Introduction to Past Modals

Gap-fill exercise

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. You can also click on the "[?]" button to get a clue. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

Fill in the blanks with one of the following: might have, could have, could've, may have, should have, should've, ought to have, must have, could or had to

Meaning: "past possibility"

You went to a new restaurant last night, but this morning you don't
feel well. You think...

It been the food I ate last night.


Meaning: "past advisability"

My term paper is due tomorrow, and it isn't finished yet because I
went away on a trip to New York last weekend. I been
working on it last weekend.


Meaning: "past possibility"

I can't find my jogging shoes anywhere. I wonder what
happened to them.


Meaning: "past possibility"

The phone stopped ringing just as I walked in the door. My father was
going to call tonight. It been him.


Meaning: "past advisability"

Paul says he doesn't have any clean shirts left. He wants to borrow
one of mine. I think he gone to the laundromat last night.


Meaning: "past probability"

It took them three hours to clean their room. It
been a real mess!


Meaning: "past possibility"

Anita is going back to the TV store this afternoon. She wants that
color TV so badly! She's afraid it been sold already.


Meaning: "past advisability"

He said he was coming to dinner, but he never showed up. He
called to say he couldn't come.


Meaning: "past probability"

Your uncle had just been at the beach on his first vacation in a long
time. He had to leave earlier than he wanted. You thought...

He been sorry.


Meaning: "past ability"

We were lucky the theater was still open when we got there. We
get the tickets for Saturday night.


Meaning: "past ability"

Adam was 18 last year. He vote for the first time.


Meaning: "past necessity"

Last year Luan went to Cancun, Mexico for spring break. He
get a new passport because his old one had expired.


Meaning: "past necessity"

The store refused to let me write a check. I
pay cash.


Meaning: "past advisability"

Yesterday I twisted my ankle. I was running in the dark, and I tripped.
I been more careful.


Meaning: "past advisability"

The computer club had a meeting yesterday, but I forgot to go. I
written myself a note.