EN

PDFTests Originals

Modals of Deduction (must, might, can't) – Test 1

B1 Intermediate GrammarEnglish

This B1 grammar test checks how well learners use must, might, may, could and can't to make deductions about the present and the past. It covers meaning, sentence form, negatives and questions, and common learner errors. It suits intermediate students, teachers who need a ready-made quiz, and self-study learners revising this topic.

Questions
30
Time
30 min
PDF
4 pages
Answer key
Included
Download PDFPDF · 4 pages · 171 KB Take the test online
  • 100% free
  • No sign-up or email
  • Print-ready A4 PDF
Preview of page 1 of Modals of Deduction (must, might, can't) – Test 1 Open PDF

Take the test online

Choose the correct option (A, B, C or D) for each question. Choose your answers, then press “Check my answers”.

Part 1: Meaning – how sure are you?

Read each sentence and choose the modal that best fits the situation, or choose the sentence with the closest meaning.

  1. Lena has been working for twelve hours without a break. She _____ be exhausted.

  2. That _____ be Tom at the door. He's on holiday in Spain this week.

  3. I'm not sure where Amir is. He _____ be in the library, or perhaps he's gone home.

  4. The lights are off and nobody is answering the phone. They _____ be out.

  5. You've just eaten a huge pizza! You _____ be hungry again already!

  6. Take an umbrella. It _____ rain later – the sky is looking a bit grey.

  7. Which sentence has the closest meaning to 'Sofia can't be at work today'?

  8. Which sentence has the closest meaning to 'The keys might be in the car'?

  9. Jae-won speaks Japanese, Korean and Chinese. He _____ be very good at languages.

  10. This bag _____ be Maria's. Hers is red, and this one is blue.

Part 2: Form – negatives, questions and continuous forms

Choose the grammatically correct option.

  1. Daniel isn't answering his messages. He must _____ a film at the cinema.

  2. She _____ be at home. I can hear music from her flat.

  3. Choose the correct sentence.

  4. Choose the correct sentence.

  5. Someone is knocking. Who _____ it be at this time of night?

  6. _____ it really be true? I don't believe it!

  7. Look at the queue! The new café _____ very popular.

  8. Kofi isn't in his office. He _____ having lunch, but I'm not sure.

  9. 'I'm sure the shop isn't open now – it's midnight.' Which sentence means the same?

  10. You think 'She must be tired' is wrong and you are sure the opposite is true. What do you say?

Part 3: Reading and use in context

Read the dialogue and answer questions 21–24. Then answer questions 25–30.

Priya and Marco are tidying up at the end of the day in their small café.

Priya: Look, someone has left a phone on the table by the window.

Marco: It can't be Mr Okafor's. He always sits at the counter, and his phone is much older than this one.

Priya: True. There's a student card under it, too. It might belong to one of the students who were here this afternoon.

Marco: The phone is still warm, so the owner must be quite close. They can't have left more than a few minutes ago.

Priya: Wait – it's ringing. The screen says 'Mum'. It must be the owner's mother.

Marco: Answer it! She might know where her son or daughter is.

  1. How sure is Marco that the phone isn't Mr Okafor's?

  2. When Priya says 'It might belong to one of the students', she means that…

  3. Why is Marco sure that the owner must be quite close?

  4. Which sentence from the dialogue is a deduction about the past?

  5. Which part of this sentence is wrong? 'You mustn't be cold – you're wearing three jumpers!'

  6. Which part of this sentence is wrong? 'That man must to be the new manager – he's wearing a suit and giving orders.'

  7. The ground is wet this morning. It _____ last night.

  8. I sent Tariq the address, but he hasn't arrived yet. He _____ my message.

  9. A: Hiro has bought a new car and a big house this year. B: _____

  10. A: I can't find my glasses anywhere. B: _____

Preview

Preview of page 1 of Modals of Deduction (must, might, can't) – Test 1 Preview of page 2 of Modals of Deduction (must, might, can't) – Test 1

About this test

This B1 grammar test checks how well learners use must, might, may, could and can't to make deductions about the present and the past. It covers meaning, sentence form, negatives and questions, and common learner errors. It suits intermediate students, teachers who need a ready-made quiz, and self-study learners revising this topic.

Topics covered

Must for certaintyMight, may and could for possibilityCan't for negative certaintyMust be + -ingQuestions with could and canCan't vs mustn'tPast deduction: must have / can't have

How to use this test

  1. Download the PDF and print it, or take the test online below.
  2. Answer every question without a dictionary or time pressure.
  3. Check your answers and note the topics you need to review.

Notes for teachers

Use this test after presenting modals of deduction, or as a diagnostic before revision. It targets typical B1 errors: using mustn't instead of can't for negative deduction, adding to after a modal, confusing maybe and may be, and choosing must when the evidence only suggests a possibility. As a follow-up, ask students to look at photos or describe mystery objects and make their own deductions with must, might and can't.