Language analysis course: modality 3

Multiple-choice exercise

ELT Concourse home page
Choose the correct type of modality for each question.

  1. That can't be him so soon
    1.   obligation
    2.   suggestion
    3.   likelihood
    4.   ability
  2. They weren't able to help me
    1.   likelihood
    2.   willingness
    3.   obligation
    4.   ability
  3. That might be the case
    1.   obligation
    2.   likelihood
    3.   suggestion
    4.   ability
  4. That will be the postman at the door
    1.   ability
    2.   obligation
    3.   suggestion
    4.   likelihood
  5. She ought to have arrived by now. She left hours ago.
    1.   likelihood
    2.   possibility
    3.   obligation
    4.   suggestion
  6. It needed to be done, I'm afraid
    1.   advice
    2.   willingness
    3.   necessity
    4.   ability
  7. I have to be at work early tomorrow
    1.   ability
    2.   personal
    3.   advice
    4.   obligation
  8. There some chance that it will break
    1.   likelihood
    2.   obligation
    3.   ability
    4.   willingness
  9. I daren't try
    1.   willingness
    2.   courage
    3.   ability
    4.   advice
  10. She refused to marry him
    1.   ability
    2.   obligation
    3.   likelihood
    4.   willingness