Modal Verbs in English: Rules, Types, and Examples for Students – Practice Test

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✅ What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) used to express ability, possibility, permission, necessity, obligation, and advice. They modify the main verb in a sentence and do not change form (no -s, -ed, or -ing).

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📝 List of Common Modal Verbs:

• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Will
• Would
• Shall
• Should
• Must
• Ought to
• Need (sometimes modal)
• Dare (sometimes modal)
• Used to (semi-modal)

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🧩 Structure of Modal Verbs:

Subject + Modal Verb + Base Verb + Object

Example:
She can dance well.

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🔍 Types of Modal Verbs with Examples

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1. Ability

• Can (present/future ability)
  She can speak French.
• Could (past ability)
  He could swim when he was five.

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2. Possibility

• May, Might, Could
  It may rain today.
  He might be at home.
  They could arrive early.

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3. Permission

• Can, May, Could (polite)
  Can I leave early today?
  May I use your phone?
  Could I borrow your book?

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4. Request / Offer / Suggestion

• Can, Could, Shall, Will, Would
  Can you help me?
  Could you close the door?
  Shall we go for a walk?
  Would you like some coffee?

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5. Advice / Recommendation

• Should, Ought to, Had better
  You should drink more water.
  He ought to apologize.
  You had better leave now.

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6. Obligation / Necessity

• Must, Have to, Need to
  You must wear a seatbelt.
  I have to finish this work.
  You need to be careful.

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7. Prohibition

• Must not (mustn’t), Cannot (can’t)
  You must not smoke here.
  You can’t park here.

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8. Deduction / Certainty

• Must, Can’t, Could (past/future probability)
  He must be the manager (I’m sure).
  She can’t be serious.
  They could be working late.

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9. Habit in the Past

• Used to
  I used to play football every weekend.

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10. Semi-modals

• Need, Dare, Used to (used like modals in some cases)
  You needn’t worry.
  He dare not speak.

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📌 Rules and Notes

• No ‘s’ for third person singular:
  He can swim. (NOT “cans”)
• Always followed by base verb (V1):
  She should go now.
• No tense changes directly on modals:
  Use substitutes for past (e.g., “had to” for “must”).

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📚 Practice Sentences

1. I can ride a bike.
2. You should take an umbrella.
3. He may join us later.
4. We must complete this by Monday.
5. They could have won the game.
6. Would you like some tea?
7. She used to live in Delhi.

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🧠 Tip for Students

To master modal verbs:

• Practice using them in real-life examples.
• Try forming questions and negatives.
• Use them in different tenses with modal substitutes.

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🔍 Advanced Modal Verb Exercises – Questions Only

1. He ________ have forgotten the meeting. He never misses important dates.
2. You ________ have seen John at the mall yesterday; he was out of town.
3. She ________ have told him the truth earlier. Now it’s too late.
4. ________ we consider a different approach to the problem?
5. You ________ have taken your umbrella. Now you’re soaking wet.
6. They ________ be at home already, considering how late it is.
7. I ________ call her, but I’m not sure if she’s awake.
8. You ________ be joking! That can’t possibly be true.
9. He ________ have been more careful while handling the antique vase.
10. We ________ not interfere unless absolutely necessary.

Answers

1. must
2. can’t
3. should
4. Shall / Could
5. should
6. must
7. might
8. must
9. could
10. should

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