Modal Auxiliaries Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.4.1.C

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When you are looking to use a verb that gauges a capability or willingness, you are often looking for to use a modal auxiliary verb. There isn’t a whole bunch to remember here with these verbs because they never change tense. There is only one form of the verb whether it is used in singular or plural setting. All of these worksheets will help students actively use modal auxiliary verbs properly in sentences.

Modal Auxiliaries Worksheets:

Can - We walk you through how to spot those pesky auxiliary verbs. Read each sentence. Is can used to express ability, willingness, permission or possibility? Write the correct answer on the line beside each sentence.

Could - Take a look at how "could" functions in sentences. 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.

A Boxing Match - An epic battle between "can" and "could". You are the referee. Can and could are duking it out to see who belongs in the most sentences. Each sentence is a round in their boxing match.

Auxiliary Verbs - A little fill the sentence using multiple choices. Read each sentence below. Choose the correct word to fill in the blank.

May | Might - We learn how to modify the mood of the sentences. May is used to express permission or possibility. The negative of may is may not. Might is also used to express possibility. The difference between them is that the possibility expressed by might is usually smaller. The negative of might is might not.

Using Will and Would - For each sentence below, choose the correct word, will or would. Would has several functions: It functions as the past tense of will; it functions as the conditional mood of will; It is used to be polite. The negative of would is would not or the contraction wouldn't.

Modal Auxiliary Verbs - Match the meaning and usage on the left to the correct modal auxiliary verb on the right below. Some answers may be used more than once.

Owl Modal Auxiliary Verbs - Fill in the blank with the correct modal auxiliary verb. Write the word on the line.

Word Bank Modal Auxiliaries - Fill in the blanks below with the correct modal auxiliary verb. Choose from the words provided.

Ought to and Had Better - Fill in the blank with the best choice, ought to, had better, could or should, given the context of the sentence.

Fill In Auxiliary Verbs - Fill in the blank in each sentence. Choose from the auxiliary verbs provided.

Should and Shall - 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.

Modify Me - The right-hand column contains some common modal auxiliary verbs. For each sentence, choose the correct modal auxiliary verb to fill in the blank.

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, does, am, is, are - Write a sentence below with each word provided.

What are Modal Auxiliaries?

A modal auxiliary verb is a verb that is used to set the mood and tense for other verbs in a sentence. It is also sometimes called the verb of prediction as it sets the tense and mood of a sentence. Modal auxiliaries have the capability to change the meaning of the simple verb. They are used to predict possibilities, necessities, and permissions.


The clarity of a sentence and its grammatical correctness depends on these verbs to a great extent and sometimes their absence makes the sentence lose its clarity, making it really difficult for the readers to understand what the statement is trying to covey.


What Makes Auxiliaries Different?

Auxiliary verbs or helping verbs are unique in a sense that they do not have multiple forms of verbs unlike other verbs that usually exist in more than one form. These modals cannot be changed by adding inflections like other verbs that undergo a change after addition of inflections like -ing, -ed, -es, etc. This means that these verbs do not give an indication about the structure of sentence being plural, singular, past, present, or future. These verbs are always followed by an infinitive verb in a sentence and no other verb can come after these modal verbs.


Modal auxiliaries differ from ordinary verbs in a way that they have no inflections. They do not have an "ing", "ed", or "es" form. They can refer to present or future time in their normal form.


These are the standard modal auxiliaries.

can
could
may
might
must
ought
shall
should
will
would


Negative Modal Auxiliary Words

cannot
could not
may not
might not
must not
ought not
shall not
should not
will not
would not


Examples:

Here are some examples of modal auxiliaries in mainstream texts:

I can go to the park with you.
I cannot understand what you are saying.
I could do that myself.
I could not perform on stage that day.
She may be joining us for class.
I may not be able to come to your party.
Ashley might be taller than you.
What she said might not be true. He must be a footballer.
You must not laugh at her vulnerabilities.
I ought to care less about people's opinions.
Josh ought not to go there.
You shall say your prayers before you eat.
She knew that love shall not be compared.
You should leave now.
He should not have joined that group.
I will do your work for you.
He will not tolerate any more of the drama.
You would be healthier if you exercise more.
They would not have enough space to keep you as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Boxing Match Preview