Pariksha SaathiEnglish
Modal Verbs: Practice Questions with Answers
11 practice questions on Modal Verbs, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.
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Q.1
Choose the correct modal: You ___ finish this today; there is no urgency, you can do it tomorrow if you prefer. (A) must (B) need not (C) may not (D) should not
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Answer: need not
Solution:
- The sentence describes an absence of obligation ("no urgency"), not a prohibition — "need not" is correct, not "must not."
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Q.2
Choose the correct modal: She has been studying for ten hours straight; she ___ be exhausted by now. (A) can (B) must (C) may (D) should
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Answer: must
Solution:
- The sentence draws a confident logical conclusion from the evidence given (ten hours of studying) — "must" expresses this kind of near-certain deduction.
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Q.3
Choose the correct modal: ___ I open the window? It’s getting a bit warm in here. (A) Must (B) May (C) Should (D) Need
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Answer: May
Solution:
- This is a formal request for permission — "May" is the standard modal for asking permission.
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Q.4
Choose the correct modal: Despite the heavy traffic, he ___ reach the station on time. (A) could (B) was able to
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Answer: was able to
Solution:
- This describes one specific accomplished action despite a difficulty (the traffic) — "was able to" is preferred here over the general-ability "could."
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Q.5
Choose the correct modal: You ___ park here; it is a no-parking zone, so please move your car. (A) must not (B) need not (C) may (D) should
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Answer: must not
Solution:
- The sentence describes a prohibition (a no-parking zone) — "must not" is the correct modal for forbidding something.
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Q.6
Choose the correct modal: As a child, she ___ run very fast. (A) could (B) was able to
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Answer: could
Solution:
- This describes a general ability spread over her childhood, not one single event — "could" is the natural choice.
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Q.7
Choose the correct modal: My grandfather ___ read without glasses even at the age of eighty. (A) could (B) will
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Q.8
Choose the correct modal: All passengers ___ wear seatbelts during takeoff and landing; it is mandatory. (A) might (B) must (C) could (D) would
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Q.9
Choose the correct modal: The lights are off and the car isn’t in the driveway; they ___ be out. (A) can (B) must (C) need (D) shall
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Q.10
Choose the correct modal: You ___ worry about the results; you did very well in the exam. (A) must not (B) need not (C) may not (D) shall not
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Q.11
Choose the correct modal: The rescue team ___ save all the passengers from the sinking boat. (A) could (B) was able to
How these questions were made
Written by Mahesh Srivastava, Founder of Pariksha Saathi. Published: 2026-10-03.