Modal verbs, including will, would, shall, should,

can, could, may, might, must, need, and ought to, play a significant role in the English
language. They are typically used as auxiliary verbs to indicate the likelihood or
possibility of an event. This article presents a series of exercises focused on modal
verbs . Give them a try to test your understanding.

Exercises on Modal Verbs with Solutions

Try completing the exercises below, then check your answers to see how well you
understand modal verbs.
Exercise 1 – Fill in the gaps using appropriate modals
1. I __ cook dinner for everyone tonight. (can/could)
2. __ you lend me your car for the weekend? (could/may)
3. The boss __ ask you to work overtime today. (might/will)
4. According to the forecast, it __ rain later this evening. (might/should)
5. If John doesn’t study, he __ fail his test. (may/might)
6. Everyone __ obey the law. (must/should)
7. It __ be challenging to learn a new language. (can/must)
8. My dad __ get angry if I come home late. (will/might)
9. We ___ respect our elders. (should/could)
10. I __ go to the gym later. (will/can)
11. You ___ arrive on time for the meeting. (should/must)
12. Everyone __ pay their taxes. (must/should)
13. __ you guide me to the nearest station? (can/might)
14. The patient __ be taken to the hospital right away. (must/may)
15. ___ we order pizza tonight? (shall/will)

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. Can
2. Could
3. Might
4. Might
5. Might
6. Must
7. Can
8. Will
9. Should
10. Will
11. Should
12. Must
13. Can
14. Must
15. Shall

Exercise 2 – Identify the modal verb used in the following

sentences
1. My friend (can/must) play the guitar very well.
2. (Could/should) I borrow your book?
3. You (must/can) not talk during the movie.
4. I (could/may) need assistance in moving these boxes.
5. Sir, (could/may) you repeat the instructions?
6. I (may/might) not be able to attend the party.
7. Jessica (should/must) revise her notes before the exam.
8. (Can/May) you join us for dinner?
9. Our guests (shall/should) be here any minute.
10. I (might/must) be running late due to traffic.
11. The mechanic (can/may) fix the car easily.
12. It (may/might) snow tomorrow.
 13. (May/might) your dreams come true.
14. I (could/may) not be more excited.

Solutions for Exercise 2

1. Can
2. Could
3. Must
4. Could
5. Could
6. Might
7. Should
8. Can
9. Shall
10. Might
11. Can
12. May
13. May
14. Could
15. . What is the auxiliary ‘have’ not used for?
a) In the formation of perfect tenses
b) To indicate an obligation
c) In negatives and questions
d) To avoid repetition of a previous ordinary verb
View Answer
16. Answer: d
Explanation: The auxiliary ‘have’ is used to indicate an obligation (past or present), in
negatives and questions, and in the formation of perfect tenses. The auxiliary ‘do’ is
used to avoid repetition of a previous ordinary verb.
17. 2. Pick out the incorrect usage of the helping verb.
a) He has been working very hard for the promotion.
b) You have to be here by 10 o’clock tomorrow.
c) The dog had to sleep outside in the cold.
d) Sheetal having to pack all her furniture herself.
View Answer
18. Answer: d
Explanation: The auxiliary ‘have’ may be used to write the perfect tenses. The verb
‘having’ to is the incorrect conjugation in this case.
19. 3. Place the correct question tag.
20. I hadn’t forgotten my keys here, ______________ ?
21. a) hadn’t I
b) having I
c) had I
d) had bean I
View Answer
22. Answer: c
Explanation: In question tags, simple interrogative is to be used with a negative
question. Hence, ‘had I’ must be used in this case.
23. 4. Which of the following is not a principal part of ‘have’?
a) have
b) has
c) had
d) having
View Answer
24. Answer: d
Explanation: Have, has and had are all principal parts of the auxiliary ‘have’. Having
is the gerund of ‘have’.
25. 5. Choose the correct construction of auxiliary verb.
a) Have + object + past participle
b) Object + have + past participle
c) Had + bare infinitive
d) Object + past participle + have
View Answer
26. Answer: a
Explanation: Have + object + past participle is the correct construction. This is used
to replace a passive verb, usually in cases of a misfortune.
27. 6. Fill in the correct form of the auxiliary.
28. They ______________ leave right away if they want to reach home
in time.
29. a) had to
b) has to
c) have to
d) having to
View Answer
30. Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Have’ is used in the forms ‘have to’ and ‘had to’ with do, does and did.
Here, ‘have to’ is used with respect to the tense of the sentence.
31. 7. Fill the correct form of helping verb in the blank.
32. I ______________ make all the arrangement for the conference at a
short notice.
33. a) had to
b) have to
c) having to
d) has to
View Answer
34. Answer: a
Explanation: ‘Have is used in past tense to indicate an obligate in the past. So in this
case ‘had to’ is the correct answer.
35. 8. Choose the correct auxiliary.
36. I ______________ reach the airport by 8 o’clock to catch the flight.
37. a) had to
b) am having to
c) has been to
d) have to
View Answer
 38. Answer: d
Explanation: ‘Have’ is used to indicate an obligation. In that case, it is used with the
infinitive form of the verb.
39. 9. What is the correct verb conjugation?
40. ______________ always helped you in your time of need?
41. a) Had I not
b) Have I not
c) Have not I
d) Had not I
View Answer
42. Answer: a
Explanation: ‘Have’ is used to express negative interrogative. In this case, ‘had I not’
is used.
43. 10. What is the correct auxiliary form?
44. ______________ asked you to bring the documents to my desk
today?
45. a) Have I
b) Has I
c) Having I
d) Had I
View Answer
46. Answer: d
Explanation: ‘Had I is a form of the auxiliary ‘have’. It is used to frame simple
interrogatives

