Modal Auxiliaries

The Modal Auxiliaries are can, may, shall, will, must, ought to, used to, need, and dare. 

Can, may, shall, and will have special past forms could, might, should, and would respectively, but ‘must‘ do not.

Modal Auxiliaries

Use of Modal Auxiliaries

Modal AuxiliariesFunctions asExamples
Will1. asking
2. possibility
3. suggestion		1. Will you go to college?
2. It will probably rain tomorrow.
3. You will feel better if you take some rest.
WouldrequestingWould you be able to lend me a pencil?
Would you mind closing the door, please?
Shall1. asking
2. possibility		1. Shall I do the homework?
2. I hope I shall complete the homework within a week.
Should1. suggestion
2. seeking advice		1. You should try the chocolate cake, it’s delicious.
2. Should I take the train or the bus to get to the airport on time?
Can1. ability
2. possibility		1. Lisa can speak French fluently.
2. It will be a challenge, but I think we can complete the project if we work together.
Could1. ability
2. requesting		1. He could do it.
2. Could you pass the salt, please?
May1. possibility
2. permission
3. offering		1. Alisha may come here today.
2. May I come in?
3. May I get you a cup of coffee?
Might1. possibility
2. suggestion		1. I might go to the beach this weekend if the weather is nice.
2. We might try a new restaurant today.
Must1. obligation
2. certainty
3. strong probability
4. prohibition		1. You must obey your parents.
2. I must submit my assignment before the deadline.
3. You must be hungry after a busy day at work.
4. We must not waste our time.
Dare1. challenge
3. negative force
4. interrogation		1. I dare you to try spicy salsa!
2. I wouldn’t dare to ask HR for a salary hike.
3. How dare you speak to your mother like that?
Need1. prohibition
2. interrogation		You need not come here.
Does he need to go there?
Used tohabitual action in the pastMy mother used to tell me moral stories.
Ought to1. obligation
2. strong likelihood		You ought to work hard for your exam.
It ought to rain later today.

Modal Auxiliaries Exercises

Modal Auxiliaries Exercise With Answers #1

Fill in the blanks with Appropriate Modal Auxiliaries:

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  1. He…………………play the piano when he was younger.
  2. When……………….we meet again?
  3. When……………….the magazine be published?
  4. Autumn…………………come after the monsoons.
  5. I…………………..walk.
  6. You…………………..not read.
  7. Peter………………….write.
  8. Birds………………………..fly.
  9. Lisa……………………….be thirty next Monday.
  10. They………………………coming to the party later.
  11. ………………………I take the phone?
  12. Which painting………………… I buy?
  13. He………………………….been hurt.
  14. He………………….lost his book.
  15. It…………………….rain tomorrow afternoon.
  16. I………………………go to market.
  17. He………………………..gone home yesterday.

Answers:

  1. Could
  2. Shall
  3. Will
  4. Will
  5. Can
  6. Can
  7. Can
  8. can
  9. Shall be
  10. Might be
  11. Shall
  12. Shall
  13. Might have
  14. May have
  15. Might
  16. Might
  17. Might have

Modal Auxiliaries Exercise With Answers #2

Fill in the blanks with Appropriate Modal Auxiliaries:

  1. I………………………………to buy some groceries before I go home.
  2. Alisha……………………..not come here anymore.
  3. You…………………….not have waited so long.
  4. Rohit……………………not worry.
  5. You………………………….to finish your homework by the end of the week.
  6. I…………………..not have bought it.
  7. He………………………….play football when he was at college.
  8. I………………………live here when I was a girl.
  9. Lisa…………………………walk every morning when he was in New York.
  10. Peter…………………….to get more sleep to feel rested.
  11. In our childhood, we…………………..sing religious hymns in the morning.
  12. David……………………wake us every morning.
  13. John………………………not worry.
  14. She didn’t……………………………..to ask the boss for a salary hike.
  15. I…………………….not have bought it.
  16. I……………………..dare you to eat a whole pineapple.
  17. I……………………do physical exercise when I was in my village.
  18. When at school I…………………….do sums every day.
  19. When living in the village, we…………………….bathe in the tank.
  20. The…………………………..to improve their communication skill.
  21. It………………………………….snow tomorrow.
  22. I…………………….death,
  23. I can……………………….any danger.
  24. I shall……………………….him to fight with Johnny.

Answers:

  1. Need
  2. Need
  3. Need
  4. Need
  5. Need
  6. Need
  7. Used to
  8. Used to
  9. Used to
  10. Needs
  11. Used to
  12. Used to
  13. Need
  14. Dare
  15. Need
  16. Dare
  17. Used to
  18. Used to
  19. Used to
  20. Need
  21. May
  22. Dare
  23. Dare
  24. Dare

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