Modals MCQ For Classes 9 And 10
This modals MCQ is for classes 8, 9 and 10. Before we go to the worksheet, let’s learn the lesson.
What are modal auxiliary verbs?
The words will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must, ought, need and dare are called modal auxiliaries. They are used with other verbs to express ideas such as ability, possibility, obligation, willingness, determination etc.
- She can speak six languages.
- They may arrive soon.
- I will go now.
- She should behave.
- They would be late.
- You must break that habit.
After modal auxiliaries we use the infinitive without to.
- She should go now. (NOT She should to go now.) (NOT She should going now.)
Questions and negatives are made without do.
- Should she go now? (NOT Does she should go now?)
- He will not come. (NOT He does not will come.)
Ought is an exception to this rule. It is followed by an infinitive with to.
- You ought to pay for that call.
The modal auxiliaries dare and need can also be used as main/ordinary verbs. In this case, they are followed by an infinitive with to. Also, questions and negatives are made with do.
- He dare not speak. (Here dare is used as a modal auxiliary verb. Hence, it is followed by an infinitive without to. Also, it does not take the marker -s although the subject is the first person singular pronoun he.)
Compare
- He does not dare to speak.
- He did not dare to speak.
In the two sentences given above, dare is an ordinary verb. Hence, it followed by an infinitive with to. Also, in the simple present tense dare becomes dares when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun. In the simple past tense it becomes dared. Questions and negatives are made with do, does and did.
Need is also used in the same way.
- You need wait for me. (Here need is a modal auxiliary.)
- He need not wait for me. (Modal auxiliary)
- You need to wait for me. (Here need is an ordinary verb.)
- He does not need to wait for me. (Here need is an ordinary verb.)
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.
Exercise 1
1. It is dangerous to drive in the rain. You …………………………. be very careful. (could / would / should / might)
2. If you had run faster, you …………………………………….. have won. (will / could / can / may)
3. You ……………………………… not smoke here. (must / should / could / would)
4. We ………………………….. definitely look into the matter. (will / would / can / could)
5. …………………………….. you solve this puzzle? (Can / Will / Shall / Should)
6. It is important that the meeting …………………………….. start on time. (shall / should / would / will)
7. You …………………………….. have waited for him. (cannot / need not / shall not / will not)
8. ………………………………. I turn the heating on? (Would / Should / Will / None of these)
9. You ………………………….. have been more careful. (should / would / will / can)
10. ……………………………. I borrow your computer? (Can / Will / Would / Must)
11. ……………………………. you pass me the salt? (Can / Will / Shall / May)
12. ………………………….. I come in, teacher? (May / Shall / Will / Would)
13. You ………………………………. work harder if you want to qualify. (will / should / shall / could)
14. ………………………………. you wait a little longer? (Would / Could / Should / Might)
15. …………………………… I have your phone number? (Can / Could / Will / Shall)
16. I ………………………….. get the first prize. (would / should / might / may)
17. …………………………… you mind waiting for a few minutes? (Will / Would / Should / May)
18. You …………………………. never violate the rules. (must / would / will / could)
19. If she left home at six, she …………………………… be here soon. (could / shall / should / will)
20. She ……………………………. talk to herself for hours. (should / would / shall / may)
Answers
1. should, 2. could, 3. must (Must not shows prohibition.), 4. will (Will shows promise or resolve.), 5. can, 6. should, 7. need (Need not shows lack of obligation.), 8. Should, 9. should, 10. can, 11. can, 12. may, 13. should, 14. could (We use could in polite requests.), 15. can, 16. may/might (May and might express possibility; might expresses weak possibility.), 17. would, 18. must (Must indicates strong obligation.), 19. should (We use should to talk about logical possibility.), 20. would (We use would to talk about past habits.)
