G6: Modals III - choosing the right passive
modal
by Tom Rohrbach
Multiple Choice Quiz
In this grammar quiz, read the sentence or 2-person conversation, and then
read all the answer choices.
Think about the MEANING of
the situation, and then choose the response that includes the correct modal.
Only ONE
answer choice is correct for each question.
—A package from Amazon just arrived at the front desk.
—I think Rick is the only one who is allowed to order for this office.
- It must have been ordered by Rick.
- It should have been ordered by Rick.
- It may be ordered by Rick.
Mom, did someone order a new iPhone from Apple? There’s a FedEx guy at the door.
- It would have been ordered by your brother. He orders things online a lot.
- It was supposed to be ordered by your brother. He orders things online a lot.
- It might have been ordered by your brother. He orders things online a lot.
I didn’t know what to do about the broken pipe last night, so I paid a plumber $400 to fix it.
- That’s too expensive. It had to be fixed for much less than that.
- That’s too expensive. It could have been fixed for much less than that.
- That’s too expensive. It can have been fixed for much less than that.
—Uh-oh. Nobody took out the trash, and now it’s too late.
—That’s Billy’s chore…
- The trash cans might have been taken out to the curb last night.
- The trash cans would have been taken out to the curb last night.
- The trash cans should have been taken out to the curb last night.
Jane led for most of the marathon, but she lost in the last 10 feet.
- She must have been disappointed.
- She could have been disappointed.
- She should have been disappointed.
—Jack, why didn’t you go with us to happy hour after work yesterday?
—Oh, sorry. I couldn’t…
- The Mifflin project must have been finished before Mr. Jones would let me leave.
- The Mifflin project had to be finished before Mr. Jones would let me leave.
- The Mifflin project could be finished before Mr. Jones would let me leave.
This report is supposed to be on the boss’s desk by 5 o’clock.
- It had better be turned in on time, or he’ll be furious!
- It can be turned in on time, or he’ll be furious!
- It had better have been turned in on time, or he’ll be furious!
The waiter at the expensive restaurant last night told us we didn’t have to pay!
- Well, your bill should have been paid by those two cute guys who were flirting with you.
- Well, your bill had to be paid by those two cute guys who were flirting with you.
- Well, your bill may have been paid by those two cute guys who were flirting with you.
Oh no. I wanted the last piece of chocolate cake, but it’s gone.
- Well, it couldn’t have been eaten by Jennifer – she wasn’t home.
- Well, it shouldn't have been eaten by Jennifer – she wasn’t home.
- Well, it may not have been eaten by Jennifer – she wasn’t home.
Maria, why are you staying up late to work on your 6th grade science project?
- It has to be done until Wednesday!
- It must not be done until Wednesday!
- It doesn’t have to be done until Wednesday!
Don‘t try to fix your broken Rolex watch yourself...
- It could only be fixed by an expert.
- It should only be fixed by an expert.
- It used to only be fixed by an expert.
—I want to buy a new iPad Air.
—Well, don’t buy one now…
- The new iPad models may be announced next month.
- The new iPad models can be announced next month.
- The new iPad models must be announced next month.
Honey, remember when we were rich and lived in that mansion in Paris?
- Yes, those were the good old days. All our meals should have been cooked every day for us by our private chef.
- Yes, those were the good old days. All our meals would be cooked every day for us by our private chef.
- Yes, those were the good old days. All our meals had to be cooked every day for us by our private chef.
Jeanne is upset. Someone just told her that the copier broke yesterday morning.
- She may have been told about that right away.
- She might have been told about that right away.
- She should have been told about that right away.
I heard that Clancy’s fourth and final interview at Google went really well.
- ANSWERS "B", "C", AND "D" BELOW ARE ALL CORRECT.
- Yes, he could be offered a job there soon.
- Yes, he may be offered a job there soon.
- Yes, he might be offered a job there soon.
Did the construction company finish the new bridge yesterday? That was the deadline.
- They had better have finished it, or they’ll have to pay a $1 million penalty to the government.
- They could have finished it, or they’ll have to pay a $1 million penalty to the government.
- They would finish it, or they’ll have to pay a $1 million penalty to the government.
© 2013 Spring International Language Center
