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Can and Could
A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Here is a list of the modal
auxiliary verbs:
Can: “Can” is used to express ability, willingness, permission, or possibility. The
negative of can is “cannot” or the contraction “can’t”.
Example: I can cook dinner.
In this example “can” expresses the ability to cook dinner.
Example: Can you pass me the ketchup?
In this example “Can” expresses the willingness pass me the ketchup.
Example: Can I use your pencil?
In this example “Can” expresses the permission to use your pencil.
Example: Intense light can hurt your eyes.
In this example “can” expresses the possibility of intense light to hurt your eyes.
Directions: Say how “can” is used in each sentence. Circle “A” if it is used to express
ability, “W” if it is used to express willingness, “Per” if it is used to express permission
and “Pos” if it is used to express possibility.
1) I can tie my shoes.
A W Per Pos
2) Can I have a piece of gum?
A W Per Pos
3) If you ride a motorcycle, you can fall.
4) Can you get me a drink of water?
5) I can speak English well.
A W Per Pos
A W Per Pos
A W Per Pos
6) He can use my basketball if he wants to.
A W Per Pos
7) Can they clean my car while I am at work?
8) Can squirrels fly?
A W Per Pos
A W Per Pos
9) It can snow if it gets very cold.
A W Per Pos
10) I can help you with your homework if you like.
A W Per Pos
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “can”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Could: “Could” has at least three functions. First, it can replace “can” and give the
phrase a more conditional tone. Second, it can function as a the past tense of “can”.
Third, it can function in the same way as “might” or “may”, suggesting that something is
a possibility. The negative of can is “could not” or the contraction “couldn’t”.
Example: You could have been an astronaut if you wanted to.
In this example “could” expresses the conditional ability to be an astronaut in the past.
Example: He couldn’t let me have his pencil because he needed it.
In this example “couldn’t” expresses the lack of permission to have his pencil in the past.
Example: Jane could be at the store right now.
In this example “could” expresses the possibility that Jane is at the store in the present.
“Could” functions the same way as “might” or “may” in this sentence.
Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.
1) I (could, can) help you with your homework now.
2) Five years ago, I (cannot, couldn’t) play the piano.
3) I (can, could) get an A on the test.
4) I (can, could) run ten miles if I train hard enough.
5) We (can, could) speak English well.
6) Matt (could, can) be sick today.
7) The volleyball team (can, could) go to the Olympics this year if they are lucky.
8) I think I (can, could) help you learn math if you promise to study hard.
9) (Can, Could) we go to the zoo tomorrow?
10) I (cannot, couldn’t) run that fast when I was six years old.
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “could”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
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May and Might
A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Here is a list of the modal
auxiliary verbs:
May: “May” is used to express permission or possibility. The negative of may is
“may not”.
Example: I may become a doctor.
In this example “may” is used to express the possibility of me becoming a doctor in the
future.
Example: May I have a glass of water?
In this example “may” is used to ask permission to have a glass of water.
Directions: Make your own sentences using “may”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Might: “Might” is used to express possibility. It differs from “may” in that the
possibility it expresses is usually smaller. The negative of might is “might not”.
Example: I might become a doctor when I grow up, but I doubt it.
In this example “might” is used to express the small possibility that I will become a
doctor when I grow up.
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “might”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.
1) When I grow up, I (may, might) become an engineer.
2) There is a small chance the we (may, might) go to the beach this weekend.
3) There is a good change that we (might, may) have to postpone the meeting.
4) Billy and I (may, might) cook dinner tonight.
5) The airplane (might, may) crash.
6) You never know, I (may, might) become president one day.
7) (May, Might) I have a piece of bread please?
8) It (might, may) snow tonight, but I doubt it.
9) If Jane studied harder, she (might, may) have gotten a better grade on the test.
10) I (might, may) not be coming to your party tonight. I told my mother that I would
stay home and make cookies with her already. I’m sorry.
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Must and Have to
A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Here is a list of the modal
auxiliary verbs:
Must: “Must” has two functions. First it expresses a strong belief. This belief is not
based on fact, but rather on logic. Second, it expresses an obligation. The source of this
obligation is internal (coming from oneself). The negative of must is “must not” or the
contraction “mustn’t”.
Example: My keys must be around here somewhere.
In this example “must” expresses a strong belief that is based on logic.
Example: I must climb Mount Everest.
In this example “must” expresses the obligation to climb Mount Everest that comes from
an internal source (no one external to me is forcing me to do it).
Directions: Make your own sentences using “must”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Have to: “Have to” has several functions. First it expresses a strong belief. This
belief is not based on fact, but rather on logic. Second, it expresses an obligation. The
source of this obligation is external (coming from your boss, the law, an authority). The
negative of have is “do not have to”.
Example: Yoko has to win this race to advance to the next round.
In this example “has to” expresses a strong belief that is based on logic.
Example: My mother says that I have to make my bed.
In this example “have to” expresses an obligation coming from an external source (my
mother).
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “would”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.
1) My boss told me that I (have to, must) work overtime this week.
