Modal Auxiliary Verbs Worksheet for Classes 4 and 5

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate modal auxiliary verb that expresses the idea mentioned in the brackets.

1. Mummy, ……………….. I watch TV? (Permission)

2. It …………….. rain in the evening. (Possibility)

3. She ……………………… read without glasses. (Inability)

4. ……………… you help me, please? (Request)

5. ………………….. I help you carry these boxes? (Offer)

6. Meera …………….. speak six languages. (Ability)

7. I ……………… get you something to eat. (Willingness)

8. You ……………….. not do this. (Prohibition)

9. We ……………… pay taxes to help build our nation. (Duty)

10. You ……………… help the poor and needy. (Necessity)

Answers

1. Mummy, can / may I watch TV? (Permission)

2. It may rain in the evening. (Possibility)

3. She cannot read without glasses. (Inability)

4. Will you help me, please? (Request)

5. Shall I help you carry these boxes? (Offer)

6. Meera can speak six languages. (Ability)

7. I will get you something to eat. (Willingness)

8. You must not do this. (Prohibition)

9. We must / should pay taxes to help build our nation. (Duty)

10. You must / should help the poor and needy. (Necessity)

Notes

Auxiliary verbs used to express various ideas.

Ability – can and could

Permission – may and can

Duty and necessity – should and must

Prohibition – must not

Inability – cannot and could not

Probability – may and might