CBSE Class 10 English Modals Assignment

MODALS

Modals are auxiliary verbs used along with main verbs. A modal gives additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it and forms the tense, mood, and voice of the main verb.
Modals cannot be used on their own but along with other main verbs to express attitudes.
- When something happens, they form the tense of the main verb.
For example: 1. I shall go.    2. He will go.

- They express permission, necessity or possibility to do something.
For example: 1. They may go.    2. You must go.
3. I can’t go.    4. I might go.
5. She would go if she could.

Observe the highlighted words in these sentences.
1. We can make our nation a superpower by the year 2020.
2. Kalam says that we need to do things ourselves. We must not import equipment from other nations.
3. In twenty years, each one of us ought to have our destiny worked out.

All the highlighted words are modal auxiliaries that are used with another verb to express the mood of the speaker.

- The main modals are: can, could; may, might; shall, should; will, would; must; ought to; need to; have to.
- The negative modals are: couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t, mustn’t, needn’t, oughtn’t.
Now, let us see how all these modals express the modality.

 MODALS                           EXAMPLES                                                     INDICATORS OF
Can/Can’t                     - She can swim.                                                  Ability
                                   - It can be risky if you jump.                               Possibility/Probability
                                   - Can I borrow your book?                                  Seeking permission
                                   - Can you lend me your project file?                     Request
                                   - Can I carry your bag?                                       Offer

MODALS                    EXAMPLES                                                        INDICATORS OF
Could/Couldn’t             - There was a time when I could skip very fast.               Past ability                    
                                  - We could go to the theatre for the matinee show.          Suggestion
                                  - Could you please open the door?                                  Request
                                  - Could I borrow your books?                                         Seeking permission

Will/Won’t                   - It is very hot outside, so I will spend my
                                    day at home.                                                             Intention
                                 - It will rain tonight.                                                      Prediction
                                 - I will get you a toy from the market.                            Promise

Shall                          - Shall we put the dinner on the table?                            Suggestion
                                 - Shall I iron your shirt?                                                 Offer

Would/Wouldn’t           - Would you prefer wearing a coat or a jacket?               Preference
                                 - Would you come to our wedding?                                 Invitation
                                 - Would you mind if I reach an hour late?                       Seeking permission or polite request
                                 - He would talk for long hours on phone.                        Past habit

Should                       - We should listen to our elders.                                     Advice
                                 - You should check the timings of the train.                     Recommended action

May                           - May I help you?                                                         Offer
                                - May I close the window?                                             Seeking permission
                                - May I have some water?                                             Request
                                - India may become a sport-loving nation after the         Possibility/Probability
                                  Common Wealth Games.
                                - May God bless you.                                                    Wish/Desire

Might                        - The guest might drop in at night.                                 Future possibility

Ought to                    - You ought to do your duty.                                         Advice
                                - The team of players ought to be here any time.            Probability

Must/Mustn’t              - You must listen to your mother.                                 Obligation
                                - You must not steal things.                                          Necessity

Need/Needn’t             - You need to learn computers.                                    Compulsion
                                - He need not write letters to the office.                        Necessity

 

Modals are those auxiliary (helping) verbs which express the ‘mode’ or ‘manner’ of the actions indicated by the main verbs. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, obligation, etc.
The following are modal auxiliaries:

Shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, used to,need, dare.

Use of Modal Auxiliaries

(a) Shall and Will

1. ‘Shall’ is used with the first person subject (I, we) and ‘will’, used with all person subject, to express simple future.

2. ‘Shall’ with the first person subject, expresses:
Intention e.g. I shall go home today,
promise e.g. I shall try to do better.
Threat e.g. I shall kill him.
Determination e.g. I shall do or die. 

3. ‘Will’ with the second & third person subject, expresses:
order e.g. You will do it just now.
threat e.g. You will be punished
promise e.g. You will have a holiday
determination e.g. You will work for me.
Intention e.g. Will he go with you? 

(b) ‘Would’ is used to express: Determination
e.g. I would have my way.
habitual action e.g. he would sit all day with the book in his hand.
willingness e.g. I would do my best to satisfy you.
wish e.g. Would that I were healthy. 

