English Mastery
Module 3 · Modal Verbs

Grand Review & Practice Tests

All1 h 15 min38 questions4 sections
Overview

Visual overview

The master map – every modal by function
HOW STRONG IS THE PUSH? should ought to had better have to mustADVICEचाहिएWARNINGबेहतर होगाOBLIGATIONपड़ेगाdon’t have to= optionalYou don’t have to come tomorrow.mustn’t / can’t= bannedYou mustn’t share the OTP.shall= legal dutyThe Seller shall hand over possession. ASKING & OFFERING PermissioncancouldmaymightMay I come in, sir? Requestcancouldwouldwould you mindWould you mind waiting? Offer / suggestionshall I / wewould you likeShall we start? ABILITY & CERTAINTYAbilitycancouldbe able toWe were able to open it. PossibilitymightmaycouldIt might rain during the event. Deduction (now)must becan’t beHe must be inside – the AC is on. LOOKING BACK Deduction (past)must havecan’t haveV3They must have left early. Regret / criticismshould haveV3I should have taken photos. Missed chancecould haveV3We could have bought that plot.
Chips shaded light to dark follow the order of the table below. Past hindsight is always modal + have + V3.
Extra

The Complete Modal Map — By Function

FunctionModals (soft strong)Hindi feelingExample
Abilitycan / could / be able toसकनाShe can drive. / We were able to open it.
Permissioncan could may mightइज़ाज़तMay I come in, sir?
Requestcan could would would you mindविनतीWould you mind waiting?
Possibilitymight < may < couldशायदIt might rain during the event.
Deduction (now)must be / can’t beज़रूर होगा / हो नहीं सकताHe must be inside — the AC is on.
Deduction (past)must have / can’t have + V3हुआ होगा / हुआ नहीं होगाThey must have left early.
Obligationshould < ought to < had better < have to < mustचाहिए पड़ेगाYou must verify the title.
No obligationdon’t have toज़रूरी नहींYou don’t have to come tomorrow.
Prohibitionmustn’t / can’tमनाहीYou mustn’t share the OTP.
Advice + warninghad better (not)बेहतर होगा (वरना...)You’d better carry the originals.
Regret / criticismshould have + V3करना चाहिए थाI should have taken photos.
Missed chancecould have + V3कर सकते थेWe could have bought that plot.
Offer / suggestionshall I / shall we / would you likeक्या मैं...? क्या हम...?Shall we start?
Legal dutyshall (contracts)बाध्य होगाThe Seller shall hand over possession.
Five rules that solve most modal confusion:
  1. Modals are frozen: base verb after them, no -s, no ‘to’ (except ought to / have to), no do- support.
  2. Two modals never sit together: will can will be able to; will must will have to.
  3. Mustn’t = banned. Don’t have to = optional. They are opposites, not synonyms.
  4. Past hindsight = modal + have + V3 — and the ‘have’ never changes. ‘Could of’ is always wrong.
  5. One past success = was able to / managed to (not could). Politeness = one step into the past form: can could, will would.
Step 2

Practice Test 1 — Choose the Right Modal (20 questions)

Test

Practice Test 1 — Choose the Right Modal (20 questions)

0 / 20

Fill each blank with the best modal form. Every chapter is in play.

  1. 1
    Visitors (must/sign) the register at the gate — society rule.
  2. 2
    I (may/use) your phone for a minute, uncle ji?
  3. 3
    The lock was rusted shut, but the carpenter (be able to/open) it.
  4. 4
    You (not/have to) attend tomorrow — it’s optional for partners.
  5. 5
    You (must/not/share) your net-banking password with the accountant.
  6. 6
    He left at six, so he (should/reach) Hapur by now.
  7. 7
    we (shall/begin) with the pending payments?
  8. 8
    The Lessee (shall/maintain) the premises in good condition. (agreement)
  9. 9
    She (might/not/see) your message — her phone was off all day.
  10. 10
    You (had better/not/promise) a possession date without the OC.
  11. 11
    I (would/like) an appointment with the registrar, please.
  12. 12
    They (must/leave) already — the office is locked. (deduction)
  13. 13
    We (could/buy) that corner shop in 2018 — biggest miss of my life.
  14. 14
    You (should/inform) the bank about the address change last month. (criticism)
  15. 15
    you (would/mind/hold) the cheque till Monday?
  16. 16
    In college, he (can/solve) any maths problem in minutes.
  17. 17
    You (will/be able to/track) the file online from next week.
  18. 18
    It (can’t/be) the original — the watermark is missing.
  19. 19
    I’ve (have got to/take) this call — it’s the site engineer.
  20. 20
    (may) your new venture touch great heights!
Step 3

