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Advanced Modal Verbs – Test 1

C1 Advanced GrammarEnglish

This 30-question C1 grammar test checks how well you control advanced modal verbs in English, from past deduction (must have, can't have) to criticism, unfulfilled plans and habitual 'will' and 'would'. It is designed for advanced learners, exam candidates and teachers who want a quick, printable check of form, meaning and use.

Questions
30
Time
30 min
PDF
4 pages
Answer key
Included
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Choose the one correct option (A, B, C or D) for each question. Choose your answers, then press “Check my answers”.

Part 1: Deduction and speculation

Choose the modal form that best expresses the speaker's degree of certainty.

  1. Tom's car isn't outside any more. He _____ left already.

  2. She _____ have been at the party last night — she was in Lisbon all week.

  3. I'm not sure where Ana is. She _____ be stuck in traffic, I suppose.

  4. The lights are off, the car's gone and nobody's answering. They _____ be out — there's no other explanation.

  5. Choose the correct sentence.

  6. Kenji looked exhausted. He _____ working all night.

  7. Is it possible that she misunderstood? _____ she have misunderstood the instructions?

  8. This _____ be the right address — the house numbers only go up to 40, and we're looking for 52.

  9. By this time tomorrow, they _____ arrived in Nairobi, if the flight is on time.

  10. Find the error: 'You might have told me you were coming; I could have prepared something. Now we must have to eat out. Still, it may be fun.'

Part 2: Obligation, necessity, ability and criticism

Choose the option that is grammatically correct and fits the meaning of the sentence.

  1. We _____ have taken a taxi — the station was only five minutes' walk away, so we wasted our money.

  2. I _____ to wear a suit, so I went in jeans.

  3. 'You should have called me.' What does the speaker mean?

  4. Visitors _____ smoke anywhere on the premises — it's strictly forbidden.

  5. Applicants _____ submit a cover letter, but it is recommended.

  6. You _____ to have parked there — didn't you see the sign?

  7. The ceremony _____ held outdoors, but it was moved inside because of the rain.

  8. You'd better _____ late again, or you'll lose your job.

  9. The exam was really hard, but in the end I _____ pass it.

  10. 'Do we have to bring our own laptops?' — 'No, you _____. The college provides them.'

Part 3: Nuance, habit and fixed expressions

Choose the option that best completes the sentence or answers the question.

  1. When we were students, we _____ spend hours debating in the café.

  2. He _____ leave his dirty dishes in the sink — it drives me mad!

  3. There's nothing on TV, so we _____ as well go to bed early.

  4. Interest rates _____ well rise again next year, according to most economists.

  5. '_____ I open the window?' — 'Yes, please, it's stuffy in here.'

  6. My grades were good enough: I _____ have gone to any university I wanted, but I decided to start working instead.

  7. If you _____ need any help, just give me a call.

  8. 'You might at least have said thank you.' What is the speaker doing?

  9. How _____ you speak to your grandmother like that!

  10. Find the error: 'I would rather you didn't mention it, but if you must, you would better do it tactfully, as she may well be upset.'

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About this test

This 30-question C1 grammar test checks how well you control advanced modal verbs in English, from past deduction (must have, can't have) to criticism, unfulfilled plans and habitual 'will' and 'would'. It is designed for advanced learners, exam candidates and teachers who want a quick, printable check of form, meaning and use.

Topics covered

Deduction and speculationPast modals (modal + have + past participle)Obligation and necessityNeedn't have vs didn't need toCriticism and regretHabits with will and wouldFixed modal expressions

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 teaching past modals and modals of obligation, or as a diagnostic before C1 exam preparation. It targets typical advanced errors such as 'must have to', 'mustn't' for negative deduction, confusion between 'needn't have' and 'didn't need to', 'could' for single past achievements and 'would better'. As follow-up, ask students to explain the difference in meaning between pairs such as 'should have' vs 'could have' and write their own short dialogues using them.