MODALS IN THE PAST EXERCISE (should have / ought to have / might have / could have /

needn't have / didn't need to)

1. Why hadn't you looked in the fridge before you went shopping? You________________________
(buy) any milk because there were five cartons already.
2. He had his car stolen. He __________________________ (leave) the door unlocked.
3. My friend had bought the tickets online, so we ____________________(queue) at the box office.
4. She ________________________ (hide) her disappointment with Bob's present. He felt so
embarrassed.
5. I _________________________ (know) that she would give away my secret. She's always talked
too much.
6. The boss is really angry. She _____________________________ (send) those emails to the
customers, but she simply forgot to do that.
7. You really __________________________ (be) sick with worry. Your child was quite safe with
them.
8. They ___________________________ (call) the plumber. They fixed the problem themselves.
9. I ___________________________ (get up) so early. I only realised it was Sunday when I looked
at the calendar.
10. I feel a bit sick. – Well, you ____________________________ (eat) so much cake.
11. I'm sorry that Beth got angry with me. – Well, you _______________________(be) more
considerate with her feelings.
12. He __________________________ (pick up) the children from school. His wife had done it.
13. You ___________________________ (forget) your anniversary. No wonder your wife is angry.
14. You __________________________ (tell) me that you would be so late. I
__________________ (do) something more useful instead of waiting for you.
15. We _____________________________ (leave) at six. We arrived at the theatre too early.
16. He ___________________________ (ask) for his sister's hepl. He had done the homework on
his own.
17. You ____________________________ (tell) me that you always had dinner at eight. I wouldn't
have phoned you at that time.
18. You ___________________________ (give) him such an expensive present. He would have been
quite happy with a book or a CD.
19. I _________________________ (pay) the electricity bill on time. Now I have to pay the
interest as well.
20. You ______________________ (remind) me to post the letter. I had already done that before
you texted me.
21. She ___________________________ (do) the vacuuming because her mother had done it.
22. You _________________________ (give) me a lift. You drove past my house.
23. He got a bad mark. He __________________________ (study) more.
24. You ______________________ (tell) Mary about the party. It was supposed to be a surprise.
25. You __________________________ (let) me know you were coming earlier. I would have
prepared something for lunch.
26. He ________________________ (go) to the doctor for a common cold. He could have cured
himself easily.