601 FREE Modal Verbs Worksheets & Exercises
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FREE Modal Verbs Worksheets

Can you teach modal verbs? Will you be able to? Should you look for even better ways to teach them? The answers to all these modal questions are “Yes!” - and that’s why BusyTeacher.org offers 601 modal verb worksheets to bring some fresh, fun ideas to your ESL classroom.

Teaching modal verbs takes some strategy. A lot of other languages don’t have exact one-word equivalents for verbs like “should” and “would,” which means direct word-for-word translation probably isn’t an option. The next-best approach is to give examples - but it’s not always easy for students to guess the difference between, say, “can” and “could” from context alone. Some teachers start with the simplest modal verbs - “can” and “should” - and build up the list from there, using a variety of reading and speaking exercises.

However you plan to combine these approaches, BusyTeacher.org offers a wide variety of worksheets to help make sure your students can read, write, hear, and speak correctly when it comes to modal verbs. The sheer diversity of our worksheets means you’ll never find yourself repeating the same modal verb lesson twice - and the range of activities and exercises they provide will keep your students thinking about modal verbs in every kind of usage and context.

Whether you’re introducing some level-one students to modal verbs for the very first time, helping some level-two students review the modal verbs they’ve already learned, or introducing higher-level students to modal verbs in some new tenses, we’ve got worksheets tailored for your students’ ESL proficiency. With 601 modal verb worksheets to choose from, you’re sure to find some that are just right for your class.

Looking for simple fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice worksheets to use for quizzes? We’ve got ‘em right here! Interested in active games that help students learn to use modal verbs in realistic conversations? Just take a look below! BusyTeacher.org even has modal verb worksheets designed around popular song lyrics, so your students can show off their newfound understanding of those songs to their friends.

All these worksheets have been created and shared by ESL teachers around the world - teachers just like you, who want to help each other improve the learning potential of their classrooms. They’ve been generous enough to make every worksheet on this site completely free to download, share, modify, and use as you like - you don’t even have to register on our site. All we ask is that, if you have a worksheet of your own that you’d like to share, you click the “Submit a worksheet” button at the bottom of this page to contribute it to our ever-growing community.

BusyTeacher.org’s convenient thumbnail view makes it easy to browse our 601 modal verb worksheets at a glance, without having to click and download each one just to see what it looks like. You can even save time by checking out the top ten most popular modal verb worksheets on BusyTeacher.org, or use the search function at the top of the page to pinpoint exactly the worksheets you’re looking for. We’re sure that, one way or another, you’ll find the worksheet you need. And we’re sure your class will love it!

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Expressing Ability and Inability (Can/Can't) Elementary Worksheet

Expressing Ability and Inability (Can/Can't) Elementary Worksheet

Modal Verbs,
This is a simple worksheet for teaching can / can't for ability. There are two pages with activities in which students are asked to look at the picture and complete the sentences, fill in the bla ...
20 Views 48,919 Elem
Modal Verbs Worksheet III

Modal Verbs Worksheet III

» Modal Verbs
This is a simple worksheet for revising modal verbs: mustn't, can’t, should, would, might, could and must. Students are asked to rewrite the sentences substituting the underlined words by ...
14 Views 41,732 Pre-IntInt
Giving Advice: Should, Must, Could

Giving Advice: Should, Must, Could

Modal Verbs, ,
Three real situations were written to Dear Deidre, a famous "Heart Doctor" in England. Split your students in groups and make them read one of situations. They will give some advices using the mod ...
25 Views 40,275 Pre-IntIntAdv
Modals Test

Modals Test

Modal Verbs, , ,
Modals Test: Must/Have to (obligation), Don't Have to (absence of necessity), Can't/Mustn't (prohibition), Can (permission), Be Able to (ability). his worksheet was originally created for a middl ...
56 Views 93,975 Pre-IntIntAdv
Can for Ability: Elementary Worksheet

Can for Ability: Elementary Worksheet

A worksheet for teaching modal verbs: can for ability. Students are asked to write sentences using the verbs given, make questions and write short answers and write affirmative and negative sente ...
13 Views 24,084 Elem
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Modal Verbs Summary

Modal Verbs Summary

» Modal Verbs
This is a brief grammar guide to modal verbs. You can easily use it in classroom, before the exercises or after the lesson. Students can refresh their memories by checking this guide. It includes ...
14 Views 21,645 Pre-IntInt
Regrets and Criticism Worksheet: Should Have, Shouldn't Have

Regrets and Criticism Worksheet: Should Have, Shouldn't Have

This is a worksheet for practising should have/shouldn't have. The verbs are given and there are picture prompts as well to help the students complete the sentences. The key is included. Who says ...
31 Views 50,541 IntAdv
Notes for Modal Verbs 1, 2 and 3

