The principal 

English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will
and would. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals;
these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need.

The modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, should. They
are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so
on. Below is a list showing the most useful modals and their most common
meanings:

Modal Meaning Example

can to express ability I can speak a little Russian.
can to request permission Can I open the window?
may to express possibility I may be home late.
may to request permission May I sit down, please?
must to express obligation I must go now.
must to express strong belief She must be over 90 years old.
should to give advice You should stop smoking.
would to request or offer Would you like a cup of tea?
would in if-sentences If I were you, I would say sorry.

Modal verbs are unlike other verbs. They do not change their form (spelling)
and they have no infinitive or participle (past/present). The
modals must and can need substitute verbs to express obligation or ability in
the different tenses. Here are some examples:

Past simple Sorry I'm late. I had to finish my math test.

Present She's had to return to Korea at short notice.
perfect
Future You'll have to work hard if you want to pass the
exams.
Infinitive I don't want to have to go.
Past simple I couldn't/wasn't able to walk until I was 3 years old.
Present I haven't been able to solve this problem. Can you
perfect help?
Future I'm not sure if I will be able to come to your party.
Infinitive I would love to be able to play the piano.

Modals are auxiliary verbs. They do not need an additional auxiliary in

negatives or questions. For example: Must I come? (Do I must come?),
or: He shouldn't smoke (He doesn't should smoke).
Q1. I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ..Couldn’t... eat anything.
cannot

couldn’t
mustn’t

Q2. You ..Should... look at me when I am talking to you.

could

should
would

Q3. I was using my pencil a minute ago. It ..Could .. be here somewhere!
can

could
must

would

Q4. You really .Must Not.. be late again.

must not
don’t have to be

Q5. If you don’t start working harder, you ...Have To.. repeat the course next year.
have to

must
 will have to

Q6. His parents spoil him. He’s always .been allowed.. to do whatever he wants.
been able
been allowed

Q7. Phone her now. She ..Must Be... home by now.

has to be

must be
would be

Q8. You ..don’t have to... forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very hot!
don’t have to

mustn’t
needn’t

Q9. I ..Might... be able to help you, but I’m not sure yet.
might

would

Q10. Entrance to the museum was free. We ..Needn’t... pay to get in.

needn’t
 didn’t need to

Q11. Already as a child Mozart ..Could... play the piano beautifully.

could
should

would

Q12. Which sign are you more likely to see at an airport: Bags  .Must.... not be left
unattended.
can
must

may

Q13. I really ..... try to get fit.

may
must

would

Q14. .May I.... take a photograph of you?

Am I allowed to
May I

Q15. Students ..Are Allowed To... borrow up to 6 books at any time.

 are allowed to
could

Q16. Whose is this bag? - I don’t know, but it .May.... belong to Yuta.

could

may
should

would

Q17. .May.... I go to the bathroom, please?

May
Must

Would

Q18. His excuse .May. be true, but I don’t believe.

can
may

Q19. It’s very important to .be able to... speak more than one language.
can

be able to
Q20. I don’t like ..being able to... get up early on a Sunday.
being able to

being allowed to
having to

Q21. .can.... you speak French? - Only a few words, but my Russian is pretty good.
Can

Could

Q22. ..Could... you help me move this table? (Both answers are possible. Choose the
more polite request.)
Can
Could

Q23. I ..Could... talk already before I was two years old.

could

should
would

Q24. I .could. help you, but I don’t want to.

can

could
would
Q25. .may. you open the window, please.
Can
May

Q26. I .couldn’t.. move the table. It was too heavy.

couldn’t

mustn’t
shouldn’t

wouldn’t

Q27. You .must not.. not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.

must not
do not have to

Q28. If you continue to practise so hard, you .will be able to. beat

me before too long!
can
could
will be able to
Q29. Can..... you swim? (Both are possible. Which is better?)
Are you able to
Can

Q30. You .shouldn’t..x.. eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for

you.
 don’t have to

mustn’t
shouldn’t

Q31. I’m afraid I .would not be able to.... play tennis tomorrow.

I’ve got a dentist appointment.
can’t

couldn’t
would not be able to

Q32. You can come to the meeting if you want but you .don’t have
to...
have to
don’t have to

mustn’t

Q33. What do you want to do? - Well, we .could.. have a picnic, but

it looks like rain.
can
could

should
would

Q34. I’m so hungry I .could.... eat a horse!

can
 could

must
should

Q35. The test starts at 10.30. You ..must... be late.

don’t have to

mustn’t

Q36. Why didn’t you tell me? I ..could have helped... you!

could help
could have helped

was able to help

would help

Q37. How did you do in the test? - Ok. It .could have

been.... worse!
could be
could have been

might be
would have been

Q38. He ..couldn’t have... broken the classroom window. He

wasn’t even in school today.
couldn’t have
 mustn’t

shouldn’t have

Q39. You ..mustn’t be... tired. You’ve only just got out of bed!

don’t have to be
can’t be

mustn’t be

Q40. She .Must.... be very pleased with herself. She

got the best grades.
has to
must
cannot