Modals in English Grammar: Examples, Usage, Exercises

Can, May, Shall, Will, Must, Ought to, Used to, need, and Dare are called Modals in English Grammar. Modals in English Grammar: Examples, Usage, Exercises have been discussed in the following.

Modals

Can, May, Shall, Will, Must, Ought to, Used to, need, and Dare are called Modals as do they not have ’s forms, ‘ing‘ forms, ‘ed participles‘ forms.

Can, May, Shall, Will, Must, Ought to, Used to, need, dare are also called Modal Auxiliary Verbs in English Grammar.

Auxiliaries Verbs in English Grammar are those that help Principal Verbs in the formation of Various Verb – Forms.

Modals in English Grammar

In English Grammar, Modals denote those verbs that do not have ’s forms, ‘ing‘ forms, ‘ed participles‘ forms. Modals in English Grammar are used before Principal Verbs and express meanings such as permission, possibility, certainty, and necessity.

Can, May, Shall, Will, Must, Ought to, Used to, need, dare are also called Modal Auxiliary Verbs in English Grammar. As,

(i) They do not have ’s forms.

(ii) They do not have – ing forms.

(iii) They do not have – ed participles forms.

(iv) Can, May, Shall, Will, have  special past forms ( Could, Might, Should, Would )

(v) Must, Ought to, Used to, need, dare do not have special past forms.

English Grammar Modals vs Defective Verbs

Modals are also called Defective Verbs. The term Defective Verbs is used for those verbs which are defective in form.

A defective Verb cannot be used in all the MOODS and TENSES. They can be used only in the Simple Present and Simple Past Tense.

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Usage of Modals in English Grammar with Examples

1. Can & Can’t

Modals in English Grammar: Can vs May

Can denotes physical ability or physical possibility; May rather implies there are no physical or normal obstacles in an action.

Examples:

(i) He can sing well. (Ability or Power) 

(ii) You can do it now. (permission)

(iii) Accidents can happen in this crowded city. (Possibility)

(iv) Can you lend me your pen? (polite request)

(v) I cannot swim. (Inability)

(vi) You cannot do it now. (Prohibition)

(vii) You cannot be cruel for that reason. (Impossibility)

2 . Could & Couldn’t

Could is used as the Past Form of Can.

Examples:

(i) He Could sing well. (Ability or Power) 

(ii) Could you tell me the time? (Polite Request)

(iii) I could not swim. (Inability)

3 . May & May not (Mayn’t)

Examples:

(i) It may rain today. (Possibility) 

(ii) This may be true. (Possibility)

(iii) You may go now. (Permission)

(iv) We eat that we may live. (Purpose)

(v) May God bless you. (Wish)

(vi) This may not be true. (Impossibility)

(vii) You may not spill here. (Light Prohibition)

4 . Might & Might not (Mightn’t): Modals in English Grammar

Might is used as the Past Form of May.

The Past Form “Might” is sometimes used with a Present or Future meaning to express greater doubt.

Examples:

(i) The report might be true. (Possibility) 

(ii) She read hard so that she might pass the exam. (Purpose)

(iii) He might have recovered if he had proper nursing. ( unfulfilled condition)

(iv) He might recover. (His recovery chance is very slight.) (Greater doubt)

(v) The report might not be true. (Impossibility)

(vi) He pretended to be ill so that he might not attend the meeting. (Negative purpose)

5 . Must / Must not (Mustn’t): Modals in English Grammar

Examples:

(i) You must read hard. (Necessity)

(ii) You must come earlier tomorrow. (Command)

(iii) You must not spill here. (Prohibition.)

(iv) The man must be a liar. (Certainty of belief  in some fact / an Assumption.)

(v) Man must die. ( Inevitability)

(vi) You must do it. ( Compulsion)

(vii) I must see him punished. ( Determination.)

(viii) You must obey your parents. (Certainty.)

(xi) You must have done it = It is certain that you did it. ( Past Certainty.)

