b) was able to = past ability (she managed to do it in the past).
"Be able to" is often used instead of "can" in past and future tenses.
What do MAY and MIGHT express in these sentences?
a) She may forgive him if he apologises sincerely.
b) They might fall out with each other over this disagreement.
Choose: certainty / strong obligation / future possibility
Future possibility.
Both "may" and "might" express that something is possible but not certain in the future.
Identify the mistake and correct it:
You should to apologise when you hurt someone's feelings.
Mistake: "should to apologise→should apologise".
Correct: You should apologise when you hurt someone's feelings.
(Modal verbs are NOT followed by "to" + infinitive.)
True or False:
"Mustn't" and "don't have to" mean the same thing.
Example: You mustn't be arrogant. / You don't have to apologise.
False.
Mustn't = it is forbidden / not allowed.
Don't have to = it is not necessary (but it's permitted).
True or False:
"Can" and "could" can both be used to talk about ability, but "could" refers to the past.
Example:
I can forgive easily. (present)
I could forgive easily when I was younger. (past)
True.
Can = present ability.
Could = past ability.
True or False:
"Was able to" and "could" always mean exactly the same thing and can always be swapped.
Example: He was able to apologise after the argument.
False.
In most cases they are similar, but "was able to" often implies success in a specific situation.
Example: He was able to apologise. (He actually did it - specific occasion.)
"Could" is more general for past ability.
True or False:
"May" always expresses more certainty than "might".
Example:
She may trust him again. (more likely)
She might trust him again. (less likely)
True.
"May" suggests a stronger possibility than "might", although in everyday English the difference is small and both are often used interchangeably.
Choose the sentence that uses SHOULD correctly:
a) She should stands up for herself when people make fun of her.
b) She should stand up for herself when people make fun of her.
c) She should stood up for herself when people make fun of her.
b) She should stand up for herself when people make fun of her.
(Should + base infinitive, no "s", no past form.)
Identify the mistake and correct it:
She don't must hang out with people who make fun of her.
Mistake: "don't must" is not correct in English.
Correct: She mustn't hang out with people who make fun of her.
OR: She doesn't have to hang out with people who make fun of her.
(Choose based on meaning: prohibition vs. no obligation.)
Identify the mistake and correct it:
She could stand up for herself now - she is much more confident.
Mistake: "could" should be "can" because we are talking about present ability, not past.
Correct: She can stand up for herself now — she is much more confident.
Identify the mistake and correct it:
She wasn't able to accepting the criticism from her selfish colleague.
Mistake: "accepting" should be "accept".
Correct: She wasn't able to accept the criticism from her selfish colleague.
(Be able to + base infinitive, NOT -ing form.)
Identify the mistake and correct it:
He might to feel jealous if you hang out with other friends without telling him.
Mistake: "might to feel→might feel".
Correct: He might feel jealous if you hang out with other friends without telling him.
(Modal verbs are NEVER followed by "to" + infinitive.)