Modal verbs

Name: ......................................... Date: ...........................................

Modal verbs

Modal verbs help to express the certainty, ability or obligation of the main verb in a
sentence. For example:

1. I can do my homework.
2. I should do my homework.

What is the main verb in each sentence?

What is the modal verb in each sentence?
How is the meaning in each of the sentences different?

1. Circle the modal verbs in this group:

should must swim might eat run can

can’t play may ought will write won’t

2. Underline the modal verb in each sentence below.

a. Harry can swim.
b. Jenny ought to go home.
c. My brother shouldn’t use my tablet.

3. Choose the correct meaning for each sentence:

a. I can swim.
I like swimming. I am able to swim.

b. You ought to listen!

It’s a good idea for you to listen. You need to listen!

c. I have to go now.
I need to go now. I’ll go when I want to.

d. We may not have to wear a school uniform.

We can wear a school
We need to wear a school uniform.
uniform if we like

e. He will help you.

He definitely will help you. It’s possible that he will help you.

f. You shouldn’t eat pizza every day.

It’s a good idea to eat It’s not a good idea to
pizza every day eat pizza every day.

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2019 34934 Page 1 of 3

 Modal verbs
4. Change the meanings of the following sentences by swapping the modal verbs.

can can’t should shouldn’t

must mustn’t will won’t

may may not would wouldn’t

could couldn’t might mightn’t

shall shan’t ought oughtn’t

She can drive. She can’t drive.

a. You should run across the road.

You shouldn’t run across the road.
..................................................................................................
b. I mustn’t do my homework.
I must do my homework.
..................................................................................................
c. I won’t help you.
I will help you.
..................................................................................................
d. It may rain tomorrow.
It may not rain tomorrow.
..................................................................................................
e. I must catch two buses to school.
I mustn’t catch two buses to school.
..................................................................................................
f. We ought to listen to our parents.
We oughtn’t to listen to our parents.
..................................................................................................
g. They may not join the team.
They may join the team.
..................................................................................................
h. He doesn’t have to help his mum.
He has to help his mum.
..................................................................................................

5. Now choose five modal verbs and write your own sentences.
Students shouldn’t run in the class.
.......................................................................................................
I have to do my homework.
.......................................................................................................
I must clean my bedroom.
.......................................................................................................
I can play football.
.......................................................................................................
I might get an A in the English test.
.......................................................................................................

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2019 34934 Page 2 of 3

 Modal verbs
Modal verbs - answers
1.

should must swim might eat run can

can’t play may ought will write won’t

2. Underline the modal verb in each sentence below.

a. Harry can swim.
b. Jenny ought to go home.
c. My brother shouldn’t use my tablet.

3. Choose the correct meaning for each sentence:

a. I can swim.
I like swimming. I am able to swim.

b. You ought to listen!

It’s a good idea for you to listen. You need to listen!

c. I have to go now.
I need to go now. I’ll go when I want to.

d. We may not have to wear a school uniform.

We can wear a school
We need to wear a school uniform.
uniform if we like

e. He will help you.

He definitely will help you. It’s possible that he will help you.

f. You shouldn’t eat pizza every day.

It’s a good idea to eat It’s not a good idea to
pizza every day eat pizza every day.

4.
a. You shouldn’t run across the road.
b. I must do my homework.
c. I will help you.
d. It may not rain tomorrow.
e. I mustn’t catch two buses to school.
f. We oughtn’t listen to our parents.
g. They may join the team.
h. He does have to help his mum.

5. Accept answers where a modal verb is used correctly.

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2019 34934 Page 3 of 3

Years 5 and 6: Modal Verbs and
Adverbs of Possibility
Learning From Home Activity Booklet

Statutory Activity Sheet Page

Requirements Number

Pupils should be Modal Verbs 2

taught to using
modal verbs
Max Modal 3
or adverbs to
indicate degrees of
possibility Negative Modals 4

Negative Nancy 5

Modal Sentences 6

Adverbs of Possibility 7

A Class in 2099 8-9

A Parent’s Guide to 10
Terminology

twinkl.co.uk

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 Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are used with other verbs to describe how likely something is to happen or to show
how certain we are of something happening. For example:

One day the girl might be Queen.

