This document provides definitions and examples of English modal verbs including: can, be able to, can't, could, might, must, have to, need to, needn't, mustn't, don't have to, should, and ought to. It also includes 20 practice sentences using various modal verbs and asks the reader to fill in the missing modal verb that best completes each sentence.

2. CAN He can find any
street in London.
You can take a taxi.
Can you take me
to the airport?
Ability
Suggestion
Request
BE ABLE TO He is able to find
any street in
London.
Ability
CAN´T That story can´t be
true
Certainty that
something is
impossible

3. COULD I could play tennis
when I was
younger.
Could you take me
to Victoria
Station?.
You could take a
taxi.
Ability
Request
Suggestion
MIGHT It might be quicker
to travel by train
Possibility
MUST You must be back
at 10 o´clock.
Look at the snow.
It must be cold
outside.
Obligation
Certainty that
something is true

4. HAVE TO You have to be
back at 10 o´clock.
Obligation
NEED TO You need to study
a lot.
Obligation
NEEDN´T You needn´t have a
university degree.
Lack of obligation
MUSTN´T You mustn´t drive
without a license.
Prohibition

5. DON´T HAVE TO You don´t have to
call a taxi.
Lack of obligation
SHOULD You should drive
more carefully
Opinion / Advice
OUGHT TO You ought to
drive more
carefully
Opinion
Advice

7. PRACTICE
1. Laila ………………….. not swim when she was one
year old.
2. …………………. I borrow your pen?
3. You look tired, you ………………have some sleep.
4. I …………………. To study well for the exam.
5. My friends……………. Come to the party, but
nobody is sure.
6. The project……………….. Finish in two years time.
7. It……………. rain in the desert sometimes, but
you can’t depend on it.

8. 8. You …………….. behave well in front of
guests, stop being silly.
9. I wish I ………………… buy a new car but I
don’t have any money.
10. If I had enough money, I ………..travel with
my friends but now I can’t.
11. Samy…………lift that heavy table, he is too
weak.
12. You failed in your final test,
you…………..have studied harder.

9. • 13. I have no time. I …………….leave home
now. My parents are waiting for me.
• 14. We …………… (not) climb those
mountains when we were kids.
• 15.Stop smoking! You really ………… (not)
smoke.
• 16. You …………..leave the class before
one o’clock.
• 17. We ………….. watch TV so much.

10. • 18. He ……………. be friendly, but
he is usually unfriendly.
• 19. It’s too cold! I ………….. close
the window.
• 20. You …………………. run faster if
you weren’t so lazy.