Modals in English Grammar for jkssb exam

byhomeacademy •يوليو 06, 2025

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Modals in English Grammar – Notes for Exams

🔹 What are Modals?

Modals are auxiliary (helping) verbs used to express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, necessity, probability, etc.

🔹 Common Modal Verbs:

Can / Could
May / Might
Shall / Should
Will / Would
Must
Ought to
Need / Need not
Dare / Dare not
Used to

🔹 Types and Use of Modals with Examples:

Modal	Use	Example
Can	Ability, permission	I can swim. / Can I use your pen?
Could	Past ability, polite request	He could run fast. / Could you help me?
May	Permission, possibility	May I come in? / It may rain today.
Might	Less possibility	He might be at home.
Shall	Suggestion (1st person), future (formal)	Shall we go? / I shall return soon.
Should	Advice, expectation	You should study.
Will	Future, certainty	He will pass the exam.
Would	Politeness, hypothetical	Would you like tea? / I would go if I were you.
Must	Strong necessity or obligation	You must wear a helmet.
Ought to	Moral duty	We ought to respect elders.
Need / Needn’t	Necessity / lack of necessity	You need not worry.
Dare / Dare not	Challenge / Negation	He dare not speak.
Used to	Past habit	I used to play cricket.

❗ Common Errors Students Make:

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	❗Explanation
He can to swim.	He can swim.	No "to" after modals.
She musts go now.	She must go now.	No ‘s’ with modal.
He used to can swim.	He used to swim.	Don't use two modals together.
You should to eat well.	You should eat well.	No "to" after should.

🔥 Most Repeated MCQs on Modals (SSC, BANK, UGC NET)

📝 MCQ Practice Set – Modals

Q1. You ____ not worry about the exam. It’s easy.
a) should
b) must
c) need
d) needn’t
👉 Correct Answer: d) needn’t
📌 Common mistake: Choosing "should" instead of "needn't" which means "not necessary".

Q2. He ____ speak five languages when he was young.
a) could
b) can
c) may
d) should
👉 Correct Answer: a) could

Q3. Students ____ bring their ID cards to the exam hall.
a) would
b) might
c) must
d) may
👉 Correct Answer: c) must
📌 “Must” is used for strong obligation.

Q4. I ____ go to the doctor if the pain continues.
a) shall
b) might
c) could
d) must
👉 Correct Answer: d) must

Q5. You ____ speak politely to your parents.
a) can
b) ought to
c) would
d) could
👉 Correct Answer: b) ought to

Q6. ____ I borrow your book for a day?
a) Must
b) Could
c) Should
d) Might
👉 Correct Answer: b) Could
📌 “Could” is more polite than “can” in formal English.

Q7. He ____ be sleeping; the light is off.
a) must
b) can
c) may
d) will
👉 Correct Answer: a) must
📌 “Must” used for strong logical assumption.

Q8. You ____ park here. It's a no-parking zone.
a) must
b) should
c) needn’t
d) mustn’t
👉 Correct Answer: d) mustn’t
📌 Students often confuse “mustn’t” (prohibition) with “needn’t” (not necessary).

Q9. We ____ be at the station by 6 pm.
a) ought to
b) may
c) should
d) used to
👉 Correct Answer: a) ought to

Q10. He ____ play the guitar when he was 10.
a) might
b) could
c) should
d) will
👉 Correct Answer: b) could

Modals MCQs – Commonly Confused / Mistaken Questions

Q1. He ___ to finish the work before sunset.

a) must
b) ought
c) should
d) will

✅ Correct Answer: b) ought
❗ Common Mistake: Students choose "must" thinking it's about necessity, but "ought to" shows moral obligation which fits better here.

2. You ___ not drive so fast. It's dangerous.

a) must
b) can
c) should
d) mustn’t

✅ Correct Answer: d) mustn’t
❗ Common Mistake: Many choose "should" or "must", but "mustn’t" means strict prohibition, which fits the warning tone.

Q3. She ___ play the piano very well when she was five.

a) can
b) may
c) could
d) will

✅ Correct Answer: c) could
❗ Common Mistake: Students choose "can", forgetting that "could" is used for past ability.

Q4. You ___ see a doctor if your fever doesn’t come down.

a) may
b) would
c) must
d) could

✅ Correct Answer: c) must
❗ Common Mistake: Students choose "may" or "could", but "must" shows urgent necessity.

Q5. He ___ to go to school, but now he doesn’t.

a) used
b) used to
c) ought
d) can

✅ Correct Answer: b) used to
❗ Common Mistake: Many pick "used", but the correct form to show past habit is "used to".

Q6. She ___ have missed the train. She left very late.

a) can
b) must
c) might
d) would

✅ Correct Answer: b) must
❗ Common Mistake: Choosing "might" or "can" instead of "must", which shows a strong assumption based on evidence.

Q7. He ___ smoke a lot, but now he’s quit.

a) used to
b) must
c) should
d) would

✅ Correct Answer: a) used to
❗ Common Mistake: Students confuse "used to" (past habit) with "would" or "should".

Q8. You ___ be late. The teacher is very strict.

a) should
b) mustn’t
c) might
d) would

✅ Correct Answer: b) mustn’t
❗ Common Mistake: Many pick "should", but "mustn’t" gives a strict warning.

Q9. ___ you like to have tea or coffee?

a) Shall
b) Will
c) Would
d) Should

✅ Correct Answer: c) Would
❗ Common Mistake: Students use "will" instead of "would", but "would you like" is the polite form for offering.

Q10. You ___ take rest. You look tired.

a) ought to
b) mustn’t
c) can
d) may

✅ Correct Answer: a) ought to
❗ Common Mistake: Choosing "can" or "may", but "ought to" is correct for giving advice based on condition.

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