(x) You must obey your parents. (Moral Obligation)

(xi) You must do this work. (Obligation)

(xii) He must be worried about his brother. (Strong Likelihood)

(xiii) The patient must die by night. (Strong Inference)

6. Shall & Shall not(Shan’t)

Examples:

(i) I shall buy a book. (Simple Future 1^st Person)     

(ii) You shall not do this work. (Simple Future Command( 2^nd  Person)

(iii) You must not spill here. (Simple Future Promise 2^nd  Person) 

(iv) He shall be punished for this. (Simple Future Threat ( 2^nd  Person) 

(v) You shall obey me. (express Simple Future Threat ( 2^nd  Person)

(vi) You shall obey me. (Simple Future Determination ( 2^nd  Person)   

7. Should & Should not (Shouldn’t): Modals in English Grammar

Examples:

(i) You should obey your parents. ( Duty)

(ii) We should go to school daily. (Obligation)

(iii) You must not spill here. (Prohibition.)

(iv) Should you( If you should) go there, I would punish you. ( condition)

(v) I should go if I were with you. (Desire)

(vi) A simple child, what should it know of death? (Necessity)

(vii) I did not know that he should treat me thus. (Disapproval)

(viii) I should like to help you. (polite wish)

(xi) I should like it. (Modesty)

(x) You should obey your parents. (Advice)

(xi) You should consult a doctor. (Suggestion)

8. Ought to (usage & meaning)

Ought to is used in the sense–                                                 

(i) Duty or Moral Obligation

(ii) Strong Probability

Examples:

(i) We ought to help the neighbors.( It is our duty to help the neighbors) ( Duty)

(ii) you ought to keep your promise. ( Moral Obligation)

(iii) You ought to pass in the First Division. (Strong Probability)

9. Will & Will not (Won’t)

Examples:

(i) You will succeed (Simple Futurity (2^nd  Person & 3^rd Person)

(ii) He will go there. (2^nd  Person & 3^rd Person)

(iii) I will try to do this. (simple Future Promise ( 1^st   Person)

(iv) I will kill him. ( Simple Future Threat ( 1^st   Person)

(v) I will not go. (Simple Future Determination ( 1^st   Person)

10. Would & Would not (Wouldn’t): Modals in English Grammar

The sentence “ He would read in this college ” – this sentence is wrong as “ would ” is never used for an action done regularly or continuously in the Past.

Modals in English Grammar: Important Note

(i) Subjunctive construction beginning with “Should”, and “Would” be followed by “Should”, and “Would” instead of “shall”, “will”

Examples:

(a) Should you pass, he will give you a prize. – Incorrect

(b) Should you pass, he would give you a prize. – Correct

(ii) Afterwords denoting  “Intention”, “Desire”, and Anxiety ” (but not “ Hope ” or “ Expectation ” ) the auxiliary verb introduced by “ that ” is “ shall ” “ should ” not “ will ” or “ would ”.

Examples:

(a) I desire that he should win the prize.

(b) I intend that my son shall or should be a doctor.

(c) He is anxious that  I shall or should recover soon.

Examples:

(i) If you would go there, you would see the new sight. (Condition or uncertainty)

(ii) I repeatedly told him to go, but he would not. (Determination)

(iii) While in Kolkata, he would go to Eden Gardens. (Past occasional or irregular Habit)

(iv) I wish you would not make such a noise. (express Strong Wish)

(v) I hope you would kindly lend me the book. (express Soften the expression)

11. Used to

Used to is used in the sense–                                                    

(i) Discontinued or Irregular Past Habitual Action

Examples:

(i) They used to live here last year.

(ii)He used to see me daily before.

Modals in English Grammar: Notes For Would  and Used to :

 Both “ would ” and “ Used to ” express past habit. But in case of regular and continued action both “would” and “ Used to ” can never be used. Only in case of discontinued or irregular Past habit both “would ” and  “Used to” can be used. “ Used to ” has no Present Form; therefore, cannot be used for a Present Habit.

Examples:

(i) He used to bathe in the river.

