Modal verbs exercises explained in English Lesson 45

This English lesson contains modal verbs exercises and explanations 

Let’s see when and how to use modal verbs!

Modal Verbs are used to express many things.

may, might, can, could, must, ought to, shall, will, would, should

Functions of modal verbs:

1/ ability: can / could

2/ Permission: can, could, may

3/ Advice: should, ought to

4/ Prohibition, Obligation: must, have to, mustn’t

5/ Possibility: might, may, could, can

6/ Lack if necessity: needn’t

modal verbs exercises with examples
modal verbs exercises

1/ English Sentence Practice .modal verbs exercises

I could sleep for a week, I couldn’t sleep at all last night and now I’m dog tired.

Could I ask you to put the dog in the kitchen? No, you couldn’t, you can do it yourself self.

I would do it but I wouldn’t have the time to finish tidying up.

You should do it in the morning, you shouldn’t disturb me when you come up the stairs.

I must finish it tonight. you mustn’t worry about me disturbing you.

You might take your shoes off then you might not make so much noise.

May I get you another cup of cocoa? It might help you to relax. I shan’t need it.

Did you see the flowers your sister brought us? She shouldn’t have bothered.

She could have bought something less expensive. Roses are really beautiful.

She ought to buy daffodils next time they are in season all the time. I think they must grow them in greenhouses.

They mustn’t be that difficult to grow.

I would get to bed if I were you, sleep cures everything. I shouldn’t be too long.

I wouldn’t worry too much If I was you. You may not have anything at all.

See you shortly.

English Vocabulary

2/Vocabulary Practice

  • Modal verbs
  • I could sleep
  • I couldn’t
  • I’m dog tired.
  • Could I ask you?
  • No, you couldn’t
  • I would do it
  • but I wouldn’t have the time to finish.
  • to tidy up.
  • You should do it
  • You shouldn’t disturb me
  • to come up the stairs.
  • I must finish it
  • you mustn’t worry
  • to take your shoes off
  • you might not make
  • so much noise.
  • May I get you
  • another cup of cocoa
  • It might help you
  • to relax.
  • I shan’t need it.
  • She shouldn’t have bothered.
  • She could have bought
  • She ought to buy daffodils
  • next time
  • they are in season
  • all the time
  • to grow them in greenhouses.
  • They mustn’t be that difficult to grow.
  • I would get to bed if I were you
  • to cure everything
  • I shouldn’t be too long.
  • I wouldn’t worry too much
  • You may not have anything at all.

English Grammar modal verbs exercises.

English Modal Verb Exercises

All Modals

Let’s see when and how to use modal verbs!

Modal Verbs are used to express many things.

may, might, can, could, must, ought to, shall, will, would, should

Functions of modal verbs:

1/ ability: can / could

2/ Permission: can, could, may

3/ Advice: should, ought to

4/ Prohibition, Obligation: must, have to, mustn’t

5/ Possibility: might, may, could, can

6/ Lack if necessity: needn’t

7/ Request: can, could, will

8/ Logical assumption: must, can’t

9/ Offer: shall, would

10/ Suggestion: can, could, shall

WOULD is used to express:

1/ offers

Would you like a cup of tea?

2/ preference

I would like to eat out tonight.

SHALL is used to express:

1/ offers

Shall I close the window?

2/ suggestions

Let’s go, shall we?

SHOULD is used to express:

advice

You should avoid driving into town at this time of day.

COULD

COULD expresses:

1/ permission

You could leave now.

2/ request

Could you lend me your phone?

3/ suggestion

We could go to the cinema tomorrow.

4/ ability in the past

I could run much faster when I was younger.

CAN

“can” is a very useful verb. It is a modal verb which means that it is used to denote the mood of a verb, giving it more nuance, more subtle meaning(s).

“Can” can be used to express:

    1. general ability: I can speak English and Spanish.
    1. a request: Can you pass me the salt?
    1. an offer: Can I help you?
    1. possibility: I can come to your party. or impossibility: It can’t be Fred’s car. His car is red.
    1. permission: You can use my pen (you are allowed to use my pen).
  1. prohibition: You can’t do that! (you are not allowed to do that)

“can” has two negative forms:

    • cannot
  • can’t

“CAN” in the present simple

I can

you can

he / she / it can

we can

you can

they can

Examples:

Affirmative > Negative > Question

I can speak English and Spanish > I can’t speak Portuguese and Chinese > Can you speak several languages?

