Modals

(SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT)

1. You should not boasting of your 6. We have to respect our elders.

achievements. (1) should (2) may
(1) boast for (3) can (4) better
(2) boast at (SSC Constable (GD) & Riflemen
(GD) Exam. 24.04.1912 (IInd Sitting)
(3) boast of
7. The carpenter did not keep his
(4) No improvement
promise that the work will be finish
(SSC Section Officer (Commercial
Audit) Exam. 16.11.2003) before the end of the week.
2. We eat so that we may live. (1) can
(1) might (2) could
(2) shall (3) would
(3) should (4) No improvement
(4) No improvement (SSC (10+2) Level Data Entry Operator
& LDC Exam. 28.10.2012 (Ist Sitting)
(SSC Section Officer (Commercial
Audit) Exam. 16.11.2003) 8. Would you like some water ?
3. Roads are wet, it must have rained (1) Can
last night. (2) Do
(1) must had (3) Shall
(2) might have been (4) No improvement
(3) must have been (SSC FCI Assistant Grade-III
Exam–11.11.2012 IInd sitting)
(4) No improvement
9. She is absent; she must be sick
(SSC Section Officer (Audit)
Exam. 14.12.2003) again.
4. Will you type these letters now ? (1) She is absent; she has been sick
(1) Could again
(2) Can (2) She is absent: she is sick again
(3) Shall (3) She is absent; she must have
(4) No improvement been sick again
(SSC Section Officer (Commercial (4) No improvement
Audit) Exam. 25.09.2005) (SSC Graduate Level Tier-I
5. It was quite clear that the runner Exam. 19.05.2013)
could be able to improve upon his 10. We have to know that we can
own record. achieve things slowly and gradually,
(1) will be able not overnight.
(2) should be able (1) would know that
(3) would be able (2) had to know that
(4) No improvement (3) must know that
(SSC (10+2) Level Data Entry (4) No improvement
Operator & LDC Exam. 04.12.2011 (SSC CGL Tier-I
(North Zone) IInd Sitting Re-Exam–2013, 27.04.2014)

KD PUBLICATION SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT | MODALS 1

11. If you want to catch the first flight 12. Journalism and medicine would be
you may leave now. two of his career options.
(1) must (1) No improvement
(2) ought to (2) could be
(3) No improvement (3) will be
(4) could (4) might be
(SSC CAPFs SI, CISF ASI & Delhi (SSC Constable (GD)
Police SI Exam, 30.08.2015 Exam, 04.10.2015, IInd Sitting)
TF No. 4039770)

1. (3) After ‘model’ ‘V1’ is used. Past Tense.

Hence replace ‘boasting’ with The past of ‘will’ is ‘would’.
‘boast’. 8. (4) No Improvement
2. (4) No Improvement ‘Would’ is used for polite request.
We use ‘may’ in subordinate 9. (4) No improvement.
clause if principal clause is in Must expresses high possibility.
Present Tense and the 10. (3) Replace ‘have to know that’ with
subordinate clause starts with so ‘must know that’. Must indicates
that/ in order that and the strong suggestion.
subordinate clause denotes a 11. (1) Replace ‘may’ with ‘must’.
purpose. Modal ‘must’ is used to make a
3. (4) No Improvement strong suggestion.
We use ‘must’ to show we are sure 12. (4) Replace ‘would be’ with ‘might be’.
of something and we have ‘Might’ shows ‘Possibility’.
evidence to prove that. We use
‘must have’ for the past.
4. (1) Replace ‘will’ with ‘could’.
‘Could’ is a formal and polite way
of making a request.
5. (3) Replace ‘could be able to’ with
‘would be able’.
‘Could’ and ‘able to’ can’t come
together in a sentence as both
express ability and hence make
the sentence superfluous.
6. (1) Replace ‘have to’ with ‘should’.
‘Have to’ is used to show
compulsion.
‘Should’ is used to indicate
obligation or duty.
7. (3) Replace ‘will’ with ‘would’
because the given sentence is in
KD PUBLICATION SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT | MODALS 2