Modal Exercises with Answers

Complete the following exercises and check the answers to find out if you know them well.

Fill in the blanks with the correct modals

1. He knew that he _______ (Would/ must) be able to reach office in time.
2. You ______ (dare/ could) not enter my house again.
3. I thought he ______ (should/ would) be at school.
4. Raman _____ (can/ should) speak in two voices.
5. I _____ (can’t/ couldn’t) write what you spoke.
6. You _____ (should/ can) have told me earlier.
7. _____ (Can/ Should) i get something to drink, please? I am very thirsty.
8. _______ (Can/ Should) I use your car, please?
9. You ______ (can/ would) go in now and meet the doctor.
10. I _______ (would/ should) love to teach these children.
11. I ______ (could/ can) eat 5 bananas at a time when i was young.
12. You _____ (must/ will) see the lawyer at once.
13. ______ (May/ Might) god protect you from the pain and agony.
14. My mother ______ (can/ could) watch T.V for hours even now.
15. It _______ (would/ may) be cold in the evening, who knows?
16. I __ arrange the flowers for the bouquet. (may/can)
17. __ I borrow this pen from you? (may/might)
18. The teacher __ ask you to bring the homework. (might/can)
19. According to the weather forecast, it ___ snow heavily tomorrow. (may/shall)
20. Raj hasn’t studied well. He __ fail his exam. (might/shall)
21. You __ follow the traffic rules. (may/must)
22. It __ be difficult to live amidst war. (should/must)
23. My mother __ scold me if I don’t go back on time. (will/may)
24. We ___ take care of our parents. (ought to/ could)
25. I __ visit the local grocery store soon. (shall/can)
26. You ___ be punctual. (should/ought)
27. One __ repay all their debts. (must/ought to)
28. __ you show me the road to the market? (could/might)
29. The child __ be taken to hospital immediately. (must/might)
30. ___ you have hot chocolate? (shall/will)
31. My teacher (can/must) speak four languages.
32. (May/should) I use your mobile to call my mother?
33. You (must/could) not speak loudly in the hospital.
 34. I (could/must) use a little help in packing all these clothes.
35. Madam (could/may) you repeat what you said?
36. I (can/might) not be able to make it tonight.
37. Sheldon (ought to/must) study more if he wants to pass the test.
38. (Can/May) you come to the prom with me?
39. My parents (shall/ought to) arrive soon.
40. I (could/must) be late as I have a lot on my plate.
41. Leonard (can/may) easily solve the problem.
42. It (might/should) rain tomorrow.
43. (May/might) all your wishes come true in life.
44. I (could/might) not be any happier.
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Answers
1. Would
2. Dare
3. Would
4. Can
5. Couldn’t
6. Should
7. Can
8. Can
9. Can
10. Would
11. Could
12. Must
13. May
14. Can
15. May
16. Can
17. May
18. Might
19. May
20. Might
21. Must
22. Must
23. Will
24. Ought to
25. Shall
 26. Should
27. Ought to
28. Could
29. Must
30. Will
31. Can
32. May
33. Must
34. Could
35. Could
36. Might
37. Must
38. Can
39. Shall
40. Could
41. Can
42. Might
43. May
44. Could

Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow.

(i) And ‘tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes…

a. What is the poet’s faith?

The poet’s faith is that the beautiful flowers enjoy every ounce of the air they breathe.

b. What trait of Nature do we see here?

We see the beautiful work of nature through this poem.

(ii) And I must think, do all I can, That there was pleasure there…

a. What did the poet notice about the twigs?

The poet noticed that the twigs expand to catch the breezy air.

b. What was the poet’s thought about then?

The poet thinks that the twigs or the new born branches enjoy the breeze and there is pleasure
hidden there.

(iii) If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Nature’s holy plan.

a. What does ‘heaven’ refer to?

Heaven refers to the place of God.

b. Why does the poet call it ‘holy’?

Nature is God’s work from heaven. So the poet calls it ‘holy’.

4. Explain the following lines with reference to the context in about four to five
sentences each.

i. In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

Context : The given lines are from the poem “Lines written in Early Spring” written by ‘William
Wordsworth’.

Explanation : The poet sits reclined in a beautiful grove, surrounded by the mixed sounds of nature. He
thinks of the sad thoughts brought along with the pleasant memories.

Comment : He describes the bitterest sweet moment that reminds him of the humans ’ miseries.

ii. The birds around me hopp’d and play’d,

Their thoughts I cannot measure.

Context : The given lines are from the poem “Lines written in Early Spring” written by ‘William
Wordsworth’.

Explanation : The poet describes the joy of birds here. They sang, hopped and played around the poet.
Though the poet doesn’t understand the language and ways of the birds, he recognizes their movements
are out of sheer pleasure and joy.

Comment : William Wordsworth praises the beauty of nature.

iii. Have I not reason to lament

What Man has made of Man?

Context : The given lines are from the poem “Lines written in Early Spring” written by ‘William
Wordsworth’.

Explanation : These are the concluding lines of the poem. Nature is full of beauties and sweetness and
calmness. But men do not enjoy the beauty, but destroy nature. Men also fight against one another and
all become unhappy.

Comment : The poet becomes sad to think of what man has made of man.

