Modals English grammar Practice excercise JKSSB Exam SSC Exam
Modals
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to express: ability, possibility, permission or obligation. Modal phrases are used to express the same things as modals, but are a combination of auxiliary verbs and the preposition to. The modals and semi-modals in English are:
Can/could/be able to
May/might
Shall/should
Must/have to
Will/would
Should is used for
1.Duty / obligation
a)You should stand with your family in tough time
b)Promises should be kept.
1.Future in the past
a)I told him that I should go there.
Should + have (This form is used to express obligation in the past)
It may imply the non-performance of the action.
a)You should have done this.
b)He should have left the message.
c)You should have helped him.
May or might these modal verb are used to express
1.Possibility (may high possibility)
a)It may /might rain today
b)He may / might go Jammu tomorrow.
c)Salman said that he might go there.
2. Permission
May I come in?
3. Wish or Prayer
May God bless you
4. Might is used for “remote possibility”
a)It might rain.
b)He might come today.
5. Purpose
a)She works hard so that she may pass.
b)She came so that she might see me.
Can and Could (Able to) are used to express
1.Ability ( present, past and future)
a)He can play cricket well. (is able to)
b)Salman could play cricket. (was able to)
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2. Polite Request
a)Could you please help me?
3. Permission/ order
a)Yes, you can go now.
b)You can take my book.
4. Prohibition / offer
a)You cannot enter the principal office.
b)Can I help you?
c)Can I get some mangoes?
5. Could + have this form is used for past ability while indicating that the action did not take place,
a)I could have prepared for exam
b)The police could have arrested him
Must is used to express
1.Necessity or obligation
a)You must follow traffic rules.
b)I must leave now.
c)A soldier must fight for his country.
2. Strong Possibility
a)It is raining. The teacher must be late for class.
b)He must be working hard for exam.
3. Deduction / inference
a)He has such a big car and a house. He must be rich.
b)She is a voracious reader. She must have good command on English.
4. Must + have (this situation is used for a past action or situation indicating non performance of action)
a)You must have followed traffic rules.
b)You must have done this.
1.She expects that her daughter ……..
a)Can return
b)May return
c)Should return
d)Could return
2. If we request her she …….. To market.
a)Must give a lift
b)Might give a lift
c)Can give a lift
d)Could give a lift
3. The son asked his mother if he ….
a)Can go out
b)May go out
c)Might go out
d)Must go out
4. He went there so that he …… borrow money
a)May
b)Can
c)Might
d)should
5. We enjoyed the movie, you …… there.
a)Should have been
b)Can be
c)Should be
d)May have been
MODALS
1. Possibility
2. Necessity
3. Capability
4. Suggestion
5. Certainty
6. Doubt
7. Prayer
8. Wish
9. Habit
10. Intention
11. Promise
12. Urgency
13. Strong recommendation
14. Request
15. Authority
16. Permission
17. Order
18. Non-fulfilment
19. Threat
20. Determination
21. Willingness
22. Blessing
23. Curse
24. Offer
25. Requirement
26. Forced action
6. I told him that I ……. Leave next day.
a)Should
b)Should have
c)Could
d)may
7. Make haste lest you ….. Late.
a)Should get
b)Ought to have
c)Should have
d)Could have
8. I am sure the principal …… in his room.
a)Should be
b)Can be
c)Must be
d)Could be
9. You ….. Stood by your sister, when she was in difficulties.
a)Ought to
b)Ought to have
c)Should have
d)Could have
10. She told me that she ……… english fluently and was very happy.
a)Could speak
b)Could have spoken
c)Can speak
d)Must speak
11. My friend did not help me though he ……… helped.
a)Could
b)Could have
c)Should
d)Can have
12. He …… go to college daily by bus in his college days.
a)Should
b)Would
c)Will
d)could
13. She ----------- at home instead of going to the party last night.
1.must stayed
2.ought to have stayed
3.could have stayed
4.would have stay
Q:13 (2) In the corrected sentence, “ought to have” indicates that staying at home would have been the best course of action,
14. The concert _________ have been cancelled due to the bad weather, but the organizers are trying to reschedule it for next week.
1.may
2.could
3.must
4.would
Q:14 (1) In this sentence, the use of “may” indicates that there is a possibility that the concert was cancelled due to bad weather.
Q:15 They ------- arrived by now.
1.ought to has
2.ought to
3.ought have
4.ought to have
Q:15 (4) The modal Verbs “ought to” is always followed by the base form of the main Verbs “have arrived”, which should be in the past participle form. In this case, “has arrived” is incorrect because it uses the present tense of the Verbs “arrive.”
Q16: You -------- check your work before submitting it, it’s very important.
1.ought to always
2.front to always
3.must always
4.should to always
Q16: (1) “Should” is used to express an obligation or duty while “ought to” is used to express a strong recommendation or advice.
Q17: We ____________ start preparing for the exam as soon as possible.
1.can
2.must
3.may
4.ought to
Q17: (4) “Ought to” is a modal Verbs used to express obligation or duty. In this sentence, the speaker is suggesting that it is a duty or obligation for the subject and the speaker to start preparing for the exam as soon as possible.
Q18: She __________ apologize for her rude behaviour towards her colleague.
1.can
2.ought to
3.may
4.must
Q18: (2) “Ought to” is a modal Verbs used to express obligation or duty. In this sentence, the speaker is suggesting that it is an obligation or duty for the subject to apologize for her rude behaviour towards her colleague.
Q19: You __________ take a break and relax after working for so many hours.
1.can
2.must
3.may
4.ought to
Q19: (4) “Ought to” is a modal Verbs used to express obligation or duty. In this sentence, the speaker is suggesting that it is a duty or obligation for the listener to take a break and relax after working for so many hours.