Modal Auxiliaries Exercise & Practice with

Explanation
1. He ____ never do such things against his will.

can would

may might

Explanation: Here ‘would’ indicates repeated willingness in the past and preference in the present.

2. I ____ thought about this before I came here.

would shall
 should have could

Explanation: Here ‘should have’ indicates obligation in the past.

3. I know you ____ done better than this.

can might

would could have

Explanation: Here ‘could have’ indicates ability with an option.

4. He ____ gone further away this time.

may could

might have would

Explanation: Here ‘might have’ indicates possibility.

5. It ____ serve us well in the near future.

would have could have

might have might

Explanation: Here ‘might’ suggests possibility.

6. The transaction ____ done before it’s too late.

 must be must

would be should

Explanation: Here ‘must be’ indicates necessity or obligation.

7. You ____ smoke in a public place.

can not should

would not should not

Explanation: Here ‘should not’ indicates probability.

8. They ____ worked as a team to avoid failure.

would have can

should have should

Explanation: Here ‘should have’ indicates probability.

9. She ____ sing for him at night.

could used to

might should

Explanation: Here ‘used to’ indicates repeated willingness in the past.

10. I ____ do things differently from now on.

 must should have

would have could

Explanation: Here ‘must’ indicates obligation or necessity.

11. They ____ change their plans due to bad weather.

might have could have

may should have

Explanation: Here ‘may’ suggests probability.

12. The teacher ____ take any exam today.

would not will not

should not could not

Explanation: Here ‘will not’ indicates the willingness to avoid something.

13. ____ you pass me the pen please?

Should May

Could Might

Explanation: Here ‘could’ indicates ability with an option.

14. Whenever we met, we ____ talk for hours.

 could should

would may

Explanation: Here ’would’ indicates repeated willingness in the past.

15. Things ____ become sour anytime between them.

would can

should would havehave

Explanation: Here ‘can’ indicates ability.

16. I ____ left when I had the chance.

shall have should have

may have might have

Explanation: Here ‘should have’ indicates probability.

17. She ____ avoid the heated arguments to make it work between them.

must shall

might would

Explanation: Here ‘must’ indicates obligation or necessity.

18. Her sister ____ often complain about her unusual behaviors.
 will would

could might

Explanation: Here ’would’ indicates repeated willingness in the past.

19. I ____ loved her with all my heart while I had the chance to do so.

would have could

should have might have

Explanation: Here ‘should have’ indicates probability.

20. She ____ woke me up in the morning with her calls.

might could

should used to

1.I think I _________ have failed the test, but I'm not sure.

1. ought to
2. might
3. shall

'Might' is used for possibility.

2.We have to rush. We __________ miss the last bus home.

1. needn't
2. couldn't
3. mustn't

'Must' is used for obligation.