5. A. Read the following sets of lines and identify the figures of speech used in
each extract.

1. To her works did Nature link - Personification

2. The human soul that through me ran…

3. And ‘tis my faith that every flower… - Personification

4. What Man has made of Man? -Aphorism

B. Read the poem once again. Identify the rhyme scheme and pick out the
rhyming pairs of words.

Stanza No : Rhyming Scheme : Rhyming words

Stanza 1 : abab : notes - thoughts; , reclined – mind

Stanza 2 : abab : link - think; , ran - man

Stanza 3 : abab : bower - flower; , wreaths - breathes

Stanza 4 : abab : play’d - made ; , measure - pleasure

Stanza 5 : abab : fan - can; , air - there

Stanza 6 : abab : sent - lament; , plan - man

6. Based on your reading of the poem, answer the following questions in a

sentence or two each.

a. How does the poet feel while enjoying the beauty of Nature?

The poet feels sad thoughts while enjoying the beauty of Nature.

b Does Nature affect a person’s thoughts and feelings? Explain.

Yes, the soul of every human is connected to Nature. Hence Nature affects a person’s thoughts and
feelings.

c. How do people bring grief and sorrow to one another?

People separate themselves from Nature. Thus they bring grief and sorrow to one another.

d. Why does the poet think that the birds were happy?

The poet sees that the birds hop and play. Hence he thinks that the birds were happy.

e. The poet finds joy in various objects of Nature. Explain.

On seeing the twigs the poet finds that they enjoy the breezy air. He thinks that there is pleasure in
realizing Nature.
f. Bring out the poet’s thoughts, while comparing Nature with human
behaviour.

It is realized by the poet that the nature is a beautiful holy plan of God. Nature is linked to all the
souls of human beings. But men have separated themselves from Nature. They have failed to realize
the pleasure of Nature.

7. Complete the following sentences by choosing the best options.

a. The poet experiences sadness because he is worried about the destruction

caused to Nature.

i. the blended notes are jarring

ii. Nature is filled with negativity

iii. he is worried about the destruction caused to Nature

iv. natural calamities occur frequently

b. The poem is set in a grove.

i) city ii) village

iii) grove iv) park

c. The poem speaks of Man’s fear of Nature.

i. Man’s plan to shape destiny

ii. Man seeking pleasure and riches

iii. Man indulging in wars and acts of destruction

iv. Man’s fear of Nature

Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. Where was the speaker on that spring day?
Ans: The speaker was in a grove on that spring day.
2. What was the speaker doing?
Ans: The speaker was sitting and reclining in the grove.
3. What kind of thoughts overpowered the sweet
mood of the speaker?
Ans: The speaker was overcome by sad thoughts that
interrupted their pleasant mood.
4. What grieved the speaker's heart?
Ans: The speaker's heart was grieved by contemplating
what humanity has done to itself.
5. What kind of sound did the speaker hear?
Ans: The speaker heard a blend of a thousand notes, a
mixture of sounds from nature.
II. Answer these questions in a few words.
1. What is linked to the fair works of Nature?
Ans: The speaker links the human soul to the fair works
of Nature. They suggest that there is a connection
between the beauty and harmony found in nature and
the essence of humanity.
2. What is the speaker's faith about the flowers?
Ans: The speaker expresses their faith that every flower,
including the periwinkle, enjoys the air it breathes.
3. What did the birds do around the speaker
while he sat reclined?
Ans: The birds around the speaker hopped and played
and made soothing noises.
4. What did the budding twigs do?
Ans: The budding twigs spread out their fan to catch the
breezy air.
5. What is the significance of the primrose tufts
and periwinkle in the poem?
Ans: The primrose tufts and periwinkle symbolize the
beauty of nature. They create a peaceful atmosphere and
remind us of the inherent goodness and joy in nature.
Their presence contrasts with the speaker's sadness
about humanity's state and highlights the disconnection
between nature's harmony and human troubles.
III. Answer these questions briefly.
1. What does Wordsworth mean when he says
'What man has made of man'?
Ans: When Wordsworth says "What man has made of
man," he is referring to the negative impact that human
actions and society have had on the state of humanity. It
suggests a sense of disappointment or sorrow about how
humans have treated each other and the world around
them, perhaps alluding to the destructive consequences
of industrialization, social inequality, or other harmful
aspects of human behavior.
2. What conclusion does the poet draw from the
movement of the birds?
Ans: From the movement of the birds, the poet draws
the conclusion that even the smallest actions or motions
made by the birds seem to bring them pleasure. This
observation leads the poet to contemplate the idea that
nature's creatures find joy in their existence and
suggests that humans, too, should find pleasure and
contentment in the simple aspects of life.
3. What is Wordsworth's belief regarding
Nature's holy plan?
Ans: Wordsworth believes that there is a holy plan or
purpose behind nature. He contemplates whether the
enjoyment and harmony observed in nature, as seen in
the flowers, birds, and budding twigs, are part of a
divine design. He questions if this plan sent from heaven
reflects a natural inclination towards pleasure and joy in
all living beings. In other words, Wordsworth sees
nature as a source of inherent goodness and a reminder
of the divine order that contrasts with the troubled state
of human affairs.
IV. Answer these questions in detail.
1. What is the reason behind Wordsworth's
lamentation?
Ans: The reason behind Wordsworth's lamentation is
the realization of the negative impact that humans have
had on themselves and the world. He observes the
destruction caused by human actions and the disregard
for the beauty and harmony of nature. This realization
leads him to feel sorrow and disappointment in the way
mankind has treated both nature and fellow human
beings.
2. What in nature made Wordsworth feel happy
on that spring day?
Ans: On that spring day, Wordsworth made feel happy
was the beauty and vitality of nature. He heard a
symphony of blended notes and witnessed the vibrant
life around him, including the flowers, birds, and
budding twigs. These elements of nature brought him
joy and a sense of connection to something greater. The
sights and sounds of nature uplifted his spirit and
provided a contrast to the troubling state of human
affairs.