Modal Verb Decisions Part 2 writing Exercise

Deepen your understanding of modal verbs by practicing advanced structures expressing past probability, regret, speculation, and deduction.

Exercise Guide

How to complete:

Read each sentence carefully and complete it with the correct modal verb form. Pay attention to context: is it about a past action, a deduction, a regret, or a possibility?

Success tips:

This part focuses on modal perfect forms (e.g., "should have done", "must have been") and contrasts in meaning. Learn how modal verbs change nuance when combined with have + past participle.

  • must have → logical certainty about the past
  • might / could have → past possibility
  • should have → regret or criticism
  • can’t have → strong disbelief about past event
  • would have → hypothetical situation

Knowledge:

Modal perfects express how certain or uncertain we are about past events, or whether we regret or imagine them. This exercise helps you distinguish between logical deduction ("must have"), possibility ("might have"), and missed obligation ("should have").

Complete the Exercise

Question 1

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

He
must
early
have
left

Question 2

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

They
might
have
taken
the
wrong
turn

Question 3

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

She
should
have
called
me

Question 4

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

have
can’t
already
He
finished

Question 5

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

could
helped
you
asked
have
had
you
I
if

Question 6

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

have
trained
she
had
would
if
won
She
harder

Question 7

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

They
by
arrived
now
should
have

Question 8

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

have
been
might
mistake
a
It

Question 9

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

You
must
the
have
news
heard

Question 10

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

known
about
have
couldn’t
He
the
meeting

Question 11

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

said
shouldn’t
I
that
have

Question 12

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

keys
her
forgotten
have
may
She

Question 13

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

been
after
tired
They
trip
have
must
the

Question 14

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

angry
He
wouldn’t
if
he
have
said
weren’t
that

Question 15

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

have
hurt
You
yourself
could

Question 16

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

They
seen
message
the
might
have
not

Question 17

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

my
left
at
must
have
home
wallet
I

Question 18

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

great
could
musician
have
a
He
been

Question 19

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

told
earlier
should
me
You
have

Question 20

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

It
can’t
have
been
her
easy
for

Question 21

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

have
question
the
may
not
They
understood

Question 22

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

but
I
my
would
you
died
have
called
phone

Question 23

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

been
more
should
He
have
careful

Question 24

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

the
must
She
forgotten
have
appointment

Question 25

Arrange the words

Your Arrangement:

No words selected yet.
Drag words here to arrange them into a sentence

Available Words:

They
could
way
have
been
lost
the
on

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