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Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Class 11 Compulsory English Class 12 Compulsory English English Grammar , , ,

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary (helping) verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, ability, obligation, or advice. They are followed by the base form of the main verb (e.g., can go, should study).

Must remember
– we use verb 1 after all modal auxiliary

verbs

For modal auxiliaries

Is/am/are

Be

V1/5

V1

Has/ have

Have

V2

Have + v3

Was/ were

Have been

#Note: Remember that ‘Be’ and ‘Have’ are base forms (V1) of verbs

#Note: Remember that when we use have + v3 with modal verbs we are discussing the past

Modal verbs with their functions:

  1. can – ability, permission, possibility
  2. could – past ability, polite request, possibility
  3. may – formal permission, possibility
  4. might – weaker possibility
  5. shall – suggestions, future (formal)
  6. should – advice, expectation
  7. will – future, promise, volunteering, decision
  8. would – polite request, hypothetical
  9. must – strong obligation, deduction (sure guess)
  10. ought to – moral obligation, advice
  11. need to – necessity
  12. have to – external obligation
  13. be going to – future intention
  14. used to – past habit
  15. dare – challenge or courage
  16. had better – strong advice/ warning

If we go function wise:

  1. permission – can, could, may, might
  2. ability – can, could
  3. possibility – may, might, could, can
  4. advice – should, ought to, had better
  5. obligation – must, have to, need to
  6. future – will, shall, be going to
  7. hypothesis – would, could, might

Other Forms of Modal Auxiliaries with ‘Have’

  1. should have + v3
    – expresses regret, criticism, or advice about past action
  2. could have + v3
    – indicated past possibility or ability that wasn’t used
  3. would have + v3
    – talk about hypothetical past or imaginary situation. (specially used in conditional sentences)
  4. may/ might have + v3
    – expresses possibility or uncertainty in the past
  5. must have + v3
    – expresses a strong logical conclusion about past (that you think was surely happened)
  6. can’t have/ couldn’t have + v3
    – expresses impossibility in the past
  7. modal + have been + ing (present perfect progressive form)
    – to describe a past ongoing action. (used to speculate or explain)
    – She might have been waiting for hours.
    – They could have been studying all night.

A. Study the given sentences carefully.

  1. Please read this letter for me. I can’t see without my glasses
  2. After working for a couple of years in China. I can speak Chinese now.
  3. When he was 40, he could earn six digit salary.
  4. After six hours’ climbing. We were able to reach the summit.
  5. Yesterday, I lost my keys. I looked for them everywhere but I couldn’t

B. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

  1. ‘How much was your parking ticket?’ Fifty rupees. ‘Oh well, it ___________ been worse.’
    i. could have        ii. must have        iii. should have
  2. It ___________ got lost in the post. These things happen sometimes.
    i. can’t have        ii might have       iii. must have
  3. ‘Sorry I’m late. I got delayed at work.’ ‘You __________ called. I was really worried about you.’
    i. must have       ii. could have       iii. would have
  4. ‘I don’t think he meant to be rude.’ ‘He _______ said sorry.’
    i. must have       ii. might have       iii. would have
  5. ‘Whose signature is this?’ ‘I don’t know. It _______ be Manoj’s. that looks a bit like an M.’
    i. must       ii. could       iii. should
  6. I had it when I left the office so I _________ lost it on the way to home.
    i. mustn’t have       ii. must have       iii. should have
  7. You _______ think it’s funny, but I think it’s pathetic.
    i. might       ii. should       iii. could
  8. I lost my umbrella and knew it when I reached home. I ______ left it in the café. (mustn’t have / must have / should have)
  9. You ________ remembered to email the documents. (mustn’t have / must have / should have)
  10. You _______ be hungry after such a long trip. (can / must / may / should)
  11. You ________ taken a break earlier. You are late for the movie now. (mustn’t have / must have / should have)
  12. You ________ drink water in class but you must not in the lobby.(can / must / may / should)
  13. You _______ have locked the door; its wide open! (must/might/can’t/should)
  14. You ______ finish your homework before watching TV. (must / can / would)
  15. ______ I borrow your pen for a moment? (Shall / Could / Must)
  16. He ______ speak French fluently when he was a child. (can / could / may)
  17. You ______ smoke in here; it’s a non-smoking area. (should / must not / might)
  18. We ______ go hiking if the weather stays nice. (shall / would / might)
  19. They ______ have taken the wrong train, they aren’t here yet. (could / must / might)
  20. You ______ be more careful when handling chemicals. (should / may / can)
  21. If you had left earlier, you ______ have caught the bus. (can / would / should)
  22. I ______ rather stay home tonight than go to the party. (should / would / must)
  23. ______ you please explain the last step again? (Shall / Would / Might)
  24. He ______ be at home; I saw his car outside. (will / must / could)
  25. Children ______ be taught how to be kind and respectful. (might / should / shall)
  26. She ______ not have known about the meeting. (must / should / could)
  27. You ______ worry; everything is going to be fine. (needn’t / mustn’t / may not)
  28. ______ we meet again tomorrow to finish the project? (Will / Shall / Must)
  29. Had she known the truth, she ______ have reacted differently. (might / shall / must)
  30. He ______ have taken your bag by mistake; they look exactly the same. (could / would / must)
  31. You ______ to have informed the manager about your absence. (ought / might / used)
  32. We ______ not disturb the wildlife while exploring the forest. (should / must / would)
  33. If she practised more, she ______ become a professional pianist. (should / can / could)

C. Complete the following sentences with appropriate endings. Use correct modal verbs.
Example: She could be a doctor; however,________________ .
– She could be a doctor; however, she preferred to be an advocate.

    1. At the end of the course, _______________________.
    2. If you want to earn a lot of money, ________________.
    3. You were not in your house yesterday. You __________
    4. I’m quite busy tomorrow. I _______________________.
    5. When you were a small kid _______________________.
    6. My car is broken. I _______________________.
    7. I’ve got a fast speed internet at home. I_________________.
    8. Even though she didn’t study well, she_________________.
    9. There are plenty of newspapers in the library. You __________________ if you want.
    10. What do you think you were doing, playing in the road? You _________________________.
    11. I have no time. I _________________________.
    12. You don’t look well. You _______________________.
    13. You look exhausted. You _______________________.
    14. If they had followed the instructions, they _______________________.
    15. It’s raining heavily. You _______________________ without an umbrella.
    16. I lost my keys. They _______________________ in the classroom.
    17. When I was your age, I _______________________ for hours without getting tired.
    18. We are running late. We _______________________ a taxi.
    19. She’s very talented. She _______________________ a great artist one day.
    20. I think you misunderstood him. He _______________________ it that way.
    21. The lights are still on. Someone _______________________ inside.
    22. That’s a restricted area. You _______________________ there.
    23. The exam is next week. We _______________________ revising now.
    24. If I had more time, I _______________________ you with the project.
    25. You haven’t eaten anything all day. You _______________________.
    26. If they arrive early, we _______________________ the museum before it closes.
    27. He looks familiar. He _______________________ our senior in college.
    28. This secret is important. You _______________________ tell anyone.
    29. I missed the bus. I _______________________ left a bit earlier.
    30. There was a loud crash outside. Something _______________________.
    31. She’s only five years old, but she _______________________ already read fluently.
    32. They didn’t bring jackets. It _______________________ cold tonight.
    33. You failed the test. You _______________________ harder next time.
    34. I don’t know how to fix this. We _______________________ ask for help.
    35. That was reckless. You _______________________ have been hurt!
    36. We’re not sure of the answer. We _______________________ double-check it.
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