Important Questions: Modals | English Grammar for Class 9 PDF Download

Q.1. What are modals? Provide three examples of modal verbs.

Ans: Modals are a type of auxiliary verbs that express the attitude or possibility of the action in a sentence. They are used to modify the main verb. Examples of modal verbs include "can," "may," and "must."

Q.2. Explain the function of the modal verb "could" in a sentence. Provide an example.

Ans: The modal verb "could" is used to express past ability, permission, or possibility. It is the past tense form of "can." For example, "She could play the piano when she was younger."

Q.3. How is the modal verb "should" used in a sentence? Give an example.

Ans: The modal verb "should" is used to indicate obligation, advice, or recommendation. It suggests what is the right or proper thing to do. For instance, "You should study for the exam to get good grades."

Q.4. What is the meaning of the modal verb "might"? Provide an example sentence.

Ans: The modal verb "might" is used to express possibility or uncertainty about an action. It indicates a lower level of probability compared to "may" or "can." For example, "I might go to the party if I finish my work on time."

Q.5. Explain the use of the modal verb "must" in a sentence. Provide a brief example.

Ans: The modal verb "must" is used to express strong obligation or necessity. It implies that something is required or essential. For instance, "You must complete your homework before going out to play."

Q.6. Explain the concept of modals and their role in English grammar. Provide examples to support your answer.

Ans: Modals are a type of auxiliary verbs that express various attitudes or possibilities. They are used to convey ideas such as ability, permission, necessity, obligation, and certainty. They play a crucial role in English grammar by helping us communicate different shades of meaning.
Here are a few examples:

• Ability: "She can speak three languages fluently."
• Permission: "May I use your phone?"
• Necessity: "You must complete your homework before going out."
• Obligation: "We should take care of the environment."
• Certainty: "It will rain tomorrow."

Modals are unique in that they do not require an additional auxiliary verb to form questions or negatives. They are followed by the base form of the main verb. For example, "Can he swim?" or "She shouldn't eat too much."

Q.7. Discuss the modal verb 'can' in detail. Explain its various uses with appropriate examples.

Ans: The modal verb 'can' is versatile and has several uses in English.
Here are its main applications:

• Ability: It expresses a person's capability or skill.
  Example: "I can play the guitar."
• Permission: It indicates the authorization or consent to do something.
  Example: "Can I borrow your pen?"
• Request: It is used to ask someone to do something politely.
  Example: "Can you help me carry these bags?"
• Possibility: It suggests the potential or likelihood of an event.
  Example: "It can rain tomorrow."
• Offer: It presents an offer or willingness to do something.
  Example: "I can help you with your project."

The negative form of 'can' is 'cannot' or 'can't,' and the question form is formed by inverting the subject and 'can.' For instance, "Can she come?" or "They cannot swim."

Q.8. Explain the modal verb 'must' in detail. Discuss its various uses with suitable examples.

The modal verb 'must' is used to express different ideas in English.
Here are its primary uses:

• Necessity: It indicates a strong obligation or requirement.
  Example: "You must study for the exam."
• Prohibition: It expresses a strong prohibition or restriction.
  Example: "You must not smoke in this area."
• Deduction: It is used to make logical deductions or draw conclusions.
  Example: "He has been studying all night. He must be tired."
• Strong recommendation: It suggests a strong recommendation or advice.
  Example: "You must see that movie. It's excellent."

The negative form of 'must' is 'must not' or 'mustn't.' In questions, it is formed by inverting the subject and 'must.' For instance, "Must we leave now?" or "They mustn't talk during the exam."

Q.9. Discuss the difference between 'should' and 'ought to' as modal verbs. Provide examples to support your answer.

Ans: 'Should' and 'ought to' are both modal verbs that express advice, recommendation, or moral obligation. Although they are similar in meaning, there are subtle differences between them:

• 'Should': It is used to give advice or suggest the better option.
  Example: "You should eat more fruits and vegetables."
• 'Ought to': It also conveys advice, but with a stronger sense of moral obligation.
  Example: "You ought to apologize for your behavior."

The main difference lies in the degree of obligation. 'Ought to' implies a higher level of responsibility or duty compared to 'should.' Additionally, 'ought to' is often used to express expectations or moral correctness.
Both 'should' and 'ought to' have negative forms ('should not'/'shouldn't' and 'ought not to'/'oughtn't to') and can be used in questions by inverting the subject and the modal verb.

Q.10. Explain the concept of 'modals of possibility' and discuss their usage in English. Provide suitable examples.

Ans: Modals of possibility are used to express different degrees of possibility or uncertainty. They include modal verbs such as 'may,' 'might,' 'could,' and 'can.'
Here are their main applications:

• 'May': It suggests a possibility or a chance of something happening.
  Example: "She may arrive late for the meeting."
• 'Might': It indicates a lower probability or a more remote possibility.
  Example: "They might go on a vacation next month."
• 'Could': It expresses a general possibility or a hypothetical situation.
  Example: "I could lend you some money if you need it."
• 'Can': It implies a possibility or ability in certain contexts.
  Example: "It can get quite cold in this region during winter."

Modals of possibility are often used in combination with other verbs to convey specific meanings. They can be used in questions and negatives, following the same patterns as other modal verbs.