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Modal verbs
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/modal-verbs.html
Modal Verbs
Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs
Here's a list of the modal verbs in English:
can could may might will
would must shall should ought to
Modals are different from normal verbs:
1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular. 2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?'). 3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to').
Probability:
First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'.
For example:
It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside. I don't know where John is. He could have missed the train. This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!
Click here to find out more about probability.
Ability
We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability.
For example:
She can speak six languages. My grandfather could play golf very well. I can't drive.
Click here to find out more about ability.
Obligation and Advice
We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to give advice.
For example:
Children must do their homework. We have to wear a uniform at work. You should stop smoking.
Click here to find out more about obligation
Permission
We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed.
For example:
Could I leave early today, please? You may not use the car tonight. Can we swim in the lake?
Habits
We can use 'will' and 'would' to talk about habits or things we usually do, or did in the past.
For example:
When I lived in Italy, we would often eat in the restaurant next to my flat. John will always be late!
May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.© 2011 www.perfect-english-grammar.com
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Modals of Ability Exercise 1
Put in ‘can’ / ‘can’t’ / ‘could’ / ‘couldn’t’. If none is possible, use ‘be able to’ in the
correct tense:
- _________________ you swim when you were 10?
- We _________________ get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train was delayed by one hour.
- He _________________ arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he was very pleased.
- He’s amazing, he _________________ speak 5 languages including Chinese.
- I _________________ drive a car until I was 34, then I moved to the countryside so I had to learn.
- I looked everywhere for my glasses but I _________________ find them anywhere.
- I searched for your house for ages, luckily I _________________ find it in the end.
- She’s 7 years old but she _________________ read yet – her parents are getting her extra lessons.
- I read the book three times but I _________________ understand it.
- James _________________ speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he’s forgotten most of it now.
May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.© 2011 www.perfect-english-grammar.com
- I _________________ understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It
was so difficult.
- I _________________ lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you help me?
- Lucy _________________ make it to our meeting after all. She’s stuck in
traffic at the moment.
- John _________________ play tennis really well. He’s champion of his club.
- Unfortunately, I really _________________ sing at all! No-one in my family
is musical either.
- When the car broke down I was really pleased because I _________________
solve the problem.
- Julian _________________ play excellent golf when he was only ten.
- My grandmother _________________ use a computer until last month. Since
then, she’s been taking lessons at the library.
- I _________________ open this window. I think it’s stuck!
- Gill _________________ play the piano. She’s never studied it.
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Modals of Obligation 1
Put in ‘mustn’t’ or ‘don’t / doesn’t have to’:
- We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _______________ be late.
- You _______________ tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.
- The museum is free. You _______________ pay to get in.
- Children _______________ tell lies. It’s very naughty.
- John’s a millionaire. He _______________ go to work.
- I _______________ do my washing, because my mother does it for me.
- We _______________ rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
- You _______________ smoke inside the school.
- You can borrow my new dress but you _______________ get it dirty.
- We _______________ miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.
- She _______________ do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.
- I _______________ clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.
- We _______________ forget to lock all the doors before we leave.
- We _______________ stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.
- I _______________ spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.
- They _______________ get up early today, because it’s Sunday.
- I _______________ eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!
- We _______________ be late for the exam.
- You _______________ tidy up now. I’ll do it later.
- He _______________ cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.
Answers:
- We have a lot of work tomorrow. You mustn’t be late.
- You mustn’t tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.
- The museum is free. You don’t have to pay to get in.
- Children mustn’t tell lies. It’s very naughty.
- John’s a millionaire. He doesn’t have to go to work.
- I don’t have to do my washing, because my mother does it for me.
- We don’t have to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
- You mustn’t smoke inside the school.
- You can borrow my new dress but you mustn’t get it dirty.
- We mustn’t miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.
- She doesn’t have to do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.
- I don’t have to clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.
- We mustn’t forget to lock all the doors before we leave.
- We don’t have to stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.
- I mustn’t spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.
- They don’t have to get up early today, because it’s Sunday.
- I mustn’t eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!
- We mustn’t be late for the exam.
- You tidy up now. I’ll do it later.
- He doesn’t have to cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.
May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.© 2012 www.perfect-english-grammar.com
Answers:
- Keiko always does really well on exams. She must study a lot.
- That woman drives a very expensive car. She must have a lot of money.
- You must have practised a lot before you gave your speech. It was really great.
- When Lizzie got home yesterday, there were flowers on the table. Her husband must have bought them.
- Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it must be in this room.
- Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she must have left them at her office.
- It must be cold outside. That man in the street is wearing a coat.
- All my plants must be dead! I forgot to water them before I left for my holiday.
- Susie is so late! She must have missed the train.
- There’s rubbish all over my garden! A fox must have been in the bin.
- Anna has a huge library in her house. She must love books.
- Oh no, I don’t have my keys! I must have left them in the taxi.
- When Lucy got home she found the ice cream had melted. It must have been too hot in the car.
- If you haven’t eaten all day, you must be hungry.
- Jimmy and Louisa must be very tired. They have a new baby.
- It must have rained a lot in the night. There are puddles everywhere.
- David must be happy. His girlfriend just agreed to marry him.
- What an amazing kitchen you’ve got! You must like cooking.
- John must have eaten all the biscuits! There are none left.
- When I got up this morning, the kitchen was spotless. Lily must have tidied it before she went to bed last night.
May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.© 2012 www.perfect-english-grammar.com
Modals of Probability 2
Put in ‘can’t’ or ‘must’:
- Why is that man looking around like that? He _____________ be lost.
- That woman _____________ be a doctor! She looks far too young.
- John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He _____________ study enough.
- The food is really good at that restaurant. They _____________ have a great chef.
- Who’s that at the door? It _____________ be Susie – she’ll still be at work now.
- This _____________ be John’s house. This house has a red door, and it’s number 24, just like he said.
- Julie _____________ have much money, or she would buy a new car. Her old one is falling apart.
- He _____________ be at work now, can he? It’s nearly midnight.
- What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You _____________ really like gardening.
- David _____________ drink a lot of coffee. He’s finished two packets already this week!
- This _____________ be Jamie’s coat. He’s very tall, and this is tiny.
- Her life _____________ be easy. She has four children and very little money.
- Where’s Lucy? She _____________ be at the library, as she often goes there at this time.
- This bill _____________ be right! £50 for two cups of coffee!
- Emma’s amazingly good at the piano. She _____________ practise a lot.
- The car in front is driving so slowly that I think they _____________ be looking for something.
- You’ve already eaten enough for three people! You _____________ still be hungry!
- This book _____________ belong to the library. It’s certainly not mine.
- It only takes three hours to fly from London to Sydney? That _____________ be correct!
- There _____________ be something wrong with the fridge! It’s making a very unusual noise.
