CLASS 10 ENGLISH — MODALS CHEAT SHEET
1. What are Modals?
Modals are helping verbs that express:
• ability
• permission
• possibility
• necessity
• obligation
• advice
• request
• prediction
Main Modals
can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, ought to
2. MODALS + BASIC RULE
Formula:
Subject + Modal + V1
Examples:
• She can swim.
• You should study.
• He must obey the rules.
• They will come.
Never use V2/V3 after a modal.
He can went.
He can go.
She should studied.
She should study.
3. MODALS AND THEIR USES
Modal Main Use Example
Can Ability / Permission I can swim.
Could Past ability / Polite request I could swim when I was five.
May Permission / Possibility May I come in?
Might Weak possibility It might rain.
Must Strong necessity / You must obey the rules.
Obligation
Should Advice / Duty You should work hard.
Ought to Moral duty / Advice We ought to respect elders.
Will Future / Willingness I will help you.
Would Polite request / Preference Would you help me?
Shall Suggestion / Future Shall we go?
4. CAN vs COULD
CAN
Used for present ability or informal permission.
I can solve this problem.
COULD
Used for past ability or polite requests.
I could swim when I was six.
Could you help me?
Shortcut:
Can → Present
Could → Past / Polite
5. MAY vs MIGHT
MAY
Indicates possibility or permission.
It may rain today.
May I enter the room?
MIGHT
Indicates a weaker possibility.
It might rain tonight.
Shortcut:
May = possible
Might = less certain
6. MUST vs SHOULD
MUST
Strong obligation / necessity.
You must wear your school uniform.
SHOULD
Advice or recommendation.
You should revise your lessons.
Shortcut:
Must = compulsory
Should = advisable
7. IMPORTANT MODAL PAIRS
Situation Modal
Ability can
Past ability could
Permission may/can
Polite permission may
Possibility may/might
Strong possibility / certainty must
Advice should/ought to
Necessity must
Polite request could/would
Future will/shall
Suggestion shall
8. COMMON MODAL ERRORS
Wrong Correct
He can plays. He can play.
You should to study. You should study.
She must goes. She must go.
He may comes. He may come.
They will went. They will go.
Remember:
MODAL + V1
Always.
9. MODALS — PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Fill in the blanks with a suitable modal.
1. You ______ obey your parents.
2. ______ I come in, sir?
3. He ______ swim when he was five.
4. It ______ rain tonight.
5. You ______ consult a doctor if you are unwell.
6. We ______ respect our national flag.
7. ______ you please help me?
8. Students ______ wear their identity cards at school.
9. She ______ solve difficult mathematical problems.
10. ______ we start the meeting?
Answers
1. must
2. May
3. could
4. might
5. should
6. ought to
7. Could/Would
8. must
9. can
10. Shall
PART B — MODALS
A. ERROR FINDING — 25 Questions
1. He can plays cricket.
2. You should to study hard.
3. She must goes there.
4. They may comes tomorrow.
5. He will went to Delhi.
6. You could helped me.
7. We should respects our elders.
8. She might comes late.
9. He can solved the problem.
10. Students must follows the rules.
11. You may to leave now.
12. We ought to respects nature.
13. He could runs very fast.
14. You must to wear a helmet.
15. She will helps us.
16. They might arrives late.
17. I can speaks English.
18. You should obeyed your parents.
19. He may is at home.
20. We must protects the environment.
21. She could danced very well.
22. You ought to worked harder.
23. He can to swim.
24. They should follows the instructions.
25. We will meets tomorrow.
Answers
Q Error Correction
1 plays play
2 to study study
3 goes go
4 comes come
5 went go
6 helped help
7 respects respect
8 comes come
9 solved solve
10 follows follow
11 to leave leave
12 respects respect
13 runs run
14 to wear wear
15 helps help
16 arrives arrive
17 speaks speak
18 obeyed obey
19 is be
20 protects protect
21 danced dance
22 worked work
23 to swim swim
24 follows follow
25 meets meet
B. GAP FILLING — 25 Questions
1. You _______ obey your parents.
2. _______ I come in, sir?
3. She _______ swim when she was five.
4. It _______ rain tonight.
5. You _______ work hard to succeed.
6. _______ you help me with this question?
7. We _______ respect our elders.
8. Students _______ follow school rules.
9. He _______ be at home; his car is outside.
10. _______ we go for a walk?
11. You _______ consult a doctor.
12. We _______ protect the environment.
13. He _______ speak three languages when he was young.
14. _______ you please open the window?
15. You _______ not waste water.
16. She _______ come tomorrow.
17. We _______ obey traffic rules.
18. _______ I borrow your pen?
19. You _______ be careful on the road.
20. He _______ solve difficult problems.
21. They _______ arrive late because of traffic.
22. _______ we start the meeting?
23. You _______ not use mobile phones during the examination.
24. We _______ help people in need.
25. _______ you please explain this question?
Answers
1. must
2. May
3. could
4. might
5. must
6. Could
7. should
8. must
9. must
10. Shall
11. should
12. should
13. could
14. Could
15. should
16. may/might
17. must
18. May
19. should
20. can
21. may/might
22. Shall
23. must
24. should
25. Could/Would