Practice Test 2 — Fix It & Translate It (18 questions)

Set A

Each sentence has one error. Rewrite it correctly. (10)

0 / 10
  1. 1
    He can able to read old Urdu documents.
  2. 2
    You mustn’t come on Saturday; the office is closed anyway, so no need.
  3. 3
    She must had informed the RWA before the renovation.
  4. 4
    Would you mind to share the payment schedule?
  5. 5
    Do you can arrange a site visit this week?
  6. 6
    You should of registered the agreement within four months.
  7. 7
    Shall you attend the AGM on Sunday?
  8. 8
    I will must renew the licence before March.
  9. 9
    The gate was jammed, but we could open it after an hour. (one specific success)
  10. 10
    You ought inform the co-owner in writing.
Set B

Translate into English. (8)

0 / 8
  1. 11
    क्या आप कल दोबारा आ सकेंगे? (विनम्र)
  2. 12
    तुम्हें OTP किसी को नहीं बताना चाहिए... मतलब, बताना सख़्त मना है।
  3. 13
    वह ज़रूर meeting में होगा — गाड़ी बाहर खड़ी है।
  4. 14
    मुझे कल tehsil जाना पड़ा।
  5. 15
    हमें पहले lawyer से पूछ लेना चाहिए था।
  6. 16
    क्या मैं आपके लिए चाय मँगवाऊँ?
  7. 17
    बेहतर होगा कि तुम originals साथ ले जाओ।
  8. 18
    तुम्हें कल आना ज़रूरी नहीं है।
Step 4

Answer Keys

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Answers · Test 1
1
must sign
2
May I use
3
was able to open
4
do not (don’t) have to
5
must not (mustn’t) share
6
should have reached (should be reaching also acceptable)
7
Shall we begin
8
shall maintain
9
might not have seen
10
had better not promise
11
would like
12
must have left
13
could have bought
14
should have informed
15
Would you mind holding
16
could solve
17
will be able to track
18
can’t be
19
got to take
20
May
Answers · Test 2

Part A

1
He can read old Urdu documents. / He is able to read... (Can OR able to — never both.)
2
You don’t have to come on Saturday. (No need = don’t have to, not mustn’t.)
3
She must have informed the RWA before the renovation. (Have is frozen.)
4
Would you mind sharing the payment schedule? (-ing after mind.)
5
Can you arrange a site visit this week? (No do-support.)
6
You should have registered the agreement within four months. (‘Of’ have.)
7
Will you attend the AGM on Sunday? (Shall-questions: I/we only.)
8
I will have to renew the licence before March. (No double modals.)
9
The gate was jammed, but we were able to open it after an hour. (Specific success was able to.)
10
You ought to inform the co-owner in writing. (Ought keeps its ‘to’.)
Answers · Test 2

Part B

11
Would you be able to come again tomorrow? / Could you come again tomorrow?
12
You mustn’t share the OTP with anyone.
13
He must be in the meeting — his car is parked outside.
14
I had to go to the tehsil (office) yesterday.
15
We should have asked the lawyer first. / We ought to have consulted the lawyer beforehand.
16
Shall I order tea for you? / Shall I get some tea for you?
17
You had better take the originals with you.
18
You don’t have to come tomorrow.

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Next up · Module 4 · Chapter 1Gerunds & Infinitives — The Basics

Module 3 complete. Ten small words, fully under your control. Module 4 — Gerunds & Infinitives — answers the question every learner asks: is it ‘stop smoking’ or ‘stop to smoke’? (Both — and they mean different things.)