Modals (S.1)

Which of the word endings can modal verbs (e.g. can, must, may, would, have to) use?

• -s (e.g. musts)

• -ing (e.g. musting)

• -ed (e.g. musted)

• They don't t have -s/-ing/-ed endings.

Answer explanation

Modal verbs, unlike other verbs, do not have -s, -ing or -ed endings.

✗ musts, musting, musted

What word(s) can come after a modal verb (e.g. can, must, may, would, have to)?

• a bare infinitive: He must be fast. / I can do it.

• a gerund: He must being fast. / I can doing it.

• a full infinitive: He must to be fast./ I can to do it.

• a past tense verb: He must went fast. / I can did it.

Answer explanation

Modal verbs are always followed by a bare infinitive.

Students must be polite at all times.

(✗ Students must to be polite at all times.)

Which sentence is correct?

• Could I borrow your pencil, please?

• Do I could borrow your pencil, please?

• Could I do borrow your pencil, please?

• Do I do do do borrow your pencil, please could?

Answer explanation

Modal verbs do not need do/does/did to form questions and negative statements.

Can I buy this dress? (✗ Do I can buy this dress?)

No, you can’t. It’s too expensive.

The police ​ (a)   evacuate the building because of the fire. Samuel ​ (b)   take his Maths exam again a week ago. Do we ​ (c)   tell Miss Lee about this? Dad ​ (d)   work last Saturday. ​

• had to/needed to
• must to
• mustn't to
• didn't has to
• can to
• needing to
• needed to
• have to
• didn’t need to

Answer explanation

Note that although have to and need to have similar functions as the modal must, they are verbs, so they have different forms (i.e. has to, had to, needs to, needed to).

We also form questions and negative statements with do/does/did.

Driving a car (a)   be dangerous sometimes.​

• can
• need to

• must

Answer explanation

She (a)   finish tidying her room or else she can't go to the basketball game.​

• has to
• need

• mustn't

• have to

• has

Answer explanation

You need to use "has to" for he/she/it.

She (a)   ​ go to the party, but her friends does.

• doesn’t have to
• mustn't

• not need

• don't have to

Answer explanation

Use "doesn't have to" for he/she/it.

I ​ (a)   tell you but you have to promise not to tell anyone at school.

• can
• must

• have to

Answer explanation

Will you ​ (a)   attend the meeting tomorrow?

• can

• must

• need to

Answer explanation

"Must" can't go at the front of a question.

You ​ (a)   give up drinking sugary drinks if you want to lose weight.

• must
• need not
• mustn't

Answer explanation