ENGLISH GRAMMAR (CLASS 3–10) · VERBS

Modal verbs

Modals add meaning to the main verb: can/could (ability), may (permission), must (strong deduction or duty), should (advice), need not (no necessity), used to (past habit), ought to (duty). Some must be followed by "to" (ought to, used to) and some by "have + V3" for the past.

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Worked examples

Example 1 · level 1

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank: “I would ____ walk than take the crowded bus.”

better
prefer
rather
like

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"Would rather" + base verb … than shows preference.
Complete sentence: “I would rather walk than take the crowded bus.”

Answer: rather

Example 2 · level 2

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank: “Priya ____ not have stolen the money; she was with me all evening.”

can
shall
ought
need

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"Cannot have" + past participle shows that something was impossible.
Complete sentence: “Priya can not have stolen the money; she was with me all evening.”

Answer: can

Example 3 · level 3

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank: “In those days, Kabir ____ walk five kilometres to school every day.”

will
would
should
shall

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"Would" + base verb can describe a repeated action in the past.
Complete sentence: “In those days, Kabir would walk five kilometres to school every day.”

Answer: would