Modal Verbs Exercises With Answers (Interactive Grammar Quiz)

Practice modal verbs with these interactive exercises. These modal verbs exercises with answers help you understand ability, obligation, permission, advice, and possibility.

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Modal Verbs Exercises with Answers

Do the exercises below on modal verbs and click the button to check your answers.

Before doing the exercises, you may want to read the lesson on modal verbs

Exercise 1: Interactive Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the correct modal verb from the list provided.
Only one option will complete each sentence logically.
Read each sentence carefully and think about what the missing modal verb should express (e.g., possibility, obligation, permission, or ability).

Choose the right modal verb

There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You Select an option: buy any.
This is a hospital. You Select an option: smoke here.
He had been working for more than 11 hours. He Select an option: be tired after such hard work. He Select an option: get some rest.
I Select an option: speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I say just a few things in Arabic.
The teacher said we Select an option: read this book for our own pleasure. But we Select an option: read it as it is optional.
Select an option: you stand on your head for more than a minute? No, I Select an option: .
You Select an option: worry. We will help you become a fluent speaker but you have to work hard.
Take an umbrella. It Select an option: rain later.
You Select an option: leave small objects lying around. Such objects Select an option: be swallowed by babies.
People Select an option: walk on the grass.
Drivers Select an option: stop when the traffic lights are red.
Select an option: I ask a question? Yes, of course.
You Select an option: take your umbrella. It is not raining.
Select an option: you speak Italian? No, I Select an option: .

Exercise 2: Matching

Sentences	Meanings
1. Drivers must stop when the traffic lights are red.	a) Ability
2. You can use my phone if you need it.	b) Permission
3. She can swim very fast.	c) Obligation
4. You should study more for the exam.	d) Advice
5. It might snow tonight.	e) Possibility
6. Students mustn’t run in the corridors.	f) Prohibition
7. May I leave the classroom early today?	g) Request for permission

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1 → c (Obligation)
2 → b (Permission)
3 → a (Ability)
4 → d (Advice)
5 → e (Possibility)
6 → f (Prohibition)
7 → g (Request for permission)

Exercise 3: Sentence Transformation

It is possible that it will rain later.
→ It ____________ rain later.
It is not necessary for you to bring food.
→ You ____________ bring food.
It is forbidden to park here.
→ You ____________ park here.
She knows how to swim very well.
→ She ____________ swim very well.
It is a good idea for you to see a doctor.
→ You ____________ see a doctor.
I am sure he is at home. The lights are on.
→ He ____________ be at home.
Are you able to lift this box by yourself?
→ ____________ you lift this box by yourself?
It was not allowed to use phones during the exam.
→ We ____________ use phones during the exam.
Perhaps they are waiting for us outside.
→ They ____________ be waiting for us outside.
It is an obligation for drivers to stop at a red light.
→ Drivers ____________ stop at a red light.

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1. might / may
2. don’t have to / needn’t
3. mustn’t
4. can
5. should
6. must
7. Can / Could
8. weren’t allowed to / couldn’t
9. might / may
10. must

Quick Recap: Modal Verbs in English

What Do Modal Verbs Express?

Ability (can, could)
Obligation & necessity (must, have to)
Permission (may, can)
Advice (should, ought to)
Possibility (might, may)

What are modal verbs in English?

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs used to express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, advice, or necessity. Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, must, should, and will.

What is the rule of modal verbs?

Modal verbs are followed by the base form of the main verb (without to). They do not change form for tense or subject, and questions and negatives are formed without “do/does.”

What are the 10 examples of modal verbs?

Ten common modal verbs in English are:
– can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would, shall, and ought to.

How do you practice modal verbs?

You can practice modal verbs by doing grammar exercises, completing sentences, transforming sentences, and choosing the correct modal based on meaning (ability, obligation, permission, etc.). Interactive exercises with answers are especially effective.

Are modal verbs followed by “to”?

Most modal verbs are not followed by “to.” They are followed by the base verb (e.g., can go, must study). The main exception is ought to, which requires to.

Modal Verbs Worksheet:

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Modal Verbs Exercises With Answers

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Modal Verbs Exercises with Answers