3.If you had let me know earlier, I __________ have been able to come.

1. would
2. will
3. shall

Correct!
This is a 3rd conditional sentence referring to the past. We use 'would' for this, not 'will'.
'Shall' doesn't fit as it's used for future intentions.

4.You ____________ help me!

1. must to
2. should to
3. have to

This is about obligation. You can't use 'to' with 'must' or 'should'.

5.__________ anybody attend the lecture or is it just for registered students?

1. Will
2. Can
3. Must

6.You _________ have bothered coming. I've done it already.

1. wouldn't
2. mightn't
3. needn't

It's about something that was not necessary.

7.If there is an age restriction then you _________ go in as you are too young.

1. should
2. shouldn't
3. shall not

'Should' is used for advice, and in this case the advice is not to do something. 'Shall' is
used in other ways, such as for suggestions for future intentions.

8.The government _________ vote on the issue tomorrow. It's scheduled for
10am.
 1. will
2. may
3. would

'Will' is used for definite plans in the future.

9. _________ we leave now or do you want to wait?

1. Will
2. Mightn't
3. Shall

Correct!
We can use 'shall' for suggestions.

10.You _________ have worked so hard last week. You look so tired now.

1. must not
2. ought not to
3. can't

'Ought' is for obligation or advice. It's not quite as strong as 'must'. 'Can't' and 'must not'
don't make sense here, as the person is 'tired'.
Modal Exercises with Answers
Complete the following exercises and check the answers to find out if you know them
well.

Exercise 1 – Fill in the blanks with the correct modals

1. I __ arrange the flowers for the bouquet. (may/can)
2. __ I borrow this pen from you? (may/might)
3. The teacher __ ask you to bring the homework. (might/can)
4. According to the weather forecast, it ___ snow heavily tomorrow. (may/shall)
5. Raj hasn’t studied well. He __ fail his exam. (might/shall)
6. You __ follow the traffic rules. (may/must)
7. It __ be difficult to live amidst war. (should/must)
8. My mother __ scold me if I don’t go back on time. (will/may)
9. We ___ take care of our parents. (ought to/ could)
10. I __ visit the local grocery store soon. (shall/can)
11. You ___ be punctual. (should/ought)
12. One __ repay all their debts. (must/ought to)
13. __ you show me the road to the market? (could/might)
14. The child __ be taken to hospital immediately. (must/might)
15. ___ you have hot chocolate? (shall/will)

Answers for Exercise 1

1. Can
2. May
3. Might
4. May
5. Might
6. Must
7. Must
8. Will
9. Ought to
10. Shall
11. Should
12. Ought to
13. Could
14. Must
15. Will

Exercise 2 – Identify the modal verb in the following sentences

 1. My teacher (can/must) speak four languages.
2. (May/should) I use your mobile to call my mother?
3. You (must/could) not speak loudly in the hospital.
4. I (could/must) use a little help in packing all these clothes.
5. Madam (could/may) you repeat what you said?
6. I (can/might) not be able to make it tonight.
7. Sheldon (ought to/must) study more if he wants to pass the test.
8. (Can/May) you come to the prom with me?
9. My parents (shall/ought to) arrive soon.
10. I (could/must) be late as I have a lot on my plate.
11. Leonard (can/may) easily solve the problem.
12. It (might/should) rain tomorrow.
13. (May/might) all your wishes come true in life.
14. I (could/might) not be any happier.

Answers for Exercise 2

1. Can
2. May
3. Must
4. Could
5. Could
6. Might
7. Must
8. Can
9. Shall
10. Could
11. Can
12. Might
13. May
14. Could

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1

What are modals?

Verbs that are generally used before main verbs to express

permission/necessity/certainty/ability etc.
Q2
Are ‘could’ and ‘might’ same as ‘can’ and ‘may’?

The modals ‘could’ and ‘might’ can be considered as the past equivalents/forms of the
modals ‘can’ and ‘may’. It’s also used as a less positive version of ‘can’ and ‘may’

1.
.............she run a lot?
do
does
is
are
2.
30 sec
1 pt
We ......................... our teeth everyday
clean
cleans
do
does
3.
Our school..................small
are
is
do
does
4.
Preview
'Where is Kate?' 'She (watch) TV in the living room.'
watches
doesn't watch
is watching
watch