Modal auxiliary verbs are words like can, could, may, might, will, would, shall and should. They express ideas such as certainty, probability, obligation, ability etc. We use modals to ask for and give permission. We also use them to make an offer, request or threat.

Examples are given below.

• He can speak six languages. (Here the modal auxiliary can expresses his ability to speak six languages.)
• She might arrive in the afternoon. (Here the modal auxiliary might expresses the weak probability of her arrival in the afternoon.)

After modal auxiliaries, we use the infinitive without to.

• I will go. (NOT I will to go.)
• You should resign. (NOT You should to resign.)

Ought is an exception to this rule. It is followed by an infinitive with to.

• You ought to pay for your drinks.

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb. This modals worksheet is helpful for students of classes 9 and 10.

Modals worksheet for class 9

1. Anybody ……………………….. join the club. (can / shall / will)

2. We ……………………… never tolerate such behavior. (will / may / would)

3. If you had started earlier, you ………………………….. not have missed the bus. (would / will / may)

4. She started dieting so that she ………………………….. lose weight. (might / may / will)

5. If she left office at 5, she ……………………………. be home by now. (would / should / must)

6. She ……………………….. have a problem – she is crying. (must / will / would)

7. ‘There is the doorbell.’ ‘It ………………………… be the postman.’ (must / shall / would)

8. ‘Somebody called while you were out.’ ‘It ………………………. have been Jerry.’ (must / should / would)

9. You …………………………. submit your application before Friday. (will / would / must)

10. You ……………………….. be here before 8 o’clock tomorrow. (must / will / could)

11. I ………………………… have married her if I wanted to. (will / can / could)

12. You ………………………. not lie. (must / will / shall)

13. ‘Where is Rahul?’ ‘He ………………………… have gone to the library.’ (may / can)

14. There is the doorbell. Who ………………………… it be? (shall / can / may)

15. ………………………….. you help me lift this box? (May / Can / Will)

16. …………………………… you like some more coffee? (Would / Could / Should)

17. ………………………… I talk to the manager? (Could / Would / Will)

18. You …………………………. (shouldn’t /wouldn’t / couldn’t) have gone swimming in that river. You ……………………………. (can / could / should) have killed yourself.

19. When she was younger, she …………………………… (will / would / should) spend hours in front of the mirror.

20. Students ……………………………… not use staff car park. (must / will / might)

Answers

1. can, 2. will, 3. would, 4. might, 5. should/must, 6. must, 7. must, 8. must, 9. must, 10. must, 11. could, 12. must, 13. may (May shows possibility.), 14. can (In questions, we can use can to talk about logical possibility.), 15. can, 16. would (Use would in polite offers.), 17. could (Could is more polite than can in these contexts.), 18. shouldn’t, could, 19. would (Use would to talk about past habits.), 20. must (Must not shows prohibition.)

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.

1. She ……………………. arrive anytime now. (can / may / shall)

2. We ………………………. permit any further delay. (cannot / might not / may not)

3. He ……………………….. smoke a lot but now he has stopped. (used to / might / was used to)

4. If A is smaller than B and B is smaller than C, then A ……………………… be smaller than C. (must / can / may)

5. They ……………………… be in trouble. They look anxious. (should / must / can)

6. There is the doorbell. It ……………………….. be the postman. (can / must / would)

7. Where ……………………….. they have gone? (can / may / must)

8. All students …………………………. be in the class before 9 am. (must / can / would)

9. I thought that you ……………………….. come. (will / would / can)

10. You ……………………….. not have argued with her. It really upset her.

11. You ……………………….. not leave the door open at all times. (would / must / may)

12. If you had listened to me, you ………………………. not have landed in this mess. (will / would / may)

Answers

1. may, 2. cannot, 3. used to, 4. must, 5. must, 6. must, 7. must, 8. must, 9. would, 10. must, 11. must, 12. would

Worksheet 3

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal auxiliary verb.

1. She ………………………. speak Spanish. (ability)

2. ………………….. I borrow your car? (Permission)

3. …………………… you come with me? (request)

4. We ……………………… watch a movie in the afternoon. (suggestion)

5. We …………………….. talk to the manager. (recommended action)

6. There was a time when I …………………… walk for miles on end. (past ability)

7. You ……………………….. have told him. (obligation)

8. ……………………. I open the windows? (permission)

9. We ……………………… buy a new car next month. (future possibility)

10. We ……………………… get the first prize. (prediction)

11. I …………………….. look after your dog when you are away. (willingness)

12. It is raining so we …………………… cancel the picnic. (intention)

13. ……………………… you like some more rice? (Polite offer)

14. He ……………………… spend hours playing video games. (past habit)

15. ……………………… I help you? (Offer)

16. You ……………………… listen to your parents and teachers. (advice / recommendation)

17. You ……………………….. not break the law. (obligation)

18. You ………………………. lose weight. (necessity)

Answers

1. can, 2. can, 3. can, 4. could, 5. should, 6. could, 7. should, 8. can, 9. might, 10. will, 11. will, 12. will, 13. would, 14. would, 15. shall, 16. must/should, 17. should, 18. should/must