Modals Exercises

What are modal verbs?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs that
behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like “work, play, visit…” They
give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great
variety of communicative functions.

Modals Review

• Modals are helping verbs.

• We use them with the base form of the verb, modals create verbal phrases.
• Modals do not change form.
• Modals never end in “s” even in 3rd person singular.
• We use ‘not’ to make modal verbs negative.
• Don’t use two double modals together.
• Modals do not have past tense forms, except could and would which serve as the
past of can and will.

Modals Usage

Can • ability (in the present) – I con ride a bike.

• opportunity – She can help you learn to ride a bike, when

she is finished studying.

• permission – Can I try to ride the bike now?

• possibility and conditional – Anyone can learn to ride a

bike, if they are not afraid to try.

• request – Can you teach me to ride a bike?

• willingness -1 can teach you.

Could • ability (in the past) -1 could ride a bike when I was

younger.

• conditional – He could learn to ride a two-wheeler if his

father removes the training wheels.

• possibility – Pawan could be the best bike rider with some

more practice.

• suggestion – Mayank could ride his bike to campus,

instead of driving his car.

• request – Could I use your bike?

May • polite request or permission – May I borrow your bike?

• possibility – He may be able to help you assemble the

bike tomorrow.

Might • possibility, but not certainty – I might be able to let you

borrow the bike, after I wash it.

• conditional – This bike might be a good choice for cross

country riding, if the seat is comfortable.

• suggestion – You might want to lower the seat, so that

your legs reach the pedals.

Must • strong obligation – You must return the bike, if you do not

use it.

• necessity -1 must ride my bike to lose weight.

 • Substitute must with “have to” – You have to return the

bike, if you do not use it.

Shall • formal invitation and future action – Shall \nq go bike

riding together tomorrow?

Should • mild obligation, recommendation, advice – You should

wear a helmet when you ride a bike.

• expectation – He should finish the race around noon.

• substitute should with “ought to” – You ought to wear a

helmet when you ride a bike.

Will • intent (in the future) – I will go for bike riding on Saturday.

• promise – We will definitely make time to ride together

next weekend.

• prediction – The weatherman, however, reports that the

winds will be strong.

• voluntary action -1 will go anyway.

Would • conditional -1 would, ride the bike at night, if it had a light.

• past of will – He would ride his bike before he hurt his

knee.

We use the base form of the word with modals. Modals do not change form.

• He couid ride for iong distances. (Correct)

• He could rode for long distances. (Incorrect)
Modals never end in “s” even in the third person singular.

• She should peddle slower. (Correct)

• She shouids peddles slower. (Incorrect)

Combine the base form of the verb with the modals – not with the infinitive ‘to.’

• He should ride with traffic. (Correct)

• He should to ride with traffic. (Incorrect)

We use ‘not’ to make modal verbs negative.

• I can not ride a bike.

• I could not ride a bike because I was afraid of falling.
• I may not be riding next weekend because I have to work extra hours.
• She might not wear a helmet, but she is careful when she rides.
• Bike riders under 18 years of age must not ride without helmets in Delhi.
• Riders shall not break the traffic rules.
• When using hand signals to indicate turning, riders should not use their right arm.
• He will not go riding when it rains.
• The bike club would not participate in the race because they objected to the high
entrance fee.

To form questions:

• Can I teach you how to ride a bike?

• Should we ask your mother first?
• Might it help if I let her know that you’ll be wearing a helmet?
• Will you let me take the training wheels off?

Do not use two modals together.

• He could can fix the flat tire. (Incorrect)

• I will might enter the bicycle challenge marathon. (Incorrect)

More about Modals

Must/ought to
Must and ought to are used to show expression of necessity.
Example:

• You must come to the office at 9 o’clock.

• You ought to come to the office at 10’o clock.
Ought always comes with infinitive ‘to’ and must is used without ‘to’ Must not/mustn’t
and ought not/oughtn’t
To make negative sentences we use must not or ought not.
Must not or ought not shows negative compulsion.
Example:

• She must not talk to his father like this.

• She ought not to talk to her father like this.

To show assumption

• She must be very popular.

• She ought to be very popular.

Expression of duty and obligation

• She must respect her family.

• You must love your work.
• She ought to respect her family.
• One ought to love his country.

To give advice

• She must concentrate on her work.

• You ought to drive with care.
• She must avoid fatty food.
• She ought to avoid argues with her elders.

To show certainty (of past events)

• He studied very hard he, must have secure first rank in the class.
• He started with lots of enthusiasm, he must have reached his destiny.
• She spoke very fluently, she must have won the first prize.

Must be / must have been (also shows certainty)

• He talks very impressively he must be an anchor.

• This team plays very well, it must have been a winning team.

Ought to have (Work that should be completed in the past but couldn’t be completed)

• He ought to have appeared at the examination.

• They ought to have helped you in your need.
Need/Needn’t
Need is used to tell about necessity,
(He, she) ‘s’ in third person singular (I, u, or we) without ‘s’

• I need some water.

• He needs water.
• They need water.
• We need your support.
• I needed a pen.
• She doesn’t need anything.

‘Need’ in a negative sentence

In negative sentences, third-person also comes without ‘s’.

• He need not fear me.