You can drive my car. > You can’t drive my car. > Can I drive your car?

I can come to your party. > I can’t come to your party. > Can you come to my party?

MAY and MIGHT

MAY

“may” is a very useful verb. It is a modal verb which means that it is used to denote the mood of a verb, giving it more nuance, more subtle meaning(s).

“May” can be used to express:

    1. a request or permission: May you pass me the salt?  You may eat in here (you are allowed to do that)
    1. possibility: It may rain tomorrow. He may be right.
    1. prohibition: You may not eat in here (you are not allowed to do that). You may not repeat this to him.
  1. a wish: May the Force be with you! (Star Wars quotation) / May the New Year bring you happiness!

“may” has two forms. It does not have a short form:

    • may
  • may not

“may” is very similar to another modal verb, “might”. They can normally be interchanged as there is no significant difference in meaning between the two.

“might” simply implies a smaller chance of something happening (when expressing possibility) than “may”:

It may snow. (high chance)

It might snow. (lower chance)

Examples:

Affirmative > Negative > Question

  1. Requests or Permission

May I sit here?

May I ask you a personal question?

  1. Possibility

I may leave tomorrow.

I may not leave until Tuesday.

  1. Prohibition

You may not leave that there.

You may not leave early.

  1. A Wish

May you have a safe trip!

May this year bring you happiness!

WILL

The modal verb “will” enables us to create the future simple tense:

subject + will + verb + object.

I will leave tomorrow morning.

I will learn English this year.

Forms:

I will learn

I’ll learn

I will not learn

I won’t learn

Will I learn?

Will I not learn?

Won’t I learn?

You will learn

You’ll learn

You will not learn

You won’t learn

Will you learn?

Will you not learn?

Won’t you learn?

He will learn

He’ll learn

He will not learn

He won’t learn

Will he learn?

Will he not learn?

Won’t he learn?

She will learn

She’ll learn

She will not learn

She won’t learn

Will she learn?

Will she not learn?

Won’t she learn?

It will learn

It’ll learn

It will not learn

It won’t learn

Will it learn?

Will it not learn?

Won’t it learn?

We will learn

We’ll learn

We will not learn

We won’t learn

Will we learn?

Will we not learn?

Won’t we learn?

You will learn

You’ll learn

You will not learn

You won’t learn

Will you learn?

Will you not learn?

Won’t you learn?

They will learn

They’ll learn

They will not learn

They won’t learn

Will they learn?

Will they not learn?

Won’t they learn?

He will not – he won’t – he’ll not

She will not – she won’t – she’ll not

It will not – it won’t – it’ll not

We will not – we won’t – we’ll not

You will not – you won’t – you’ll not

They will not – they won’t – they’ll not

The modal verb “will” is also used to express:

    • a request: Will you help me with this? / Won’t you lend me the car?
    • an offer: I will drive you home. / We will help you with the move.
    • a refusal: I will not let you down. We won’t accept these terms.
  • a conditional: If it snows, I will cancel the trip. I won’t arrive on time if there is traffic.

English Speaking Practise

Questions and Answers

Did you know modal verbs were of German origin?

No, I did not know that about modal verbs.

How do you know they were?

Because I studied German.

Do they have the same words?

Almost, they sound the same but they are spelt differently.

Can you give me some examples?

Yes, can, will, must for example.

Must you make such a noise?

I can if I want to.

Could you try not to?

I suppose I could, if you asked me nicely.

Will you come tonight?

Sorry, I won’t be able to.

May I ask you a question?

You may but be quick, I am about to go out.

Do you think you ought to be more careful?

I suppose I ought to but it’s not easy.

Couldn’t we go out tonight?

We could but it is already late.

English Pronunciation

YY
and welcome. Today let’s look at a long vowel sound “ir” Let’s get ready to pronounce, your lips are relaxed, yourtongue is flat down , your jaws are a part, your lips form a slight tunnelshape. Let’s practice “ir”: birthday, fur, learning, word, circle, journey, teacher.Let’s repeat: birthday, fur, learning, word, circle, journey, teacher. Now test time.How would you pronounce these words?but, early, weren’t That’s it for today, see you soon.

Lesson 45 recap with Julia.

Modal verbs exercises Lesson 45

Comprehension Practice

Vocabulary Practice

Grammar Practice

El Camino College Compton Center

modal verbs exercises

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*