What are modal verbs?
Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs that behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like “work, play, visit…” They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.
Basic English Grammar rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.
We also providing Extra Questions for Class 11 English Chapter wise.
Modals Exercise For Class 11 CBSE With Answers PDF
Use suitable modals to complete the dialogue given below.
Waiter: Good evening, sir. What (a) ……………… you like to have?
Man: I (b) ……………… like to have a drink.
Waiter: What drink (c) …………….. you like, sir?
Man: You (d) ……………… bring something hot.
Waiter: (e) ……………….. I bring a cup of coffee?
Man: Yes, you (f) ………………..
Waiter: (g) …………….. you like it with milk or without milk?
Man: I (h) …………… like it with milk. I (i) …………….. like to have a sandwich too.
Waiter: (j) ……………. I bring a veg sandwich or non-veg sandwich?
Man: I (k) ………………. take veg.
Waiter: I (l) …………….. be back within a few minutes, sir.
Answer:
(a) would
(b) would
(c) would
(e) May
(f) may
(g) would
(h) would
(i) would
(j) Should
(k) will
(l) will/shall
The words that describe the ‘mode’ of the verb are called modals. They are also called modal auxiliaries. They are never used alone. Together with the verb which follows them, they express the mode or manner of the action denoted by the verb.
The main modals are:
can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, need to have to
The negative modals are:
couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t, mustn’t, needn’t, oughtn’t/ought not to
| Modal | Example | Uses |
| can/can’t | She can swim very well. It can rain today. Can you help me? Can I help you with this work? |
ability possibility/probability request offer |
| could/couldn’t | Could you please repeat what you said? We could go for a movie today. I think you could come first this time. There was a time when I could run with the hare. |
request suggestion possibility/probability past ability |
| may | May I have some sugar? May I help you? May I open the window? India may become a superpower by 2020. May God bless you. |
request offer permission possibility/probability wish/desire |
| might | They might give us a good discount. | future possibility/probability |
| will/won’t | It is raining so I will stay at home. I will help you if you come over. Will you help me? It will rain tonight. I will get you a laptop from Australia. |
intention offer request prediction promise |
| would/wouldn’t | Would you mind if I take an off tomorrow? Would you pass the salt? Would five o’clock suit you? Yes, it would. Would you have dinner with us tonight? Would you prefer tea or coffee? |
permission request making arrangements invitation preference |
| shall/should | Shall I help you? Shalt we meet at 3.00 p.m.? We should check the timings of the train. You should listen to your conscience. |
offer making arrangements recommended action advice |
| ought to | You ought to serve your parents. The bus ought to be here any minute. |
advice probability |
| must/mustn’t | We must make a move now. You must do your duty. |
obligation necessity |
| need | He need not go to the market. You need to lose weight. I need to take time off. |
necessity compulsion insistence |
Fill in the blanks with suitable modals.
(i) You ……………….. not be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven’t got a penny to their name.
(ii) I’ve done this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the
answer key. The answer in the book …………….. be wrong!
(iii) You ……………… do the job if you don’t speak Japanese fluently.
(iv) You …………….. not worry so much. It doesn’t do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don’t. If you don’t, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.
Answer:
(i) need
(ii) may/could/must
(iii) cannot
(iv) should
Fill in the blanks with suitable modals.
Whenever I think of my school Principal, I feel highly impressed by his habit of going on a regular morning walk. He …………………………. get up early. Rain or storm, he …………………………. go for a walk. Even when he fell ill, no one in the house …………………………. stops him from going out. He …………………………. always say that morning walks …………………………. cure him of illnesses and he was right. He never fell ill. At the age of seventy – five, he …………………………. run for miles together and …………………………. leave youngsters far behind. Now he is running ninety miles …………………………. he lives long!
Answer:
Whenever I think of my school Principal, I feel highly impressed by his habit of going on a regular morning walk. He would get up early. Rain or storm, he will go on for a walk. Even when he fell ill, no one in the house could stop him from going out. He used to always say that morning walks—cure him of illnesses and he was right. He never fell ill. At the age of seventy—five, he—run for miles together and even leave youngsters far behind. Now he is running ninety miles. May he live long!
Fill in the blanks with suitable modals.
The art of cooking was perfected in ancient India. When people were eating raw meat the world over, Indians …………………………. prepare hundreds of food items from one single commodity. Even today we know that we …………………………. prepare many items from milk alone. It …………………………. be curd, butter, cheese, sweet burfis, etc. Unfortunately, this milk-producing country is running short of milk. We …………………………. not improve this condition unless we pay serious attention to our milk – cattle. We …………………………. improve their breed by new scientific methods. Attention …………………………. also be paid to their proper nourishment.
Answer:
The art of cooking was perfected in ancient India. When people were eating raw meat the world over, Indians would prepare hundreds of food items from one single commodity. Even today we know that we can prepare many items from milk alone. It may be curd, butter, cheese, sweet burfis, etc. Unfortunately, this milk-producing country is running short of milk. We will not improve this condition unless we pay serious attention to our milk—cattle. We ought to improve their breed by new scientific methods. Attention must also be paid to their proper nourishment.