• He need never fear me.
• He need hardly take my help.

“Need” in an interrogative sentence In interrogatives, (third-person without ‘s’)

• Need you help him?

• Need she come with him?

“Need” with do interrogative

• Do they need to go with him?

• Does she need to go alone there?
• Do you need to behave like this?

Needn’t

• Needn’t is used with both, singular as well as the plural form.

• Need not to go there?
• They need not to share it with you.
• We need not to take him in our team.

Dare / Dare not

Dare is used to give challenge, and it is used according to number or person, in third
person singular dares or dare with (I, we, you)

• He dares me to go alone in the dark wood.

• I dare you to compete with him.
• They dare me to do such a big task alone.
“Dare” in negative sentences
In negative sentences, dare is used without ‘s’ w

• He dare not to leave me.

• I dare not stand before him.
• You dare not ask me anything personal.
• She dare hardly speak before her father.

Interrogative with dare

In interrogative, we use dare not dares,

• Dare he speaks before you?

• Dare he repeats the same mistake?

Dare in ‘do’ interrogative (dare not dares)

• Does she dare to challenge you?

• Did she dare to slap her?
• Do I dare to stand before you?

‘Dare not’

• She dare not to say a single word to me.

• I dare not to perform on such a big stage.

Dare not have +past participle (to show the past unnecessary)

• He dare not have talked like this.

• You dare not have moved this heavy luggage alone.

Used to
To tell the frequency and habit of past

• He used to come at my home to watch the TV.

• She used to try my outfits.
• They used to quarrel with their neighbour.
• I used to play the flute in my college days.
• I am used to this lifestyle.

Negative and interrogative with ‘used to’

• She is used to this type of climate.

• Did he use to wear this kind of dress?
To tell habitual of the thing, we use subject+ verb ‘to be’+ used +noun / gerund

• I am used to this.
• She is used to this luxury life.
• He has to get used to traveling in crowded bus.

Do + used to

• He did not use to live life in this way.

• Did he use to live like this?

Modals Exercises Solved Examples

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks using must, mustn’t, don’t have to, should, shouldn’t, might, can, can’t!
(i) Rose and Ted _____________ be good players. They have won hundreds of cups!
(ii) You _____________ pay to use the library. It’s free.
(iii) I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment. She _____________ be at her dance
class.
(iv) Jerry _____________ be working today. He never works on Sundays.
(v) You _____________ be 18 to see that film.
(vi) You _____________ hear this story. It’s very funny.
(vii) Dad _____________ go and see a doctor. His cough is getting worse all the time.
(viii) You don’t have to shout. I _____________ hear you very well.
(ix) It _____________ be him. I saw him a week ago, and he didn’t look like that.
(x) You look pretty tired. I think you _____________ go to bed early tonight.
(xi) Let me look. I. _____________ be able to help you.
(xii) “Children, you _____________ cross the street if the lights are red!”
(xiii) You _____________ sit so near the TV. It’s bad for your eyes.
(xiv) I’m sorry but I _____________ give you a lift because my car is broken.
(XV) I _____________ stop and talk to you now. I have to get to the library.
Answer:
(i) must
(ii) don’t have to
(iii) might
(iv) can’t
(v) must
(vi) must
(vii) should
(viii) can
(ix) can’t
(x) should
(xi) might
(xii) mustn’t
(xiii) shouldn’t
(xiv) can’t
(xv) can’t

Question 2.
Match 1 – 10 to a – j.

1. It is a very good film. a. You needn’t get up early.

2. He is not sure now. b. You don’t have to get up early

3. She is so different. c. We can’t miss it.

4. It is the last train. d. We mustn’t miss it

5. It’s Sunday today. e. You can be her sister.

6. This is not free of charge. f. You can’t be her sister

7. I’ll prepare breakfast myself. g. I have to buy a ticket.

8. The coach leaves tonight and it takes twelve h. I must buy a ticket.

hours to get here.

 9. Your address is the same. i. He may come tomorrow.

10. We have plenty of time. j. He must come tomorrow

Answer:
(i) (h)
(ii) (i)
(iii) (f)
(iv) (d)
(v) (b)
(vi) (g)
(vii) (a)
(viii) (j)
(ix) (e)
(x) (c)

Modals Exercises Practice Examples

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks using Must, can’t, may, might, could, should, shouldn’t and the Past
Form of them!
(i) Sally looks worried. She __________ a problem with something. (Have)
(ii) Bob __________ at school because I haven’t seen him all day. (Be)
(iii) I. __________ you the money. Why didn’t you ask me. (Lend)
(iv) Mr Travis hasn’t come to work yet. He has never been late for work. He __________
the bus. (Miss)
(v) She knew everything about on plans She __________ to our conversation. (Listen)
(vi) A: will you come to my birthday party tomorrow afternoon?
B: I’m sorry but I __________ because I have to look after my sister. (Come)
(vii) Timmy is a very good boy. He isn’t naughty, so he __________ that window.
Somebody else __________ it (Break 2x)
(viii) The street is wet this morning. I’m not sure but it __________ last night (Rain)
(ix) She __________ like an angel I when she was a child (Sing)
(x) A: I talked to your science teacher yesterday
B: You __________ to her because she wasn’t at school yesterday. (Talk)