(c) ‘Should’ is used to express:
Duty e.g. We should keep our word.
advice e.g. you should take rest.’
after ‘lest ’e.g. Work hard lest you should fail.
polite request e.g. Should I help you to solve this problem? 

(d) ‘May’ is used to express:
Possibility e.g. he may succeed in his work.
Permission e.g. may I come in?
Wish e.g. may you live long.
Purpose e.g. he works hard so that he may pass. 

(e) Can is used to express:
Power/ability e.g.
He can swim
He cannot speak English
Permission e.g.
You can go now.
Can I use your bicycle? 

(f) Might (past tense of May) is used to express:
Suggestion e.g. he might join a college.
Possibility e.g. it might rain.
Purpose e.g. he works hard that he might win a scholarship.
(g) Could (past tense of can) express:
Power/ability e.g. he could run fast when he was young.
Polite request e.g. could you please help me?

(h) Must express:
Compulsion e.g. you must carry out my orders.

(i) Ought to:
It is used to denote duty or moral or social obligation. It is used nearly in the same sense as ‗should‘.
The verb that follow ought always takes to +V1 form.
For example:
We ought to obey our teachers.
We ought not to speak ill of others.

(j) Need:
It is used in the sense of ‗require‘ or ‗want‘. Need not expresses the idea that there is no compulsion, e.g.
You needn‘t leave today, you can leave tomorrow. You needn‘t pay the whole amount in one installment.
Need I wait till he comes?

(k) Dare:
It means ‗to have the courage to do something‘.
e.g. he dare not go there.

(l) Used to +V1:
It expresses a habit in the past‘
Used to +V1 e.g. I used to swim when I was young.
I used to live in Mumbai. (Now I live in Delhi).
We used to go to Shimla in winter but now we don‘t.

(m) Has to/Have to:
It expresses ‗some compulsion, obligation or necessity in the present or future tense‘.
Has to/have to +V1e.g. Mohan has to finish his work in time.
I cannot come with you because I have to finish my work in time.

(n) Had to:
It is used to express ‗compulsion, obligation or necessity in the past.‘
The expression ‗had to‘ is the past tense of ‗have to‘
Had to +V1 e.g. yesterday my servant did not come. I had to wash my clothes myself. The enemy had to accept defeat at last.

(o) Will have to:
It is used to express compulsion, obligation or necessity in the future.
The expression ‗will have to‘ is the future tense of ‗have to‘
Will have to +V1e.g. Next week you will have to deposit your fee.

Solved Examples

1. Complete the passage, with the appropriate answer.

Self-miracle refers to your need to change your life to what you really (a)…………… create. The simple truth is only you possess the power to improve your conditions in line with everything you (b)……………….like to carry out. You(c) …....... live your dreams to be able to improve your life permanently. This must be done immediately if you wish to attain what you have targeted.
Ans. (a) must
(b) may
(c) need to

Solved Examples (Multiple Choice Questions)

Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals from the options given below.

Question. He ..................... use my phone.
(a) can
(b) shall
(c) would
(d) may
Answer.(a) can

Question. When I was young I ..................... climb any tree.
(a) can
(b) will
(c) could
(d) might
Answer.(c) could

Question. ..................... I have a cup of tea?
(a) Would
(b) Must
(c) Could
(d) Might
Answer.(c) Could

Question. You ..................... go only after finishing your work.
(a) would
(b) may
(c) shall
(d) could
Answer.(b) may

Question. You ..................... work hard.
(a) should
(b) would
(c) may
(d) might
Answer.(a) should

Question. You ..................... obey your parents.
(a) could
(b) must
(c) can
(d) may
Answer.(b) must

Question. Soldiers ..................... obey orders without any question.
(a) can
(b) would
(c) must
(d) will
Answer.(c) must

Question. You ..................... answer all questions.
(a) may
(b) must
(c) would
(d) could
Answer.(b) must

Question. I ..................... go to the market tomorrow.
(a) can
(b) would
(c) will
(d) might
Answer.(c) will

Question. I wish you ..................... fight this election.
(a) can
(b) shall
(c) would
(d) may
Answer.(c) would

Question. He tried but he ..................... not solve the problem.
(a) can
(b) could
(c) may
(d) might
Answer.(c) May

Question. You ..................... not litter the classroom.
(a) should
(b) may
(c) could
(d) will
Answer.(a) should
 

Question. ..................... God bless you!
(a) Can
(b) Might
(c) May
(d) Should
Answer.(c) May
 

Question. You ..................... exercise daily.
(a) will
(b) can
(c) ought to
(d) may
Answer.(c) ought to

Question. Somebody ..................... have told him.
(a) may
(b) ought to
(c) can
(d) must
Answer.(d) must

 

Choose the correct option to fill the blank with appropriate modals.

