Modal Auxiliaries Exercise
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate auxiliary verb.
1. Anybody who wants to ……………………. join the club.
will
can
may
We use can to express theoretical possibility.
2. I ………………………… have won the race if I hadn’t fallen.
should
could
can
We can use could to talk about unrealized past ability.
3. We …………………….. go camping in June.
may
can
might
We do not use can to talk about future probability.
4. I was so angry I …………………………. have slapped him.
would
could
should
We use could to talk about unrealized past ability.
5. One day, it …………………………. be possible to travel to other planets.
can
will
would
We use will be able to talk about future possibilities.
6. Chennai …………………………. be very warm throughout the year.
may
might
can
We often use can to talk about what is common or typical of a place.
7. War ………………………… break out any day.
can
could
Either could be used here
We use can/could to talk about theoretical possibility.
8. Who ……………………………. be at the door?
can
may
will
We use can in questions to talk about the logical possibility.
9. ‘Where is Janet?’ ‘She …………………………. be at John’s place.’
may
can
could
Can is not used in affirmative clauses to talk about logical possibility.
10. ‘Where ……………………….. we go?’
can
may
shall
Modal Auxiliaries Exercise
www.englishgrammar.org
We use shall to ask for suggestions.
11. I ……………………….. see somebody coming.
can
may
will
To talk about seeing at a particular moment, we often use can see.
12. I can’t help but wonder what we ………………………… do next.
would
should
can
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. Anybody who wants to can join the club.
2. I could have won the race if I hadn’t fallen.
3. We may / might go camping in June.
4. I was so angry I could have slapped him.
5. One day, it will be possible to travel to other planets.
6. Chennai can be very warm throughout the year.
7. War can / could break out any day.
8. Who can be at the door?
9. ‘Where is Janet?’ ‘She may / could be at John’s place.’
10. ‘Where shall we go?’
11. I can see somebody coming.
12. I can’t help but wonder what we should do next.