Modals
Modals, also known as modal verbs or modal auxiliary verbs, are a special group of verbs in English that are used to express various meanings such as ability, possibility, necessity, permission, advice, and more. Here are some commonly used modal verbs in English:
- Can:
- Ability: “She can play the piano.”
- Permission: “Can I borrow your pen?”
- Could:
- Polite request: “Could you please pass me the salt?”
- Past ability: “When I was younger, I could run faster.”
- May:
- Possibility: “It may rain tomorrow.”
- Permission: “May I use your phone?”
- Might:
- Uncertainty or possibility: “I might go to the party, but I’m not sure yet.”
- Polite suggestion: “You might want to consider taking an umbrella.”
- Must:
- Necessity or obligation: “I must finish my homework tonight.”
- Strong recommendation: “You must see that movie. It’s amazing!”
- Should:
- Advice or recommendation: “You should exercise regularly for good health.”
- Probability: “They should arrive soon.”
- Shall:
- Offers or suggestions (more common in British English): “Shall I help you with your bags?”
- Future actions: “We shall meet again next week.”
- Will:
- Future actions or predictions: “I will meet you at the restaurant.”
- Offers or willingness: “I will help you with your project.”
- Would:
- Polite requests: “Would you mind closing the window, please?”
- Hypothetical situations: “If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.”
- Ought to:
- Moral obligation or strong recommendation: “You ought to apologize for your behavior.”
- Expected or advisable action: “You ought to be careful while driving.”
Modal verbs are often used in combination with the base form of other verbs and help convey different shades of meaning in a sentence. It’s important to note that modals do not usually have an -s form in the third person singular and do not require an auxiliary verb in questions or negatives. Mastering the usage of modals is essential for expressing various nuances and shades of meaning in English sentences.
Multiple Choice Questions
Take Test
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
I _____ eat sushi. It’s my favorite food.
a) can
b) could
c) may
d) should
Which modal verb expresses a strong recommendation?
a) may
b) can
c) should
d) would
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _____ arrive on time for the meeting.
a) must
b) arrive
c) on
d) time
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
He _____swim when he was just five years old.
a) can
b) could
c) may
d) should
Which modal verb expresses permission?
a) can
b) could
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
We ______ go to the movies tonight if we finish our work.
a) may
b) go
c) movies
d) if
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I use your computer to check my email?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses possibility or probability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
She _____call her parents to let them know she arrived safely.
a) should
b) call
c) her
d) know
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
They ______have missed the bus. It left five minutes ago.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses past ability?
a) can
b) could
c) may
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______be serious about quitting your job!
a) can’t
b) be
c) serious
d) about
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I go to the party with you?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses polite requests?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _ try the new restaurant downtown. The food is amazing.
a) should
b) try
c) new
d) downtown
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
We ______have a picnic if the weather is nice.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses necessity or obligation?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
I ______believe he said that to her!
a) can’t
b) believe
c) said
d) her
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_ I borrow your car for the weekend?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses ability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Take Test
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______forget to buy milk on your way home.
a) mustn’t
b) forget
c) buy
d) way
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
She _____speak French fluently.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses advice or recommendation?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _____want to consider taking a different route to avoid traffic.
a) may
b) want
c) consider
d) taking
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I have another piece of cake?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses uncertainty or possibility?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
They ______arrive at the airport by 5 PM.
a) should
b) arrive
c) airport
d) by
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
He ______have forgotten his keys at home.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses permission?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
______I use your phone to make a quick call?
a) May
b) use
c) your
d) make
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I ask you a personal question?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses possibility or probability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______try the new flavor of ice cream. It’s delicious.
a) should
b) try
c) new
d) flavor
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
We _ have a picnic if it stops raining.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I have a glass of water, please?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses ability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______forget to lock the door before leaving.
a) mustn’t
b) forget
c) lock
d) leaving
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
She ______speak Spanish fluently.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses advice or recommendation?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _______want to reconsider your decision before it’s too late.
a) may
b) want
c) reconsider
d) too
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I have a piece of cake?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses uncertainty or possibility?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
They ______arrive at the restaurant by 7 PM.
a) should
b) arrive
c) restaurant
d) by
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
He ______have missed the train. It left 10 minutes ago.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses permission?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
______I have a moment of your time to discuss something important?
a) May
b) have
c) moment
d) discuss
Take Test
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I borrow your pen, please?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses possibility or probability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______try the new coffee blend. It’s delicious.
a) should
b) try
c) new
d) coffee
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
We _ have a barbecue if the weather is nice.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
I ______believe he did that!
a) can’t
b) believe
c) did
d) that
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I use your phone for a moment?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses ability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _______forget to turn off the lights before leaving.
a) mustn’t
b) forget
c) turn off
d) leaving
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
She _______play the piano beautifully.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses advice or recommendation?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______want to reconsider your decision before it’s too late.
a) may
b) want
c) reconsider
d) too
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_ I have a slice of pizza?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses uncertainty or possibility?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
They ______arrive at the party by 8 PM.
a) should
b) arrive
c) party
d) by
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
He _____have forgotten his passport at home.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses permission?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
______I have a moment to think about it?
a) May
b) have
c) moment
d) think
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I have a glass of water, please?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses ability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______forget to lock the door before leaving.
a) mustn’t
b) forget
c) lock
d) leaving
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
She _______speak French fluently.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses advice or recommendation?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _______want to consider taking a different route to avoid traffic.
a) may
b) want
c) consider
d) different
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
______I have a piece of cake?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses uncertainty or possibility?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
They _______arrive at the hotel by 9 PM.
a) should
b) arrive
c) hotel
d) by
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
He _______have missed the bus. It left 10 minutes ago.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses permission?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
_______I have a moment to think about it?
a) May
b) have
c) moment
d) think
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I borrow your pen, please?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses possibility or probability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You ______try the new flavor of ice cream. It’s delicious.
a) should
b) try
c) new
d) flavor
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
We _______have a picnic if it stops raining.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
I _______believe she said that to him!
a) can’t
b) believe
c) said
d) him
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I use your phone for a moment?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses ability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _______forget to lock the door before leaving.
a) mustn’t
b) forget
c) lock
d) leaving
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
She ________speak Spanish fluently.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses advice or recommendation?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _______want to reconsider your decision before it’s too late.
a) may
b) want
c) reconsider
d) too
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I have a slice of pizza?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses uncertainty or possibility?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
They ______arrive at the party by 8 PM.
a) should
b) arrive
c) party
d) by
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
He _______have forgotten his passport at home.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
Which modal verb expresses permission?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
_______I have a moment to think about it?
a) May
b) have
c) moment
d) think
Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the sentence:
_______I have a glass of water, please?
a) May
b) Must
c) Should
d) Can
Which modal verb expresses ability?
a) may
b) can
c) must
d) should
Identify the modal verb in the following sentence:
You _____ forget to lock the door before leaving.
a) mustn’t
b) forget
c) lock
d) leaving
Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentence:
She ______speak French fluently.
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