Question. When he was young, he ......... swim very well. He won medals and championships!
(a) may
(b) can
(c) could
(d) shall
Answer. (c)

Question. The company ......... go bankrupt if they don’t find a lot of money quickly!
(a) should
(b) shouldn’t
(c) need
(d) might
Answer. (d) 

Question. It’s wet and windy outside today. You ......... go out without an umbrella.
(a) shouldn’t
(b) won’t
(c) ought to
(d) must
Answer. (a)

Question. If you had let me know earlier, I ......... have been able to come.
(a) will
(b) shall
(c) would
(d) must
Answer. (c) 

Question. ......... anybody attend the lecture or is it just for registered students?
(a) Will
(b) Can
(c) Must
(d) Should
Answer. (b) 

Question. You ......... have bothered coming. I’ve done it already.
(a) wouldn’t
(b) mightn’t
(c) needn’t
(d) won’t
Answer. (c) 

Question. If there is an age restriction then you ......... go in as you are too young.
(a) should
(b) shouldn’t
(c) shall not
(d) will not
Answer. (b)

Question. The government ......... vote on the issue tomorrow.
It’s scheduled for 10am.
(a) will
(b) may
(c) would
(d) could
Answer. (a) 

Question. You ......... have worked so hard last week. You look so tired now.
(a) must not
(b) ought not
(c) can’t
(d) won’t
Answer. (b) 

Question. I’m not really sure where the cat is, but I think she......... be playing in the kitchen.
(a) can
(b) must
(c) will
(d) had
Answer. (b)

Question. If I had left early like everyone else did, I ......... be sitting here now listening to all this rubbish.
(a) may not
(b) wouldn’t
(c) won’t be
(d) can’t
Answer. (b)

Question. If I’d gone down to Bodrum like all my friends did,I, too, ............... have taken scuba diving lessons.
(a) would
(b) will
(c) can
(d) may
Answer. (a)

Question. You ......... look at me when I am talking to you.
(a) could
(b) should
(c) would
(d) may
Answer. (b)

Question. If you don’t start working harder, you ......... repeat the course next year.
(a) could
(b) must
(c) will have to
(d) ought to
Answer. (c)

Question. You ......... forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very hot!
(a) couldn’t
(b) mustn’t
(c) needn’t
(d) dare not
Answer. (b)

 

A. Fill in the blanks with suitable modals

Question. Usha ......... run a hundred yards in ten seconds.
Answer. can

Question. ......... his soul rest in peace!
Answer. May

Question. The baby is crying, he ......... be hungry.
Answer. must

Question. ......... you tell me the way to the post office, please?
Answer. Will

Question. You ………… keep your scooter locked.
Answer. should

Question. ………… I bring you a cup of coffee?
Answer. Shall

Question. When I was a boy, I ……… walk forty miles in a day.
Answer. could

Question. I have come to ask if Geeta…………use your bicycle tomorrow.
Answer. may

 

B.
Question. You ………… have watered the flowers, for it is going to rain.
Answer. need not

Question. If we had taken the other road, we ………… have arrived earlier.
Answer. would

Question. The bank closes at 2 PM, but the manager ………… allow you to get in.
Answer. might

Question. ………...… you please send me an application form?
Answer. Would

Question. As Rahul was the last one to leave, it ………… be he who left the door open.
Answer. might

Question. You ………… read his latest book.
Answer. should

Question. She ………… speak three languages even when she was twelve.
Answer. could

Question. I …………see quite clearly what the children are doing in the garden.
Answer. can

Question. He ………… be at least sixty.
Answer. must

Question. Your job ………… be very demanding, but at least it isn’t boring.
Answer. may

C.
Question. It’s not very important. You ………… not do it now.
Answer. need

Question. I have no time. I must leave now or I …………miss the bus.
Answer. will

Question. ………… we go out tonight, please? Yes, but you must not be late.
Answer. May