2) I (must, have to) get my hair cut before the dance.
3) She (has to, must) pay monthly rent to live in her apartment.
4) Ted’s dad said that he (must, has to) clean his room before he can play.
5) I (have to, must) buy those pretty red shoes.
6) The runner (has to, must) win the race to get a gold medal.
7) The police officer said that I (must, have to) go to jail.
8) I (must, have to) win this game of cards.
9) I (have to, must) become a tennis champion.
10) People (must, have to) eat to live.
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Ought to and Had better
A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Here is a list of the modal
auxiliary verbs:
Ought to: “Ought to” is used to express the ideal (best) action. It is different from
“should” in that it gives a sentence a more obligatory tone. The negative of ought is
“ought not” or the contraction “oughtn’t”.
Example: I ought to become a doctor because my father was a doctor.
In this example “ought to” is used to express the ideal and somewhat obligatory action to
become a doctor.
Directions: Make your own sentences using “ought to”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Had better: “Had better” is used in the same way as “ought” (they are rough
synonyms). The negative of had better is “had better not”.
Example: He had better wash his hands before he eats.
In this example “had better” is used to express the ideal and somewhat obligatory action
to wash his hands before he eats.
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “had better”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.
1) I (had better / ought to, will) wash the dishes before mom gets home.
2) If she wants to, Hopi (had better / ought to, could) become a famous actor.
3) I can’t decide if I (had better / ought to, should) go to the movie tonight. I guess I
will, because I don’t have anything else to do.
4) Jerry (had better / ought to, might) mow the lawn before the family picnic.
5) The firemen (would, ought to / had better) extinguish the fire quickly.
6) Drivers (had better / ought to, have to) stop at red lights.
7) Trees (had better / ought to, can) make light into food.
8) They (had better / ought to, may) eat a cookie.
9) The students (had better / ought to, could) finish their homework before class.
10) The war (had better / ought to, used to) end soon.
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Name________________
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Shall and Should
A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Here is a list of the modal
auxiliary verbs:
Shall: “Shall” is to express a future action. It is different than “will” in that it is used
to express an order or prophecy. The negative of shall is “shall not” or the contraction
“shan’t”.
Example: I shall become a doctor.
In this example “shall” is used to express the prophecy of me becoming a doctor in the
future.
Example: Tomorrow, you shall climb to the top of Mt. Everest.
In this example “shall” is used to order or command a future action.
Directions: Make your own sentences using “shall”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Should: “Should” is used to express the ideal (best) action which happens in the
past, present, or future. The negative of should is “should not” or the contraction
“shouldn’t”.
Example: I think I should make chicken for dinner tonight.
In this example “should” is used to express that making chicken is the best future action.
Example: I should get paid more for the hard work that I do.
In this example “should” is used to express that it would be ideal for me to get paid more
for my present action.
Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.
1) Mom thinks you (should, shall) clean your room.
2) Trains (shall, should) go faster.
3) This weekend (should, shall) be the best weekend ever!
4) I (should, shall) be a writer when I get older.
5) Police (shan’t, shouldn’t) be allowed to drive so fast.
6) Our team (should, shall) have tried harder.
7) After you are finished washing my car, you (shall, should) get me something to
eat.
8) (Shall, Should) we be ready by ten?
9) If we want to make money, we (should, shall) get a job.
10) The world (should, shall) be peaceful.
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “should”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Will and Would
A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Here is a list of the modal
auxiliary verbs:
Will: “Will” is used when you are volunteering to do something in the future, or when
you are deciding at the time of speaking to do something in the future. The negative of
will is “will not” or the contraction “won’t” (See “Using will and going” in the future
tense folder of the advanced section of this website for more information on “will”).
Example: I will cook dinner.
In this example “will” is used to volunteer to cook dinner in the future.
Example: I think I will go to the beach this Sunday.
In this example “will” is used to express a future action that is being decided upon at the
time of speaking.
Directions: Make your own sentences using “will”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
Would: “Would” has several functions. First, it functions as the past tense of “will”.
Second, it functions as the conditional mood of “will”. Third, it is used to be polite. The
negative of would is “would not” or the contraction “wouldn’t”.
Example: I would try to act like my father when I was young.
In this example “would” functions as the past tense of “will”.
Example: I would get a tan if I worked at the pool.
In this example “would” functions as the conditional mood of “will”.
Example: I would like more tea please.
In this example “would” is used to be polite.
Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.
1) My dog and I (would, will) go for walks when she was younger.
2) I (will, would) buy new shoes if I had enough money.
3) I am feeling tired. I think I (would, will) go to sleep now.
4) I (will, would) like more milk when you get a chance.
5) I don’t think we (will, would) ever win the game.
6) If you get in trouble, I (won’t, wouldn’t) help you.
7) When we were in sixth grade, we (will, would) usually play kick ball at recess.
8) (Will, Would) you like steak or chicken?
9) If I was a famous tennis player, I (won’t, wouldn’t) like to lose.
10) I am hungry. I (will, would) get something to eat.
Directions: Now make your own sentences using “would”.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________