What Are Modal Auxiliary Verbs?
Modal auxiliary verbs are special kinds of helping verbs used to show a willingness, necessity, capability, or possibility. There is only one form of these verbs. Auxiliary verb forms generally do not change to indicate whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. With all modal auxiliaries, the first form of the main verb is used in the active voice. Some of these verbs indicate whether something happened in the present, the past, or the future. These verbs are full of possibilities! The possibility is just one thing modal auxiliary verbs can show;
Uses and Examples of Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Now you have understood the purpose of modal auxiliary verbs. Take a look at uses and examples of some common modal auxiliaries. The modal auxiliary verbs include:
Can (in terms of capacity)-In present tense-
Example:
I can do this work.
Can you solve this question?
Could: (in terms of capacity) –in the past tense-
Example:
Nobody could beat Arjun in the battle of Mahabharat.
May: (in terms of permission, possibility) in the present tense-
Examples:
May I come in, sir?
It may rain today.
Might (In terms of permission, possibility) in the past tense
Examples:
The student asked the teacher respectfully if he might come in.
Should: (In terms of …( Chahiye in Hindi)
You should take care of your health.
Must: (In terms of …(Avashya Chahiye in Hindi)
Example: You must help your friend.
Ought to: (In terms of morality, dutifulness… Chahiye in Hindi)
Example: You ought to serve your old parents.
Shall: In future indefinite tense)
Example: We shall learn English today.
Should: in the past form of shall:
Example: Yesterday you told me that you would go to Delhi.
Will: In future tense:
Example: He will help you.
Would: Past form of will
Example: He said that he would go to school the next day.
Need: (Avashyakta in Hindi)
Example: You need not worry.
Dare: (Shahas Karna in Hindi)
Example: How dare you say that?
Has to/Have to: (In terms of obligation ….Padta hai, padti hai, padte hain..in Hindi)
Example: He himself has to wash his clothes.
They have to go to school on foot.
Had to (In terms of obligation ….Padta tha, padti thi, padte the..in Hindi)
Example: He had to return to his town yesterday.
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate modal auxiliary.
Q1. I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ….. eat anything.
cannot
couldn’t
mustn’t
Q2. You ….. look at me when I am talking to you.
Could
should
would
Q3. I was using my pencil a minute ago. It ….. be here somewhere!
can
could
must
would
Q4. You really ….. be late again.
must not
don’t have to be
Q5. If you don’t start working harder, you ….. repeat the course next year.
have to
must
will have to
Q6. His parents spoil him. He’s always ….. to do whatever he wants.
been able
been allowed
Q7. Phone her now. She ….. at home by now.
has to be
must be
would be
Q8. You ….. forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very hot!
don’t have to
mustn’t
needn’t
Q9. I ….. be able to help you, but I’m not sure yet.
might
would
Q10. The Entrance to the museum was free. We ….. pay to get in.
needn’t
didn’t need to
Q11. Already as a child, Mozart ….. play the piano beautifully.
could
should
would
Q12. Which sign are you more likely to see at an airport: Bags ….. not be left unattended.
can
must
may
Q13. I really ….. try to get fit.
may
must
would
Q14. ….. take a photograph of you?
Am I allowed to
May I
Q15. Students ….. borrow up to 6 books at any time.
are allowed to
could
Q16. Whose is this bag? – I don’t know, but it ….. belong to Yuta.
could
may
should
would
Q17. ….. I go to the bathroom, please?
May
Must
Would
Q18. His excuse ….. be true, but I don’t believe.
can
may
Q19. It’s very important to ….. speak more than one language.
can
be able to
Q20. I don’t like ….. get up early on a Sunday.
being able to
being allowed to
having to
Q21. ….. you speak French? – Only a few words, but my Russian is pretty good.
Can
Could
Q22. ….. you help me move this table? (Both answers are possible. Choose the more polite request.)
Can
Could
Q23. I ….. talk already before I was two years old.
could
should
would
Q24. I ….. help you, but I don’t want to.
can
could
would
Q25. ….. you open the window, please.
Can
May
Q26. I ….. move the table. It was too heavy.
couldn’t
mustn’t
shouldn’t
wouldn’t
Q27. You ….. not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.
must not
do not have to
Q28. If you continue to practise so hard, you ….. beat me before too long!
can
could
will be able to
Q29. ….. you swim? (Both are possible. Which is better?)
Are you able to
Can
Q30. You ….. eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for you.
don’t have to
mustn’t
shouldn’t
Q31. I’m afraid I ….. play tennis tomorrow. I’ve got a dentist’s appointment.
can’t
couldn’t
would not be able to
Q32. You can come to the meeting if you want but you ……
have to
don’t have to
mustn’t
Q33. What do you want to do? – Well, we ….. have a picnic, but it looks like rain.
can
could
should
would
Q34. I’m so hungry I ….. eat a horse!
can
could
must
should
Q35. The test starts at 10.30. You ….. be late.
don’t have to
mustn’t
Q36. Why didn’t you tell me? I ….. you!
could help
could have helped
was able to help
would help
Q37. How did you do in the test? – Ok. It ….. worse!
could be
could have been
might be
would have been
Q38. He ….. broken the classroom window. He wasn’t even in school today.
couldn’t have
mustn’t
shouldn’t have
Q39. You ….. tired. You’ve only just got out of bed!
don’t have to be
can’t be
mustn’t be
Q40. She ….. be very pleased with herself. She got the best grades.
has to
must
cannot
Answers of the Exercise:
- Couldn’t
- Should
- Must
- Must not
- Will have to
- Been allowed
- Must be
- Mustn’t
- Might
- Didn’t need to
- Could
- Must
- Must
- May I
- Are allowed
- May
- May
- May
- Be able to
- Having to
- Can
- Could
- Could
- Could
- Can
- Couldn’t
- Must not
- Will be able to
- Can
- Shouldn’t
- Can’t
- Don’t have to
- Could
- Could
- Mustn’t
- Could have helped
- Could have been
- Couldn’t have
- Can’t be
- Must