Notes for Modal Verbs 1, 2 and 3

» Modal Verbs
This worksheet is good for modal verb explanations for the students. They are just notes of the three concepts of modals. I use it for P.E.T. level these students are preparing for the Cambridge ...
10 Views 7,730 ElemPre-IntIntAdvExam
Modal Verbs Worksheet II

Modal Verbs Worksheet II

» Modal Verbs
This is a worksheet for revising modal verbs: must, can, should, would, might, could and must. Students are asked to rewrite different sentences substituting the underlined words by a modal verb. ...
12 Views 36,547 ElemPre-Int
Ought to/Should/Shouldn't Modals Beauty Worksheet

Ought to/Should/Shouldn't Modals Beauty Worksheet

Modal Verbs,
This sheet gives students vocabulary, reading, writing and speaking practice relevant to 'beauty' and looks. It also introduces the grammar using ought to/should and shouldn't. It would suit a pr ...
18 Views 18,776 Pre-IntInt
Exercises on Modal Verbs

Exercises on Modal Verbs

» Modal Verbs
This is a sheet with exercises in word on modal verbs. An extra document in word to parctise modals.You can use them with pupils studying the first or the second year of Bachillerato as you like ...
13 Views 21,931 Adv
Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs Part Three

Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs Part Three

» Modal Verbs
Third part of the ppt on modal verbs. There is a third one and an extra document in word to parctise modals. You can use them with pupils studying the first or the second year of Bachillerato. Th ...
11 Views 21,030 Adv
Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs Part Two

Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs Part Two

» Modal Verbs
Second part of the ppt on modal verbs. There is a 2nd one in the series. You can use them with pupils studying the first or the second year of Bachillerato. They can be very useful both for teach ...
9 Views 20,590 Adv
Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs Part One

Modal and Semi-Modal Verbs Part One

» Modal Verbs
This is a useful ppt for teaching modal and semi-modals. This is the first part of three power points aimed at upper intermediate pupils studing second year Bachillerato in Spain. I´m also a ...
6 Views 27,519 Adv
What Can You Do? Pairwork Worksheet

What Can You Do? Pairwork Worksheet

A simple exercise to ask different people what can or can't do. You must ask to 5 different people about the activities shown and complete the chart: "Can you speak German? Yes, I can. No, I can't ...
7 Views 15,244 Elem
Modals of Necessity and Obligation: Can and Have To

Modals of Necessity and Obligation: Can and Have To

This is a 20 sentence worksheet for elementary students to test their understanding of the modals can (can't), have to (don't have to) in the context of sports. It has two simple exercises (10 sen ...
28 Views 29,190 Elem
Modal Noughts And Crosses

Modal Noughts And Crosses

Modal Verbs,
Students, divided into two teams, are supposed to choose a square, mark it with a cross or a nought, depending on their team, and make a sentence using the past modals and the verb given in order ...
9 Views 11,219 Int
Modals of Deduction

Modals of Deduction

» Modal Verbs
Cut these into stripes and give to different students/groups of students. Let them discuss where James is and what he is doing based on the information given. Students should use the following ph ...
23 Views 82,768 Pre-IntIntAdv
Song Worksheet: Can't Back Down by Demi Lovato

Song Worksheet: Can't Back Down by Demi Lovato

I used this worksheet with 10 year-old children and they loved it. You can work the use of can/can't, extensive and intensive listening, and descriptions. The characters, song and the movie are we ...
6 Views 11,662 Elem
Healthy Habits Worksheet

Healthy Habits Worksheet

It is a worksheet of 4 exercises. the two first are connected because in the first students have to find some words in a word search and then fill in the gaps with those words in the exercise numb ...
12 Views 37,351 Elem
[Grammar] To Be Verb

[Grammar] To Be Verb

I have used various resources to create this "To Be Verb" worksheet. I have included the basic rules at the beginning of the worksheet along with some exercises that students can complete. Exerci ...
11 Views 37,524 BegElemPre-Int
Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives

Modal Verbs,
A speaking activity for upper-intermediate students inspired by the Desperate Housewives tv series which students may be familiar with. Not a role play, but a simulation activity where students p ...
14 Views 20,825 IntAdv
[Have To / Don't Have To] Practice

[Have To / Don't Have To] Practice

Modal Verbs,
This worksheet consists of 20 pictures and 20 sentences with gaps. The students have to complete the sentences with the affirmative, interrogative form to express obligation and the negative (don' ...
25 Views 46,797 ElemPre-Int
Modals Paraphrase Cards

Modals Paraphrase Cards

» Modal Verbs
This worksheet is for pair work. It is used to practise modals by paraphrasing sentences. 1. Divide the class into pairs and give each pair an appropriate set of cards. 2. Explain to the student ...
27 Views 63,399 IntAdv
Past Modals Worksheet

Past Modals Worksheet

» Modal Verbs
This worksheet is used to practise past forms of some modal verbs and their equivalents (can/can't/could, may/might, must/mustn't, should/shouldn't, be able to). It also focuses on different meani ...
18 Views 47,846 Adv

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