Question 1
I _____ harder for that promotion instead of assuming I would get it automatically.
Options: should have worked, must have worked, could work
Modals in the Past - Regrets and Missed Opportunities
This is a fill-in-the-blank exercise. Click on each blank and choose the correct answer from the dropdown. Use modals in the past (e.g., must have, might have, could have, should have, can’t have) to express deduction, possibility, criticism, or regret about past situations. Some sentences may have more than one blank, so make sure you complete all of them.
Practice 1 of 2
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Question 2
She _____ her own business years ago when she had the capital and the contacts.
Options: must have started, would have started, should have started
Question 3
They _____ about the merger before it was announced because they sold all their shares the week before.
Options: should have known, must have known, could have known
Question 4
I _____ that course in digital marketing when I had the chance; now I am struggling to keep up with industry changes.
Options: might have taken, ought to have taken, can't have taken
Question 5
He _____ the warning signs that the company was in financial trouble, but he chose to ignore them.
Options: must have noticed, could have noticed, would have noticed
Question 6
It's possible that the interview _____ better if I had prepared more thoroughly.
Options: must have gone, might have gone, should have gone
Question 7
We _____ so much on that conference; the networking opportunities turned out to be minimal.
Options: needn't have spent, shouldn't have spent, mightn't have spent
Question 8
She _____ the opportunity to study abroad, but family obligations kept her at home.
Options: would have taken, must have taken, should have taken
Question 9
You _____ more assertive during the salary negotiation; you settled for far less than you deserved.
Options: could have been, should have been, might have been
Question 10
They _____ the contract before signing it; now they are stuck with unfavorable terms for three years.
Options: must have reviewed, ought to have reviewed, would have reviewed
Question 11
I _____ my resignation letter so hastily; I should have waited to see if conditions improved.
Options: shouldn't have submitted, needn't have submitted, can't have submitted
Question 12
The project _____ much more successful if we had allocated sufficient resources from the beginning.
Options: should have been, could have been, must have been
Practise Modals in the Past - Regrets and Missed Opportunities with this interactive fill-in-the-blank exercise of 12 questions. Choose the option that correctly completes each sentence, then submit to check your answers and get instant feedback on every choice.
Practising grammar in real sentences — rather than memorising rules in isolation — is one of the most effective ways to make a structure stick. You can retry as many times as you like to build accuracy and confidence using Modals in the Past - Regrets and Missed Opportunities in everyday English.
Looking for more practice? See all exercises for this lesson.