(ii) While in Kolkata, he would go to Eden Gardens.

12. Need & Need not(Needn’t)

(i) He need not run so fast.

(ii) Need I go there?

(iii) Need Sheila to see you in the morning?

13. Dare & Dare not (Needn’t)

(i) They dared not move.

(ii) How dare you come here?

Modals in English Grammar: Practice Exercises

Exercise 1

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals.

(a)Students ……… answer all the questions.

(b)I ………… need the book today.

(c)I wish you ………….. write to me more often.

(d)We …… to help the poor.

(e)Every evening Neeraj …….. go for a long walk

(f)He ……… not to sing song for so long.

(g) ………….. you live happily and long!

(h)If you step on a dog, it ………… bite you.

(i)……. you please lend me your homework copy?

(j) Anupama ………… certainly attend the conference.

(k)I ………… get back to my work.

(l)I ……… swim across the river when I was young.

(m)I …………. be twenty-five next birthday.

(n)This ………… be the book you want, I suppose.

(o)I excepted that I ……….. get a first class.

(p)We should obey the laws and children ………… obey their parents.

(q). We …………. to love our neighbours.

(r)How ……… you contradict me?

(s)Do you……… to go now?

(t)You ….. improve you spelling.

Exercise 2

2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals.

(a) We …….. certainly, have time for lunch. Where ………. we go?

(b)The teacher said we …………………. read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But we ……. read it if we don’t want to.

 (c)He had been working for more than 11 hours. He ………… be tired after such hard work. He …. prefer to get some rest.

(d)…… ………… you not reconsider you decision? You regret it if you do not.

(e)I ……….. speak French fluently when I was a child. But after we moved to England, I had very little exposure to the language. Now, I just say two things in French.

(f)He said that it …. be all right for you to enter, but I think you ………… wait until he gets here.

(g)you stand on your head for more than a minute? No, I ………….

(h)If anything ……… go wrong while I am away, you ………. let me know, ………… not you?

(i)You ………. leave small objects lying around. Such objects ……….. be swallowed by children.

(j)……. you speak Italian? No, I …………

Exercise 3

3. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals.

(a) “Please ………… I have another bowl of rice, Mother?” the girl asked. “Yes, you …………. and you ………… have some fish too.”

(b)Where …………..we have our picnic? We ………..have it beside the lake.

(c)If I ……. say so, you …… have at least given it another try. Who knows you ……………? have succeeded.

(d)I……….. not ask for his permission in case he says ‘no’. I wish he were as lenient as he …………be.

(e)The boy ………… be very hardworking, but how he is very lazy. He ………… pull up his socks.

(f)……. you do me a favour? ……………you pass this message to Sameer on your way home.

(g)I……… not stop her from leaving. She ………… go if she wants to.

(h)How ………you say such a thing! You ………. be ashamed of yourself. You never …………. be so bold before.

(i)………… you like a sandwich? No, I ………… have soup.

(j)You ………… study hard. You ………….. not neglect your studies.

Exercise 4

4. Complete the following passages with suitable modals.

A. Seeing a crow eating a piece of bread, a fox thought how it (a)……….. trick that fellow. It said, “(b)……….I talk to you sir?” The crow didn’t even look at the fox. The fox again said, “(c)…….. you please pay a little attention to me? What a nice bird you are!  Your voice (d)………. be very sweet. I am sure you (e)………. sing very well.” The crow who (f)……………… not be persuaded till then now looked at the fox. It (g) ……… have felt flattered. The crow said to itself, “I’ll show this fox how well I (h)………. sing.” It opened its beak. The piece of bread fell down and was eaten away quickly by the fox.

B. People who (a) ………  remain on outdoor shootings (b) ……… given a chance to go abroad. But they (c) …….have their passports ready. They (d)………… get a free ticket for one of their family members, if only their passport (e) ……. be arranged. The company would provide them spare dollars. So, the members (f) ……  take more foreign exchange with them. If they do so they will (g) ……… declare them at the checking counter. They (h)……… get into unnecessary trouble this way.

