English Grammar Exercises: Modals, Conditionals, and Passive Voice

Modal Verbs: Expressing Obligation and Deduction

It wasn't a good idea to play video games all night. You shouldn't have played video games all night.

There's no obligation for you to wear a suit. You don't have to wear a suit.

It's possible that my brother will ask Sally to marry him. My brother may ask Sally to marry him.

It's against the rules for students to arrive late for the exam. Students mustn't arrive late for the exam.

I'm sure it wasn't Ben because he's gone abroad. It can't have been Ben because he's gone abroad.

I'm sure you passed the exam because you worked hard. You must have passed the exam because you worked hard.

Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• It was a great day when she received the "Best Actress" award.
• Jean Dujardin, who stars in "The Artist", won an Oscar in 2012.
• My cousin Tim, who is studying in London, wants to be a film producer.
• Last weekend, I visited a friend whose father is a writer.
• These are the famous film studios where a lot of Indian films are made.
• What's the name of that talented young actress who appears in Twilight?
• In December, when it is cold and wet, I often go to the cinema.

Conditionals Practice

• If Jamie had worked harder, he wouldn't have failed his exam.
• If Stella had time to cook, she wouldn't eat a lot of fast food.
• If Tom comes this evening, we'll play tennis with him.
• I would have done the charity walk if I hadn't had an important exam.
• Not many people will go on the protest march if it rains.
• If I hadn't spent all evening in front of the computer, my eyes wouldn't have been very sore.
• If Mary gets a summer job, she'll buy a moped.
• Sam would have come to the party if I hadn't forgotten to invite him.

Reported Speech Corrections

• He told us to listen carefully to the instructions. (Correct)
• He asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee.
• Tom told us that he was going away for the weekend.
• We asked the new student where he came from.
• My father told me not to forget to take my sports equipment.
• My friend said that we would meet in town the next day. (Correct)
• John asked his mother if she could pick him up from school.

Passive Voice Exercises

• Mobile phones weren't used regularly until...
• The Japanese are made...
• More iPads have been sold...
• Instructions will be given to us by a tour guide...
• Alan hadn't been seen by anybody...
• My motorbike was being repaired...
• Microsoft was started by Bill Gates...
• Thousands of tickets for the festival have already been sold by the organizers.
• Our new TV is being delivered...

Reading Comprehension

• a: By starting a small conversation to get to know people.
• b: To meet new people or fill time while queuing up.
• c: Politics, religion, and private issues because they can be a bit controversial.