Question. I haven’t decided where I …………go to during my next holidays.
Answer. will

Question. ………… you water the plants while I am away?
Answer. Could

Question. ………… I buy the tickets for the concert?
Answer. Shall

Question. ………… you speak German?
Answer. Can

Question. Jayati ………… not play the violin when she was five but now she can play it very well.
Answer. could

Question. You ………… not be so nervous. I think it will be very easy.
Answer. should

Question. He had been working for more than eleven hours.
He ………… be tired after such hard work.
Answer. must

MODALS

Modals are those auxiliary (helping) verbs which express the 'mode‘ or 'manner‘ of the actions indicated by the main verbs. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, obligation, etc.

The following are modal auxiliaries:
shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, used to, need, dare.
Use of Modal Auxiliaries
(a) Shall and Will

1. „Shall‘ is used with the first person subject (I, we) and 'will‘, used with all person subject, to express simple future.

2. „Shall‟ with the first person subject, expresses:
Intention e.g. I shall go home today.
Promise e.g. I shall try to do better.
Threat e.g. I shall kill him.
Determination e.g. I shall do or die.

3. (a) „Will‟ with the second & third person subject, expresses:
Order e.g. You will do it just now.
Threat e.g. You will be punished
Promise e.g. You will have a holiday
Determination e.g. You will work for me.
Intention e.g. Will he go with you?

(b) „Would‟ is used to express:
Determination e.g. I would have my way.
Habitual action e.g. he would sit all day with the book in his hand.
Willingness e.g. I would do my best to satisfy you.
Wish e.g. Would that I were healthy.

(c) „Should‟ is used to express:
Duty e.g. we should keep our word.
Advice e.g. you should take rest.‘
After 'lest ‘e.g. Work hard lest you should fail.
Polite request e.g. Should I help you to solve this problem?

(d) „May‟ is used to express:
Possibility e.g. he may succeed in his work.
Permission e.g. may I come in?
Wish e.g. may you live long.
Purpose e.g. he works hard so that he may pass.

(e) Can is used to express:
Power/ability e.g. He can swim, He cannot speak English
Permission e.g. You can go now. Can I use your bicycle?

(f) Might (past tense of May) is used to express:
Suggestion e.g. he might join a college.
Possibility e.g. it might rain.
Purpose e.g. he works hard that he might win a scholarship.

(g) Could (past tense of can) express:
Power/ability e.g. he could run fast when he was young.
Polite request e.g. could you please help me?

(h) Must express:
Compulsion e.g. you must carry out my orders.

(i) Ought to:
It is used to denote duty or moral or social obligation. It is used nearly in the same sense as 'should‘.
The verb that follow ought always takes to +V1 form.
For example:
We ought to obey our teachers.
We ought not to speak ill of others.

(j) Need:
It is used in the sense of 'require‘ or 'want‘. Need not expresses the idea that there is no compulsion, e.g.
You needn‘t leave today, you can leave tomorrow. You needn‘t pay the whole amount in one installment.
Need I wait till he comes?

(k) Dare:
It means 'to have the courage to do something‘.
e.g. he dare not go there.

(l) Used to +V1:
It expresses a habit in the past‘
Used to +V1 e.g. I used to swim when I was young.
I used to live in Mumbai. (Now I live in Delhi).
We used to go to Shimla in winter but now we don‘t.

(m) Has to/Have to:
It expresses 'some compulsion, obligation or necessity in the present or future tense‘.
Has to/have to +V1e.g. Mohan has to finish his work in time.
I cannot come with you because I have to finish my work in time.

(n) Had to:
It is used to express 'compulsion, obligation or necessity in the past.‘
The expression 'had to‘ is the past tense of 'have to‘
Had to +V1 e.g. yesterday my servant did not come. I had to wash my clothes myself. The enemy had to accept defeat at last.'

(o) Will have to:
It is used to express compulsion, obligation or necessity in the future.
The expression ‗will have to‘ is the future tense of 'have to‘
Will have to +V1e.g. Next week you will have to deposit your fee.