Exercise 5

C. I Don’t eat this fruit. It (a)……. be poisonous. This (b)……perhaps, (c) …….prove harmful for your health. This lead to death. Therefore, you (d) .. ………… not eat this fruit. It (e) ……raw. Before eating, its skin (f) ………… not be eaten be removed.

D. The Vidyut Board Office has warned that they (a)….……..cut the electricity connection if I don’t pay the bill by today. So, I (b)………… go to the office to pay the bill.

He (c).………have paid the amount yesterday but the office was closed. I (d)………….. ………finish my work immediately and rush to the office so that I (e)……… the bill before 2 p.m. I (f)…………. be late, perhaps.

Exercise 6

5. Complete the following passages with appropriate modals.

(A) Shopkeeper: (a) ……………  I help you?

Customer : Yes, (b) …………. you show me some shirts please?

Shopkeeper : All right, Sir I (c) ……………….. show you several designs with different shades.

Customer : That (d)……… be the shirt Jayant hold me about. (e)………… you tell me its price please?

Shopkeeper : It costs only 599.

Customer : Ok. I (f) ………. take two of them. The blue one and the white one.

B. Naresh : Raghu, I (a) ………… get my watch repaired.  (b) ……..you get it done for me if you are going to market.

Raghu : Naresh ,  I(c) ……….. surely get your work done but . I (d) ………. Not going to market today.

C. Guddu : Mother (a) …………… I go to the market?

Mother :  No, you (b) ……………….

Guddu :  It is urgent, so, l (c)……………… go.

Mother : Ok, but (d) ……….  careful on the road.

D. In the modern day business world table manners have become very important since they (a) ……………. Make or mar business opportunity. Let us begin with eating. Before we begin to eat we (b) ……………. Place the napkin on our lap. In some restaurants or eating places, the waiter (c) ……………  doit for you. Table manners (d) ……………… be followed.

Exercise 7

6. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the appropriate Modal Auxiliary to convey the sense indicated in the brackets against each :

(a) We ………… send her a post card. (obligation)

(b) Rabi ……….. be worried about his brother. (strong likelihood)

(c) Children, you …………. now start writing (permission)

(d) Girls ………….. tell lies. (prohibition)

(e) You …………… have done this earlier. (advice)

(f) He……… come in now. (permission)

(g) He…………. drive a car. (ability)

(h) It…………. rain today. (possibility)

(i) I …………..keep my promise. (obligation)

(j)You ……. be very attentive to your studies. (advice)

(k) The teacher is absent today. He …………be sick. (possibility)

(l)You ……..take care of your health. (duty)

(m) Man…………..die. (certainty)

(n) If you have a headache, you …………go in the sun. (prohibition)

(o) We ………love our neighbours. (moral obligation)

(p) we …………….. go and see a film ? (suggesting)

(q) …………You please shut the window ! (polite request)

(r) You ………….. pay the debt! (obligation)

Exercise 8

(s) ………….. I open the door? (permission)

(t) I say you …………… do it? (threat)

(u) …………..You please keep quiet. (polite request)

(v) You …………… consult a doctor.( suggestion)

(w) She …………… to be there by now. (desirability)

(x) You ………….. go now. (permission)

(y) He…………… be about twenty-five now. (possibility)

(z) She ……………..come tomorrow. (permission).

(aa) I …………….. think he is right. (opinion).

(ab) The lady …………. be mad (certainty).

(ac) The President ……….visit the flooded area soon. (possibility)

(ad) We …………….honour our superiors. (obligation)

(ae) You ……………..not run in the sun. (advice)

(af) Satabdi ……………………sing well. (ability)

(ag) You …………………help your neighbours. (certainty)

Exercise 9

(ah) The student ……………go to the playfield at 3 p.m. (permission)

(ai) He ……………..take physical exercise in the morning. (habit)

(aj) He …………………….disturb his friend. (negation)

(ak) Bhim …………….disobey his master. (wanting in boldness)

(al) You …………………..always respect the elders. (advice)

(am) It ………. (is possible that it will) rain.

