1. What are Modal Verbs?

Modal auxiliary verbs help other verbs express a meaning or an idea but have no meaning by themselves. In English, modal auxiliary verbs are defective; for example, they do not have participle forms (no -ing or -ed endings).

　　They are used in a variety of grammatical moods such as the conditional mood, which expresses uncertainty ("I would be delighted if you came to my party").

　　Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Next are some important differences.

2. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

EXAMPLES:

He can speak Chinese.

She should be here by 9:00.

3. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

EXAMPLES:

He should not be late.

They might not come to the party.

4. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

EXAMPLES:

He will can go with us. NOT CORRECT

She musted study very hard. NOT CORRECT 4. Closing down by doing a quiz

Modals and Related Expressions 1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He_____ be exhausted after such a long flight.

　A. must B. can C. had better

2. The book is optional. My professor said we could read it if we needed extra credit. But we _____ read it if we don't want to.

　A. can not B. must not C. don't have to

3. Susan_____ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.

　A. couldn't B. can't C. might not

4. The television isn't working. It ______ damaged during the move.

　A. must have been B. must C. must be

5. A_____ hold your breath for more than a minute?

B: No, I can't.

　A. Are you able to B. Might you C. Can you

6. You _____ be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.

　A. can't B. don't have to C. shouldn't

7. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the answer key. The answer in the book _____ be wrong!

　A. have to B. must C. should

8. You _____ do the job if you didn't speak Japanese fluently.

　A. can't B. won't be able to C. couldn't

9. You _____ worry so much. It doesn't do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don't. If you don't, just apply for another one. Eventually, you will find work.

　A. shouldn't B. don't have to C. can't

10. You _____ be kidding! That can't be true.

　A. should B. have to C. ought to

11. You _____ leave the table once you have finished your meal and politely excused yourself.

　A. would B. might C. may

12. _____ we move into the living room? It's more comfortable in there and there's a beautiful view of the lake.

　A. Shall B. Must C. Will

13. If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I _____ down the Colorado River right now.

　A. would have float B. would be floating C. would float

14. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously worked with Sam, I told my boss that he _____ take another look at his resume and reconsider him for the position.

　A. must B. ought to C. has to

15. You _____ take along some cash. The restaurant may not accept credit cards.

　A. had better B. has to C. can

16. The machine _____ on by flipping this switch.

　A. may turn B. could be turning C. can be turned

17. I can't stand these people - I _____ get out of here. I'm going to take off for a while you get rid of them.

　A. might B. have got to C. had better

18. You _____ forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about paying on time.

　A. mustn't B. don't have to C. couldn't

19. Terry and Frank said they would come over right after work, so they _____ be here by 6:00.

　A. have to B. can C. should

20. The lamp _____ be broken. Maybe the light bulb just burned out.

　A. might not B. must not C. could not