The word ‘might’ is the modal verb. It indicates that the girl might be the Queen but it isn’t
definitely going to happen. Below is a list of modal verbs. Write the modal verbs onto the line
below according to how strongly they suggest an event might happen.

Definite event
Modal Verbs

 may

 ought to


could


should

must

will

would


might


can
Possible event

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 Max Modal
Max Modal is struggling with his homework. He must identify which of the
sentences below contain a modal verb. Help Max by ticking the sentences
that contain a modal verb.

1. I like chocolate because it tastes nice.

2. My mum said we might go on holiday at half term.

3. The plane flew through the sky.

4. You must finish your work before break.

5. The special visitor will arrive later today.

6. After dinner, I finished my homework.

Now help Max by underlining the modal verb in each sentence below:

1. If she entered the competition, Nicole might win a prize.

2. It would have been great if we won the football match.

3. We will complete the activity if we work together.

4. Lexi’s mum said that she should always try her best at school.

5. “Yes, you may go to the toilet,” the teacher said.

6. Dad thought that he ought to wash the car before going to grandma’s house.

7. We could go to the zoo at the weekend or go bowling.

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 Negative Modals
Modal verbs can also be changed to their negative form. For example, should can be replaced
with should not. Also, many negative modal verbs can be contracted, for example should not
becomes shouldn’t in its contracted form.

Complete the blanks in the table below to show modal verbs and their negative forms (including
contractions). The first one has been done for you.

modal verb negative form contraction of

negative Form

should should not shouldn’t

cannot

couldn’t

mayn’t

might not

won’t

would not

must

ought to

Hint: If you get stuck, use the

Internet to help you search for
modal verbs and their negatives.

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 Negative Nancy
Nancy is a contrary young girl. She likes to say the opposite of what other people
say to her. Below is a list of sentences that Nancy has heard during the
day. Please write her reply by changing the modal verb in each sentence
to its negative form. For example:

Hattie can do a handstand. (positive sentence)

Hattie can’t do a handstand. (negative sentence)

1. Ffion can do column addition.



2. Connor could swim a full length of the pool.



3. It might rain later this evening.



4. You may go to the ball at the palace.



5. I will take more care next time.



6. Hristo would like to read a story after lunch.



7. We must get closer to see.



8. You should finish it before break time.



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 Modal Sentences
Choose one of the modal verbs to help you to complete each of these sentences. You can only
use each modal verb once so tick each one as you have used it.

shouldn’t can couldn’t

would ought may
might would must

1. Neeta tidy her bedroom before she can go out to play.

2. Paul was so tired that he keep his eyes open.

3. You eat too many sweets as it’s bad for your teeth.

4. I like to be an astronaut when I am older.

5. After you have finished all your food, you leave the table.

6. I say my three times table confidently.

7. I like to travel the world in the future.

8. Ask Harriet - she know the right answer.

9. I don’t want to go but I to.

Challenge: Using some of the modal verbs on the previous page, write three of your own
sentences with modal verbs.

1. 
2. 
3. 

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 Adverbs of Possibility
In addition to modal verbs, some adverbs can be used to describe how likely it is that
something will happen. These are called ‘adverbs of possibility’. Some of the most
common adverbs of possibility are:

certainly definitely maybe possibly

clearly obviously perhaps probably

Use each word to write a sentence showing how it can be used. For example:

He is definitely coming to the party.

Maybe I’ll win the lottery this week.

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

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 A Class in 2099

Imagine what school will be like in the year 2099. Write a description of your ideas for
a future school using modal verbs and adverbs of possibility to explain what the school
might be like. Use the following questions to help you think about what to write:

• How will children in the future get to school?

• What lessons will they study?

• How many will be in each class?

• What will they do at break and lunch times?

• What will they eat?

• What will they do their work on? Tablets, laptops or something else?