Solved Examples

1. Complete the passage, with the appropriate answer.
Self-miracle refers to your need to change your life to what you really (a)…………… create. The simple truth is only you possess the power to improve your conditions in line with everything you (b)……………….like to carry out. You(c) …....... live your dreams to be able to improve your life permanently. This must be done immediately if you wish to attain what you have targeted.
Ans. (a) must
(b) may
(c) need to

1. Complete the passage, with the appropriate answer.
One (a)………………..meditate every day. When I say meditate, one (b)… ................ not perform yoga
exercise. You(c).................................... Honor your spirit by witnessing the peace with a view of truthfulness
and gratitude. With practice, the noise (d)…............ silence itself. The solutions you seek out are within. You
(e)………………. worry for it. You just……….……. (f) concentrate within.

2. Look at the words and phrases below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences.
(a) River/when I/could/ I swim/was/young/across/the
(b) Parents/their/children/obey/should
(c) Dare/how/you/to him/talk/like/this

3. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each of the lines. Write the incorrect word and the correction against the correct blank number.
Remember to underline the word/phrase that you have supplied.
                                                                            Incorrect         Correction
The evil of begging is very common into our society. E.g. into in
There can be no place which you won‘t find a beggar. (a) …………. ………….
Some beggars are quite health. They are able – bodied (b) …………. ………….
and are strong much to earn their living. But they (c) …………. ………….
are idlers and want to living without work. (d) …………. ………….

SUBJECT-VERB CONCORD

A verb agrees with the subject in number and person. A singular takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
I. She is a good speaker.
II. They are good speakers.
In sentence (I) the subject ‗she‘ is in the singular number; the verb ‗is ‗also in the singular. But in sentence

(II) the subject 'they‘ is in the plural number; the verb 'are‘ is also in the plural.
For example:
(a) Girls are taking a test.
(b) Boys were weeping bitterly.
(c) They have not finished the task.
(d) Geeta is reciting a poem.
(e) My sister does not tell lies.

In the above sentences, the verbs have changed according to the person of the subject. Thus, we know that the verb agrees with the subject in number and person. This is known in grammar as subject-verb concord.

1. Two or more singular subject joined by 'and‘ takes a plural verb.
For example:
You and I are friends.

2. When two subjects are joined by as well as the verb agrees with the first subject.
For example:
Her friends as well as she are talkative

3. Either, neither, each, every an everyone are followed by a singular verb.
For example:
Each of them is lovable.

4. When two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular.
For example:
My sister and friend has come.

5. When two subjects together express one idea, the verb may be in the singular.
For example:
Two and two makes four.

6. When a plural noun expresses some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is in singular.
For example:
Twenty kilos of rice is not much for the month.

7. When two or more singular subjects are connected by 'with‘, together with‘ 'and not‘, 'besides‘ no less than‘ the verb is in singular.
For example:
He and not you is to blame.

8. The verb agrees with the number of the nouns that follow the verb.
For example:
There are five girls in the office.

9. Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning, take a singular verb.
For example:
English is my favorite subject.

10. A plural noun which is the name of a country or province or the title of a book, is followed by a singular verb.
For example:
West Indies is a black country.
‘Human values‟ is written by M.K. Diwan.

11. A collective noun generally takes a singular verb when the subject stands for the collection as a whole and a plural verb when the subject stands for the individuals of which is composed.
For example:
The whole class is present.
The teams are celebrating their victory.

12. A relative pronoun must agree with its antecedent gender, number an person.
For example:
It is I who am to blame.

Solved Example

1. Fill in the blanks appropriately.
(a) Neither you nor your friends…………passed the examination nor is it really shameful.
(b) None of the conspiracy ............. succeeded and this is really great.
(c) All of the food...............been consumed.
Ans.
(a) have
(b) has
(c) has

Questions for Practice

1. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate answer.
(a)Her friends as well as Rama… ........studying for last one Hour.
(b)Each of you… ............... responsible for the tragedy.
(c) Your cousin and friend........... come.

2. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate answer.
(a)None of the plans…........ succeeded.
(b)Some of these books… ...... really in bad position.
(c) Some of the water…........ Finished.

3. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate answer.
(a)Most of the money… ......... spent.
(b)There any food left?
(c) All of it................ been eaten.

4. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate answer.
(a) Bread and butter.............. her favorite breakfast.
(b)Bread and butter .............very costly nowadays.
(c) Twenty kilos of flour.............. insufficient for such a large family.