Modal Auxiliary Verbs Exercise For Class 9 CBSE
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. Anybody can join the club. (Use can to talk about ability.)
2. We will never tolerate such behavior.
3. If you had started earlier, you would not have missed the bus.
4. She started dieting so that she might lose weight.
5. If she left office at 5, she should / must be home by now.
6. She must have a problem – she is crying.
7. ‘There is the doorbell.’ ‘It must be the postman.’
8. ‘Somebody called while you were out.’ ‘It must have been Jerry.’
9. You must submit your application before Friday.
10. You must be here before 8 o’clock tomorrow. (Must shows strong obligation.)
11. I could have married her if I wanted to.
12. You must not lie.
13. ‘Where is Rahul?’ ‘He may have gone to the library.’ (May shows possibility.)
14. There is the doorbell. Who can it be? (In questions, we can use can to talk about logical possibility.)
15. Can you help me lift this box?
16. Would you like some more coffee? (Use would in polite offers.)
17. Could I talk to the manager? (Could is more polite than can in these contexts.)
18. You shouldn’t have gone swimming in that river. You could have killed yourself.
19. When she was younger, she would spend hours in front of the mirror. (Use would to talk about past habits.)
20. Students must not use staff car park. (Must not shows prohibition.)
