Modal Verbs MCQs 2026

Choose the correct sentence.

1. A He can to swim. ✓
2. B He cans swim. ✓
3. C He could swims. ✓
4. D He can swim. ✓

The modal "ought to" is used to express

1. A ability ✓
2. B permission ✓
3. C prohibition ✓
4. D moral duty or advice ✓

In "When I was young, I could run fast", the word "could" expresses

1. A present ability ✓
2. B past ability ✓
3. C permission ✓
4. D obligation ✓

The expression "would rather" is used to express

1. A ability ✓
2. B obligation ✓
3. C prohibition ✓
4. D preference ✓

The modal used to give strong advice or recommendation is

1. A can ✓
2. B may ✓
3. C should ✓
4. D will ✓

Which modal is used to express future intention or a promise

1. A can ✓
2. B may ✓
3. C will ✓
4. D must ✓

The sentence "Would you help me" is a

1. A polite request ✓
2. B harsh command ✓
3. C prohibition ✓
4. D obligation ✓

The sentence "Shall we go for a walk" is used to make a

1. A command ✓
2. B prohibition ✓
3. C suggestion ✓
4. D complaint ✓

Modal verbs are always followed by

1. A the base form of the main verb (without "to") ✓
2. B a to-infinitive ✓
3. C an -ing form ✓
4. D a past participle ✓

The modal "shall" is traditionally used with

1. A he, she or it ✓
2. B they only ✓
3. C you only ✓
4. D "I" and "we" (in questions and suggestions) ✓

The sentence "You needn't worry" means you

1. A must worry ✓
2. B should worry ✓
3. C do not need to worry ✓
4. D cannot worry ✓

Choose the correct sentence.

1. A You must not to smoke here. ✓
2. B You must not smoke here. ✓
3. C You must not smoking here. ✓
4. D You must to not smoke. ✓

The modal used to express a logical certainty, as in "He must be tired", is

1. A can ✓
2. B may ✓
3. C must ✓
4. D shall ✓

"Could you pass the salt" is more ___ than "Can you pass the salt".

1. A rude ✓
2. B polite ✓
3. C incorrect ✓
4. D informal only ✓

The words "dare" and "need" can function as

1. A both modal and main verbs ✓
2. B only nouns ✓
3. C only adjectives ✓
4. D only prepositions ✓

The sentence "He may have missed the bus" expresses a possibility about the

1. A future ✓
2. B present habit ✓
3. C permission ✓
4. D past ✓

The negative of "can" (ability) is

1. A can not to ✓
2. B cannot ✓
3. C do not can ✓
4. D can not not ✓

"Might" is generally used to express a

1. A weaker possibility than "may" ✓
2. B certainty ✓
3. C command ✓
4. D prohibition ✓

Choose the correct sentence.

1. A She should to see a doctor. ✓
2. B She shoulds see a doctor. ✓
3. C She should seeing a doctor. ✓
4. D She should see a doctor. ✓

Choose the correct sentence.

1. A They must to work hard. ✓
2. B They musts work hard. ✓
3. C They must working hard. ✓
4. D They must work hard. ✓

The sentence "Might I make a suggestion" is a very

1. A polite or formal request ✓
2. B rude command ✓
3. C obligation ✓
4. D prohibition ✓

The sentence "Will you please sit down" is a

1. A prohibition ✓
2. B obligation ✓
3. C polite request or invitation ✓
4. D statement of ability ✓

The modal expressing past advice not taken, as in "You should have called", is

1. A can have ✓
2. B may have ✓
3. C must have ✓
4. D should have ✓

The expression "used to" expresses

1. A present ability ✓
2. B obligation now ✓
3. C a past habit or state ✓
4. D permission ✓

Which of the following expresses obligation

1. A may ✓
2. B might ✓
3. C must ✓
4. D could ✓

"Would" as the past of "will" is often used in

1. A reported speech and polite requests ✓
2. B counting numbers ✓
3. C spelling ✓
4. D punctuation ✓

Modal verbs have no

1. A meaning ✓
2. B subject ✓
3. C use ✓
4. D infinitive or -ing forms of their own ✓

Which sentence expresses possibility

1. A You must leave now. ✓
2. B It may snow tonight. ✓
3. C You should study. ✓
4. D He can drive. ✓

The modal that expresses lack of necessity is

1. A must ✓
2. B need not ✓
3. C can ✓
4. D will ✓

The sentence "Can I borrow your pen" asks for

1. A permission ✓
2. B obligation ✓
3. C advice ✓
4. D certainty ✓

Modal verbs do NOT change their form according to

1. A the subject (they take no -s in the third person) ✓
2. B their meaning ✓
3. C the sentence ✓
4. D intonation ✓

The sentence "He cannot be serious" expresses

1. A ability ✓
2. B impossibility or strong doubt ✓
3. C permission ✓
4. D obligation ✓

In "He must be at home; his car is outside", the word "must" shows

1. A obligation ✓
2. B logical deduction or certainty ✓
3. C permission ✓
4. D ability ✓

Modal verbs are helping verbs that express

1. A mood such as ability, possibility, permission or obligation ✓
2. B only the past tense ✓
3. C plural nouns ✓
4. D punctuation ✓

Which of the following is a modal verb

1. A run ✓
2. B have ✓
3. C can ✓
4. D table ✓

The modal used to express ability is

1. A must ✓
2. B should ✓
3. C may ✓
4. D can ✓

The main purpose of modal verbs is to

1. A add meaning such as ability, possibility, permission and obligation to the main verb ✓
2. B show plural number ✓
3. C mark punctuation ✓
4. D indicate gender ✓

The sentence "She can swim" expresses

1. A obligation ✓
2. B ability ✓
3. C prohibition ✓
4. D advice ✓

The past form of "can" is

1. A canned ✓
2. B could ✓
3. C can ✓
4. D will can ✓

The modal used to ask for or give permission politely is

1. A must ✓
2. B should ✓
3. C will ✓
4. D may ✓

The sentence "May I come in" is a request for

1. A permission ✓
2. B ability ✓
3. C obligation ✓
4. D advice ✓

The sentence "You must submit the form today" expresses

1. A ability ✓
2. B permission ✓
3. C obligation or necessity ✓
4. D possibility ✓

The sentence "You should exercise daily" expresses

1. A prohibition ✓
2. B ability ✓
3. C advice or recommendation ✓
4. D permission ✓

The modal used to express strong prohibition is

1. A must not ✓
2. B may ✓
3. C can ✓
4. D will ✓

The sentence "It might rain today" expresses

1. A certainty ✓
2. B possibility ✓
3. C obligation ✓
4. D permission ✓