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.
Use of Modal Auxiliaries
| Modal Auxiliaries | Functions as | Examples |
| Will | 1. 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. |
| Would | requesting | Would you be able to lend me a pencil? Would you mind closing the door, please? |
| Shall | 1. asking 2. possibility | 1. Shall I do the homework? 2. I hope I shall complete the homework within a week. |
| Should | 1. 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? |
| Can | 1. 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. |
| Could | 1. ability 2. requesting | 1. He could do it. 2. Could you pass the salt, please? |
| May | 1. 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? |
| Might | 1. 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. |
| Must | 1. 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. |
| Dare | 1. 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? |
| Need | 1. prohibition 2. interrogation | You need not come here. Does he need to go there? |
| Used to | habitual action in the past | My mother used to tell me moral stories. |
| Ought to | 1. 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:
- He…………………play the piano when he was younger.
- When……………….we meet again?
- When……………….the magazine be published?
- Autumn…………………come after the monsoons.
- I…………………..walk.
- You…………………..not read.
- Peter………………….write.
- Birds………………………..fly.
- Lisa……………………….be thirty next Monday.
- They………………………coming to the party later.
- ………………………I take the phone?
- Which painting………………… I buy?
- He………………………….been hurt.
- He………………….lost his book.
- It…………………….rain tomorrow afternoon.
- I………………………go to market.
- He………………………..gone home yesterday.
Answers:
- Could
- Shall
- Will
- Will
- Can
- Can
- Can
- can
- Shall be
- Might be
- Shall
- Shall
- Might have
- May have
- Might
- Might
- Might have
Modal Auxiliaries Exercise With Answers #2
Fill in the blanks with Appropriate Modal Auxiliaries:
Daily Grammar Test - Attempt Now
- I………………………………to buy some groceries before I go home.
- Alisha……………………..not come here anymore.
- You…………………….not have waited so long.
- Rohit……………………not worry.
- You………………………….to finish your homework by the end of the week.
- I…………………..not have bought it.
- He………………………….play football when he was at college.
- I………………………live here when I was a girl.
- Lisa…………………………walk every morning when he was in New York.
- Peter…………………….to get more sleep to feel rested.
- In our childhood, we…………………..sing religious hymns in the morning.
- David……………………wake us every morning.
- John………………………not worry.
- She didn’t……………………………..to ask the boss for a salary hike.
- I…………………….not have bought it.
- I……………………..dare you to eat a whole pineapple.
- I……………………do physical exercise when I was in my village.
- When at school I…………………….do sums every day.
- When living in the village, we…………………….bathe in the tank.
- The…………………………..to improve their communication skill.
- It………………………………….snow tomorrow.
- I…………………….death,
- I can……………………….any danger.
- I shall……………………….him to fight with Johnny.
Answers:
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- Need
- Need
- Need
- Need
- Need
- Need
- Used to
- Used to
- Used to
- Needs
- Used to
- Used to
- Need
- Dare
- Need
- Dare
- Used to
- Used to
- Used to
- Need
- May
- Dare
- Dare
- Dare
You Asked, We Listened – List of All Grammar Topics Updated 😍😍
Also, Read
Joining Sentences
Conjunctions
Figures of Speech
Preposition
