2 May 2025

2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR

9TH GRADE WEEKEND WORKSHEET

MODAL VERBS: EXPLANATIONS & EXAMPLES

1. Ability

Definition: Shows someone’s skill, talent, or capacity to do something.

Present/Future:

● can → I can speak three languages.

Past:

● could → She could run fast when she was a child.

● was/were able to (used for specific achievements) → He was able to win the race
despite the injury.

Use “was/were able to” instead of “could” when referring to one-time past
successes.

2. Permission & Prohibition

Definition: Asking for, giving, or denying permission.

Asking:

● can, could, may, might (from informal to formal)

Could I use your laptop for a moment?

Giving:

● can, may → You may leave now.

Denying:
 ● can’t, mustn’t
You mustn’t enter without a pass.

“Mustn’t” is stronger and often refers to rules/laws. “Can’t” can also express
impossibility.

3. Obligation & Necessity

Definition: Expresses duty, requirement, or need.

Present:

● must, have to, need to

You must submit your application today.
I have to attend the meeting.

Past:

● had to
We had to take a taxi because it was raining.

Continuous:

● must be doing → He must be working late.

Perfect:

● must have done → She must have forgotten the date.

Perfect Continuous:

● must have been doing → He must have been thinking about it for a long time.

4. Lack of Obligation

Definition: Tells us that something is not required.

Present:

● don’t have to, needn’t

You don’t have to bring food.
You needn’t worry – everything’s fine.

Past:

● didn’t have to, needn’t have + past participle

You didn’t have to come so early.
You needn’t have bought a gift.

5. Advice & Suggestions

Present/Future:

● should, ought to, had better

You should take a break.
You ought to be more careful.

Past:

● should have + past participle

You should have called me.

6. Possibility & Probability

Present/Future:

● may, might, could

He might call later.

Present Continuous:

● might be doing, may be doing

They may be studying right now.
Past:

● might have done, may have gone

She might have gone home already.

Perfect Continuous:

● might have been doing

They might have been waiting for hours.

7. Deduction (Logical Conclusion)

Strong Belief - Present:

● must → She must be tired.

● can’t → That can’t be true!

Past:

● must have + past participle → He must have left early.

● can’t have + past participle → She can’t have stolen it.

Continuous:

● must be doing → He must be sleeping.

Perfect Continuous:

● must have been doing → She must have been crying.

8. Requests, Offers, Invitations

● Can/Could/Would you…? → Could you help me with this?

 ● Shall I…? / Would you like…? → Shall I open the window?

9. Past Habits

● would (repeated actions only)

When I was a kid, I would ride my bike every day.

● used to (actions + states)

I used to live near the coast.

PART 2: PRACTICE
A. Complete the sentences with a suitable modal verb in the correct tense
and form.

Give yourself space to think and write clearly.

1. He _______________________________ (work) right now. His light is still on.

2. You _______________________________ (tell) me you were sick! I would’ve helped.

3. They _______________________________ (not bring) any food. We had plenty.

4. She _______________________________ (drive) at 15. That’s not allowed!

5. I _______________________________ (stay) up so late. I’m exhausted.

6. You _______________________________ (be) at the meeting. I saw you.

7. He _______________________________ (study) for hours – look at all the books.

8. We _______________________________ (play) outside until dinner when we were

kids.

9. _______________________________ I (use) your phone quickly? Mine’s dead.

 10. You _______________________________ (forget) your keys again. Check your bag!

B. Rewrite the following sentences using modal verbs and appropriate

forms:

1. I’m sure she’s sleeping.

→ She ___________________________________________________________.

2. Maybe they were waiting for us.

→ They ___________________________________________________________.

3. I regret not calling her.

→ I ___________________________________________________________.

4. I don’t believe he was telling the truth.

→ He ___________________________________________________________.

5. It wasn’t necessary for you to cook.

→ You ___________________________________________________________.

C. Fill the blanks with the correct modal verb from the list:

(might / should / must / can’t / could / needn’t / would / have to)

1. You ____________________ be joking! That can’t be true.

2. She ____________________ have left already. The light is off.

3. We ____________________ go shopping later if you want.

4. You ____________________ bring a jacket – it's not cold.

5. He ____________________ be at work. It’s 10 a.m.

6. You ____________________ told me you were coming! I’d have cooked something.

7. When I was young, I ____________________ walk to school every day.

8. We ____________________ finish this by Friday. It's the deadline.

D. WRITING: Write a paragraph about our duties and responsibilities as
individuals regarding habitat and species conservation and ecological
awareness. Include modals of ability, permission and prohibition,
obligation and necessity, lack of obligation, advice and suggestions,
possibility and probability, and deduction.

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