Modal Auxiliaries with Rules Uses and Examples
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) âin 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 âŠ( Chahiye in Hindi)
You should take care of your health.
Must: (In terms of âŠ(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 âŠ.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 âŠ.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 didnât feel very well yesterday. I ….. eat anything.
cannot
couldnât
mustnât
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
donât have to be
Q5. If you donât start working harder, you ….. repeat the course next year.
have to
must
will have to
Q6. His parents spoil him. Heâs 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. Itâs going to be very hot!
donât have to
mustnât
neednât
Q9. I ….. be able to help you, but Iâm not sure yet.
might
would
Q10. The Entrance to the museum was free. We ….. pay to get in.
neednât
didnât 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 donât 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 donât believe.
can
may
Q19. Itâs very important to ….. speak more than one language.
can
be able to
Q20. I donât 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 donât want to.
can
could
would
Q25. ….. you open the window, please.
Can
May
Q26. I ….. move the table. It was too heavy.
couldnât
mustnât
shouldnât
wouldnât
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. Itâs not good for you.
donât have to
mustnât
shouldnât
Q31. Iâm afraid I ….. play tennis tomorrow. Iâve got a dentist’s appointment.
canât
couldnât
would not be able to
Q32. You can come to the meeting if you want but you ……
have to
donât have to
mustnât
Q33. What do you want to do? – Well, we ….. have a picnic, but it looks like rain.
can
could
should
would
Q34. Iâm so hungry I ….. eat a horse!
can
could
must
should
Q35. The test starts at 10.30. You ….. be late.
donât have to
mustnât
Q36. Why didnât 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 wasnât even in school today.
couldnât have
mustnât
shouldnât have
Q39. You ….. tired. Youâve only just got out of bed!
donât have to be
canât be
mustnât be
Q40. She ….. be very pleased with herself. She got the best grades.
has to
must
cannot
Answers of the Exercise:
- Couldnât
- Should
- Must
- Must not
- Will have to
- Been allowed
- Must be
- Mustnât
- Might
- Didnât need to
- Could
- Must
- Must
- May I
- Are allowed
- May
- May
- May
- Be able to
- Having to
- Can
- Could
- Could
- Could
- Can
- Couldnât
- Must not
- Will be able to
- Can
- Shouldnât
- Canât
- Donât have to
- Could
- Could
- Mustnât
- Could have helped
- Could have been
- Couldnât have
- Canât be
- Must