(an) You………..(are permitted to) go to Patna with your friends.

(ao) He ……………….(is permitted to) go home.

(ap) My father…………….. (is likely to) arrive here to night.

(aq) You ………. (are obliged to) obey the laws of the country.

(ar) She ……………… (is determined to) marry John.

(as) Man …………………… (it is inevitable that man will) die.

(at) She  ……………….. (strongly wishes to) see me.

(au)The boys ………….. (were forbidden to) play in the garden.

Exercise 10

7. Rewrite each of these sentences, using a modal verb:

(a) I give you permission to go now (use may)

(b) He is able to jump over the wall. (use can)

(c) It is your duty to obey your teachers. (use should/ought to)

(d) It is essential for you to reach the office by nine. (use must)

(e) She is not in a position to lend me some money. (use can’t)

(f) It is not necessary for you to help me. (use needn’t)

(g) It is your duty not to support the corrupt. (use must not)

(h) You have no power to purchase me. (use cannot)

(i) It is good for children to take some milk. (use should/ought to)

(j) He was never able to draw well. (use could)

(k) Possibly she isn’t Anil’s sister.

(l) Perhaps we will go to Shimla next month.

(m) My sister was able to read the alphabet when she was 18 months old.

(n) It is necessary that you do not wash the car. (The paint is still wet)

(o) It is not necessary for you to wash the car. (It is clean.)

(p) I am certain that they have left already.

(q) Do you allow me to use your phone?

(r) I was in the habit of going to the beach every day when I was in Chennai.

(s) He will probably pass his driving test easily

(t) Perhaps he forgot about the meeting.

(u)I suggest visiting Qutab Minar.

(v) Nobody has answered the phone; perhaps they have gone out.

(w) I am sure he is over seventy.

(x)It was not necessary for me to meet him but I met him.

(y)It was not necessary for me to meet him (and I didn’t meet him).

Exercise 11

8. Fill in the gaps with the modal auxiliaries listed below:

[can, could, may, might, should, would, must, ought to ]

1. You …………… to feel for those who are in distress.

2. ………….you tell me the way to the post office?

3. …………..you mind moving along?

4. Pupils …………. obey their teachers.

 5. You ……………not leave the room before I come back.

 6. I ……………complete the work before sunset.

7.  ………………….come in, sir ?

8. I …………………like to meet your father.

 9. You …………… be right in the matter.

10. You  ………………..not worry over the trifles.

11. One …………….work hard to succeed in life.

12. There  …………………to be more buses during the rush hours.

13. Coffee …………………..be drunk while it’s hot.

Exercise 12

14. She told me that she …………….. help me.

(15) Sima ………………. be very clever.

(16) Ram ……….. behave well with his friends.

 (17) We ………. to love our motherland.

(18) You………. take medicine in time.

(19) My sister ………. swim very well.

(20) ………… we sit in the garden ?

(21) He ……….. be hungry after a long journey,

(22) You ………. never tell when you will need me.

(23) Your father …………. come next Sunday

(24) I ………… be young, but I’m not stupid.

(25) The doctor said that we …………. not worry.

(26)  ………..go out, I have not decided yet.

(27) She …………….  have helped me.

(28) The servants ………… to tell them stories.

(29) We ………….. all try to be good citizens.

(30) You ……………  find the task very hard initially.

(31) He says you ……………..  go out if you want to

(32) ……….. I borrow your pencil ?

(33) You ……….. not tell a lie,

(34) …………. I talk to him ? Yes, you……….

(35) This medicine……. cure headache,

(36) You………….call him, “sir”.

(37) You ……….  not disturb him.

(38) You …………. take this book, if it is yours.

(39) ……………. I borrow your bicycle ?

(40)You ………. work out this sum yourself.

(41) She …….. not lift the box because she was old.

(42) Learning a foreign language …………. often be interesting.

(43) ……. you mind waiting a moment?