Uses of Modal Verbs with Rules & Examples NEB grade 11 and 12

 

Uses of Modal Verbs with Rules & Examples

1. Can (Ability, Permission, Possibility)

• Rule: Used to express ability, ask for/give permission, or possibility.
• Examples:
• I can swim. (Ability)
• Can I leave early today? (Permission)
• It can rain later. (Possibility)

2. Could (Past Ability, Polite Request, Possibility)

• Rule: Used for past ability, polite requests, or possibilities.
• Examples:
• When I was young, I could run fast. (Past ability)
• Could you help me? (Polite request)
• She could be at home now. (Possibility)

3. Must (Obligation, Strong Necessity, Logical Conclusion)

• Rule: Used to show necessity, strong advice, or a logical assumption.
• Examples:
• You must wear a seatbelt. (Obligation)
• You must study for the exam. (Strong necessity)
• She must be at work; her car is outside. (Logical conclusion)

4. Mustn't (Prohibition)

• Rule: Used to show something is not allowed.
• Examples:
• You mustn't smoke here. (Prohibited)
• We mustn't be late. (Strict rule)

5. Will (Future Prediction, Promise, Instant Decision)

• Rule: Used for future certainty, decisions, or promises.
• Examples:
• I will call you tomorrow. (Future certainty)
• Don't worry, I will help you. (Promise)
• I am hungry; I will order food. (Instant decision)

6. Would (Politeness, Hypothetical Situations, Past Habit)

• Rule: Used for polite requests, imaginary situations, or past habits.
• Examples:
• Would you like some tea? (Politeness)
• If I were rich, I would travel the world. (Hypothetical)
• When we were kids, we would play outside all day. (Past habit)

7. May (Permission, Possibility, Formal Requests)

• Rule: Used to ask for/give permission, express possibility, or make formal requests.
• Examples:
• May I use your phone? (Permission)
• It may rain today. (Possibility)
• May I have your attention, please? (Formal request)

8. Might (Possibility, Less Certain than "May")

• Rule: Used for weak possibilities or polite suggestions.
• Examples:
• She might come to the party. (Possibility)
• You might want to try a different approach. (Polite suggestion)

9. Shall (Future, Offers, Suggestions)

• Rule: Used in formal future statements, offers, or suggestions.
• Examples:
• I shall return by evening. (Future, formal)
• Shall I help you with your bags? (Offer)
• Shall we go for a walk? (Suggestion)

10. Should (Advice, Obligation, Expectation)

• Rule: Used to give advice, show obligation, or express expectations.
• Examples:
• You should eat healthy food. (Advice)
• We should respect our elders. (Obligation)
• He should be here by now. (Expectation)

11. Could Have (Missed Opportunity, Possibility in the Past)

• Rule: Used for things that were possible but didn’t happen.
• Examples:
• You could have won the race if you had practiced more. (Missed opportunity)
• He could have taken a different route. (Past possibility)

12. Would Have (Hypothetical Past, Regret)

• Rule: Used for unreal past situations or regrets.
• Examples:
• If I had studied, I would have passed the exam. (Hypothetical past)
• She would have helped you, but she was busy. (Regret)

13. Must Have (Strong Assumption in the Past)

• Rule: Used when we are sure about something in the past.
• Examples:
• He must have forgotten his keys. (Strong assumption)
• She must have been very tired after the long journey.

14. Mustn't Have (Prohibited or Impossible in the Past)

• Rule: Used to indicate something that couldn’t have happened.
• Examples:
• You mustn't have seen him; he was out of town. (Impossible past event)
• She mustn't have known about the meeting. (Unlikely past event)

 

Fill in the blanks with the correct modal verb:

1.      I ___ swim when I was five years old. (past ability)

2.      You ___ finish your homework before going out. (strong necessity)

3.      She looks pale; she ___ be sick. (strong assumption)

4.      He ___ drive his father's car when he was younger. (past ability)

5.      You ___ smoke in this building; it’s prohibited. (prohibition)

6.      If I had studied harder, I ___ passed the exam. (hypothetical past)

7.      We ___ go to the beach tomorrow if the weather is nice. (possibility)

8.      I ___ help you with your bags. (offer)

9.      If I were you, I ___ apologize for my mistake. (advice)

10. They ___ left early; the meeting was important. (strong assumption in the past)

11. You ___ wear a helmet while riding a bike. (obligation)

12. She ___ known about the surprise party; it was a secret. (impossibility in the past)

13. He ___ be at home now, but I’m not sure. (weak possibility)

14. ___ I borrow your pen for a moment? (polite request)

15. You ___ drive after drinking alcohol. (prohibition)

16. If I had seen her, I ___ told her the news. (hypothetical past)

17. We ___ be late if we don’t leave now. (possibility)

18. She ___ called you, but she forgot. (missed opportunity)

19. He promised he ___ help us tomorrow. (future promise)

20. ___ we go for a walk after dinner? (suggestion)

 

Answer

Here are the correct answers with the appropriate modal verbs:

1.      I could swim when I was five years old. (past ability)

2.      You must finish your homework before going out. (strong necessity)

3.      She looks pale; she must be sick. (strong assumption)

4.      He could drive his father's car when he was younger. (past ability)

5.      You mustn't smoke in this building; it’s prohibited. (prohibition)

6.      If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. (hypothetical past)

7.      We might go to the beach tomorrow if the weather is nice. (possibility)

8.      I shall help you with your bags. (offer)

9.      If I were you, I would apologize for my mistake. (advice)

10. They must have left early; the meeting was important. (strong assumption in the past)

11. You should wear a helmet while riding a bike. (obligation)

12. She mustn't have known about the surprise party; it was a secret. (impossibility in the past)

13. He might be at home now, but I’m not sure. (weak possibility)

14. May I borrow your pen for a moment? (polite request)

15. You mustn't drive after drinking alcohol. (prohibition)

16. If I had seen her, I would have told her the news. (hypothetical past)

17. We might be late if we don’t leave now. (possibility)

18. She could have called you, but she forgot. (missed opportunity)

19. He promised he will help us tomorrow. (future promise)

20. Shall we go for a walk after dinner? (suggestion)

 

B. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

a. ‘How much was your parking ticket?’ ‘Fifty rupees.’ ‘Oh well, it could have been worse.’
b. It must have. got lost in the post. These things happen sometimes.
c. ‘Sorry I’m late. I got delayed at work.’ ‘You must have called. I was really worried about you.’
d. ‘I don’t think he meant to be rude.’ ‘He must have said sorry.’
e. ‘Whose signature is this?’ ‘I don’t know. It could be Manoj’s. That looks a bit like an M.’
f. I had it when I left the office so I mustn’t have. lost it on the way to home.
g. You must have think it’s funny, but I think it’s pathetic.