• Who will teach the children of the future? A person, a robot or even an alien?

Use these modal verbs and adverbs of possibility to help you. Underline them in your writing.

modal verbs can, could, should, must, ought, may, would,

might, will.

adverbs of possibility certainly, definitely, obviously, sometimes,

probably, maybe, perhaps, never, rarely.

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 A Parent’s Guide to Terminology
In Years 5 and 6, your child will be taught to use modal verbs and adverbs of
possibility in their independent writing. They will also be expected to identify modal
verbs in sentences and add them to sentences for the English Grammar, Punctuation
and Spelling Test that is sat at the end of Year 6. The activities in this booklet will help
your child identify and use modal verbs and adverbs of possibility when writing.

Terminology Explanation

modal verb Modal verbs are sometimes also known as

auxiliary verbs. They are used with other
verbs to describe how likely things are to
happen or to what degree of something is
known. Modal verbs include: can, could,
may, might, will, would, must, should,
ought to. For example:

The princess might marry a prince.

adverbs of possibility Adverbs of possibility work in the same

way as modal verbs – they give information
about how likely something is. Adverbs for
possibility include: certainly, definitely,
maybe, surely, clearly, obviously, perhaps,
probably and undoubtedly. For example:

The sky went very dark so obviously it was

going to rain.
 Years 5 and 6: Modal Verbs and Adverbs
of Possibility Answers

2. Modal verbs
Top 3 (any order) - will, can, must.
Middle 3 (any order) - would, should, ought to.
Bottom 3 (any order) - could, may, might.

3. Max Modal

1. I like chocolate because it tastes nice.

2. My mum said we might go on holiday at half term. Correct
3. The plane flew through the sky.
4. You must finish your work before break. Correct
5. The special visitor will arrive later today. Correct
6. After dinner, I finished my homework.

1. If she entered the competition, Nicole might win a prize.

2. It would have been great if we won the football match.
3. We will complete the activity if we work together.
4. Lexi’s mum said that she should always try her best at school.
5. “Yes you may go to the toilet,” the teacher said.
6. Dad thought that he ought to wash the car before going to grandma’s house.
7. We could go to the zoo at the weekend or go bowling.

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 Years 5 and 6: Modal Verbs and Adverbs
of Possibility Answers
4. Negative Models

modal verb negative form contraction of

negative Form

should should not shouldn’t

can cannot can’t

could could not couldn’t

may may not mayn’t

might might not mightn’t

will will not won’t

would would not wouldn’t

must must not mustn’t

should should not shouldn’t

ought to ought not oughtn’t

5. Negative Nancy

1. Ffion can do column addition. 5. I will take more care next time.
Ffion cannot/ can’t do column addition. I will not/won’t take more care next time.

2. Connor could swim a full length of the pool. 6. Hristo would like to read a story after lunch.
Connor could not/couldn’t swim a full Hristo would not/wouldn’t like to read a
length of the pool. story after lunch.

3. It might rain later this evening. 7. We must get closer to see.

It might not/mightn’t rain later this evening. We must not/mustn’t get closer to see.

4. You may go to the ball at the palace. 8. You should finish it before break time.
You may not/ mayn’t go to the ball at the You should not/shouldn’t finish it before
palace. break.

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 Years 5 and 6: Modal Verbs and Adverbs
of Possibility Answers
6. Model Sentences

1. Neeta must tidy her bedroom before she can go out to play.
2. Paul was so tired that he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
3. You shouldn’t eat too many sweets as it’s bad for your teeth.
4. I would like to be an astronaut when I am older.
5. After you have finished all your food, you may leave the table.
6. I can say my three times table confidently.
7. I would like to travel the world in the future.
8. Ask Harriet - she might know the right answer.
9. I don’t want to go but I ought to.

Challenge: Accept three sensible sentences where different modal verbs are used.

7. Adverbs of Possibility
Accept eight sensible sentences that use the eight different adverbs of possibility.

8-9. Class of 2099

Please accept any description that is grammatically correct and has included underlined
modal verbs and adverbs of possibility.

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