Modal Verbs Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.4.1.C

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

A modal verb are verbs that behave irregularly in the English language. They are used to express a sense of likelihood (can or could) or something being considered necessary (must or will). You will rarely find a modal by itself, in most cases it has another verb present. Modals are often part of verb phrases and serve as the helping verb in the sentence they reside in. The goals of these parts of speech are to allow authors to express distinctions in meaning in a very polite and cordial manner. You will often find them used in conditions that require a level of civility to receive a desirable outcome such as when making requests or making offers to strike a deal of some kind. These worksheets will help students understand the purpose and proper usage of modals in sentences.

Modal Verbs Worksheets:

When to Use Them - Match the meaning and usage on the left to the correct modal on the right. Some answers may be used more than once.

Will and Would - Will is used to state an intention do something in the future, or when you are deciding at the time of speaking to do something in the future. Would is sometimes the past tense of will. It can also be the conditional mood of will.

Actively Using Them - Fill in the blank with the correct term or phrase that would best complete the sentences.

How to Write With Them - You will choose from the word bank to complete all of these sentences. Not all words will be used.

Ought to and Had Better - Ought to and had better are almost synonyms. Both are used to express the ideal, best action.

You Pick'em - We focus on completing sentences by using phrases that have been provided for us.

Should and Shall - Should is used to express the ideal (best) action which happens in the past, present, or future. Shall expresses a future action.

Put Me In Coach! - These are the next stage of sentences that you must tackle. It makes it difficult when you have to pay attention to punctuation.

Must and Have to - Read each sentence below. Should the missing word be must, have to or are both correct? Write the correct answer on the line.

Do, Can, Need - Which one should go in all them blanks? We focus on the concept of the mechanics when using contractions.

The Functions of "Can" - Read each sentence below. On the line beside each sentence, write how can is being used.

Could - Read each sentence. Is can used (A) to give the sentence a conditional tone, (B) to be the past tense of can, or (C) to suggest possibility? Write the letter of the correct answer on the line.

Can vs. Could - Read each sentence below. Circle the correct modal: can or could. One is an action word and the other is the past participle form.

Correct It - Read each sentence below. Choose the correct word to fill in the blank. This is a multiple choice series with four to choose from.

May or Might - May and might are modal auxiliary verbs. This means that they are used to modify the mood of a verb.

What Are Modals in Grammar?


In English grammar, modals are a type of verbs. They are also known as the modal verbs, auxiliaries, or auxiliary verbs. Modal verbs are the special verbs that behave very oddly in the English language. They do not follow the characteristics of regular verbs. They also have different functions and purposes in a sentence. They are often very different from regular verbs such as singing, dancing, working, visit, etc. They are used as extra verbs in sentences. This is because they provide more meaning and information. They give additional information regarding the main verb in the sentence and its functions.

The function of these parts of speech is to express obligation, persuasion, possibility, or permission in a sentence. Some of the commonly used modals are can say, must, might would, should, will, may, etc. They have special characteristics that differ from the regular verbs. These characteristics are mentioned below.

They do not change their form. You will never see a modal verb in a form other than its original form. They are always used as they are. You cannot add "s", "ed", "ing" to these verbs like you do in other verbs.

You always add an infinitive "to" after a modal verb.

These types of words and phrases are used by the speakers or writers to express certain thing such as a possibility, certainty, willingness, ability, necessity, etc.

They have only formed to be used in the past, present and future tense.

For example,
You must stop at the traffic lights.
You cannot give your exam before the actual date.
When she was younger she could run fast.
I might go to Europe in July.
I should go see a doctor.