Choosing the Right Modal Verb - Choose modal verb to show ability

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by moss~

A worksheet for selecting the correct modal verb to express ability. Each item presents a sentence with three modal options and a clear context, such as holding breath, fitting inside a shoebox, recommending a book, seeing mountains from a window, drawing portraits quickly, and performing actions by animals and famous people. An answer-key section provides the correct modal choices for the listed sentences, supporting self-check and reinforcement of usage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Choose the Right Modal Verb

Sentences (1-15)

Answer Key

Choosing the Right Modal Verb Name: | Choose the modal verb that best shows ability in the sentence.
1) "I (must / can / might) hold my breath underwater for almost a full minute," Carlos said. | | | | | | | Answers
1. | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2) "When our dog was a puppy, he (could / shall / may) fit inside a shoebox," Liam said. | | | | | | | 2. | | | | | | | 3) The school librarian (must / shall / can) recommend a great book for any reader. | | | | | | | 3. | | | | | | | 4) "Before we moved, I (shall / might / could) see the mountains from my bedroom window," Hazel recalled. | | | | | | | 4.
5. | | | | | | | 5) The art teacher (may / might / can) draw a realistic portrait in less than fifteen minutes. | | | | | | | 6. | | | | | | | 6) Amelia Earhart (could / shall / should) fly a plane solo across the Atlantic Ocean. | | | | | | | 7. | | | | | | | 7) Our music teacher (shall / can / may) play six different instruments. | | | | | | | 8.
9. | | | | | | | 8) Leonardo da Vinci (might / could / shall) design flying machines centuries before the airplane was invented. | | | | | | | 10. | | | | | | | 9) Camels (shall / can / might) go many days without drinking any water at all. | | | | | | | 11. | | | | | | | 10) Fireflies (shall / can / might) produce their own light through a chemical reaction in their bodies. | | | | | | | 12.
13. | | | | | | | 11) A digital scale (must / can / may) weigh objects accurately to the nearest gram. | | | | | | | 14. | | | | | | | 12) Ancient Greek athletes (could / must / would) throw a discus farther than many modern beginners. | | | | | | | 15. | | | | | | | 13) A pedometer (should / must / can) count every step you take throughout the entire day. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14) Dolphins (must / can / may) hold their breath for up to ten minutes underwater. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15) "I (must / shall / can) touch my toes without bending my knees," Mia announced. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Language Arts | [www.CommonCoreSheets.com](www.CommonCoreSheets.com) | 1-10
11-15 | 93 | 87 | 80 | 73 | 67 | 60 | 53 | 47 | 40 | 33 | | | | | 27 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | | | | | | Choosing the Right Modal Verb Name: Answer Key | Choose the modal verb that best shows ability in the sentence.
1) "I (must / can / might) hold my breath underwater for almost a full minute," Carlos said. | | | | | | Answers
1. can | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2) "When our dog was a puppy, he (could / shall / may) fit inside a shoebox," Liam said. | | | | | | 2. could | | | | | | | 3) The school librarian (must / shall / can) recommend a great book for any reader. | | | | | | 3. can | | | | | | | 4) "Before we moved, I (shall / might / could) see the mountains from my bedroom window," Hazel recalled. | | | | | | 4. could
5. can | | | | | | | 5) The art teacher (may / might / can) draw a realistic portrait in less than fifteen minutes. | | | | | | 6. could | | | | | | | 6) Amelia Earhart (could / shall / should) fly a plane solo across the Atlantic Ocean. | | | | | | 7. can | | | | | | | 7) Our music teacher (shall / can / may) play six different instruments. | | | | | | 8. could
9. can | | | | | | | 8) Leonardo da Vinci (might / could / shall) design flying machines centuries before the airplane was invented. | | | | | | 10. can | | | | | | | 9) Camels (shall / can / might) go many days without drinking any water at all. | | | | | | 11. can | | | | | | | 10) Fireflies (shall / can / might) produce their own light through a chemical reaction in their bodi

FAQs

What does the worksheet ask you to do with each sentence?

Choose the modal verb that best shows ability in the sentence.

Where can you find the correct answers?

The document includes an “Answer Key” section listing the correct modal verb for each numbered item.

What topics are covered by the modal verb choices?

The sentences practice expressing ability through examples involving people, animals, and common skills or abilities in different contexts.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by moss~