Modal Verbs Worksheets and Exercises

Modal verbs like can, may, must, should, and will are essential in English for expressing ability, permission, and obligation. Practicing through worksheets and exercises helps learners understand their use, improve fluency, and gain confidence in everyday communication.

Modal Verbs Worksheets

👉 Before practicing, let’s review the basics of modal verbs—special helping verbs like can, may, and must that express ability, permission, or necessity.

Modal Verbs Exercises

1. Can / Could (ability, possibility, polite requests)

1. She ___ play the piano very well.

2. ___ you help me with this bag, please?

3. When I was a child, I ___ run very fast.

4. We ___ see the mountains from our window.

5. Sorry, I ___ not attend the meeting yesterday.

6. ___ you open the window, please?

7. If you train hard, you ___ become a professional player.

8. I looked everywhere, but I ___ not find my keys.

9. He said he ___ finish the project tomorrow.

10. ___ you pass me the salt, please?

2. May / Might (permission, possibility)

1. You ___ leave early today.

2. We ___ go to the beach if the weather is nice.

3. She ___ be at the library now.

4. ___ I use your phone for a moment?

5. They ___ visit us next month.

6. He ___ be the best student in the class.

7. It ___ rain later, so take an umbrella.

8. The shop ___ close early today.

9. You ___ want to try the new restaurant.

10. ___ I come in?

3. Must (necessity, strong obligation, deduction)

1. You ___ wear a helmet when riding a bike.

2. She ___ study hard to pass the exam.

3. It’s late; he ___ be at home now.

4. We ___ finish this work by Friday.

5. You ___ not smoke here.

6. He ___ be the new teacher; I saw him in the office.

7. Everyone ___ arrive on time.

8. You ___ lock the door before leaving.

9. She looks tired; she ___ have worked all night.

10. Students ___ wear uniforms at this school.

4. Should / Ought to (advice, expectation)

1. You ___ drink more water every day.

2. He ___ see a doctor about that cough.

3. They ___ arrive soon; the bus left 10 minutes ago.

4. You ___ not eat too much junk food.

5. She ___ apologize for being rude.

6. We ___ help people in need.

7. You ___ try to get more sleep.

8. He ___ be here by now.

9. Parents ___ spend time with their children.

10. We ___ start studying for the test.

5. Will / Would (future, willingness, condition, polite requests)

1. I ___ call you tomorrow.

2. She ___ be happy to hear the news.

3. We ___ have dinner at 7 p.m.

4. He promised he ___ help me with my homework.

5. They ___ arrive in an hour.

6. If I had more time, I ___ learn another language.

7. ___ you like some coffee?

8. When I was a child, I ___ play outside all day.

9. Don’t worry, I ___ take care of it.

10. He said he ___ visit us next week.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer Key:

1. Can / Could (ability, possibility, polite requests)

1. She can play the piano very well.

2. Could you help me with this bag, please?

3. When I was a child, I could run very fast.

4. We can see the mountains from our window.

5. Sorry, I could not attend the meeting yesterday.

6. Can you open the window, please?

7. If you train hard, you can become a professional player.

8. I looked everywhere, but I could not find my keys.

9. He said he could finish the project tomorrow.

10. Could you pass me the salt, please?

2. May / Might (permission, possibility)

1. You may leave early today.

2. We might go to the beach if the weather is nice.

3. She may be at the library now.

4. May I use your phone for a moment?

5. They might visit us next month.

6. He may be the best student in the class.

7. It might rain later, so take an umbrella.

8. The shop may close early today.

9. You might want to try the new restaurant.

10. May I come in?

3. Must (necessity, strong obligation, deduction)

1. You must wear a helmet when riding a bike.

2. She must study hard to pass the exam.

3. It’s late; he must be at home now.

4. We must finish this work by Friday.

5. You must not smoke here.

6. He must be the new teacher; I saw him in the office.

7. Everyone must arrive on time.

8. You must lock the door before leaving.

9. She looks tired; she must have worked all night.

10. Students must wear uniforms at this school.

4. Should / Ought to (advice, expectation)

1. You should / ought to drink more water every day.

2. He should / ought to see a doctor about that cough.

3. They should / ought to arrive soon; the bus left 10 minutes ago.

4. You should not / ought not to eat too much junk food.

5. She should / ought to apologize for being rude.

6. We should / ought to help people in need.

7. You should / ought to try to get more sleep.

8. He should / ought to be here by now.

9. Parents should / ought to spend time with their children.

10. We should / ought to start studying for the test.

5. Will / Would (future, willingness, condition, polite requests)

1. I will call you tomorrow.

2. She will be happy to hear the news.

3. We will have dinner at 7 p.m.

4. He promised he would help me with my homework.

5. They will arrive in an hour.

6. If I had more time, I would learn another language.

7. Would you like some coffee?

8. When I was a child, I would play outside all day.

9. Don’t worry, I will take care of it.

10. He said he would visit us next week.