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!
Create awesome-looking custom word searches in seconds!
Make A Word Scramble:
Instantly create custom word/sentence scrambles for your class!
Make A Double Puzzle:
Generate double puzzles your students will love - hours of fun!
ESL Articles
View our latest knowledgebase articles that will help you become a better English teacher. Learn from
professional teachers and put a bit of your own creativity into it!
I have designed this PDT to review the grammar of do/ does and can. Students are asked to write short answers to the questions. It includes two activities and it contains the names of African and ...
This is a listening song worksheet. Your students will hear how people sound when they speak English through a song. There is a list of the special contractions and uniquely pronounced words at ...
It's based on the song "Masters of War" written by Bob Dylan, with activities to be done while listening to the song. Students will have to organize and complete lyrics as well as look for example ...
This worksheet can be used in conjunction with other World Heritage Site activities. In groups, students use imperatives, 'must, and 'should' to create their own rules for visitors to World Herit ...
This is a test for grade 8. The answer key is included. Here you can find questions about some grammar like simple past and the past continuous tense. Also there are some questions about suggestio ...
Teach can and can't. You can use this worksheet for as an ice-breaking activity. First, teach vocabulary. Second, ask students to walk around and ask their friends. Finally, ask students & ...
This is a worksheet I prepared to make my students watch the youtube video promoting the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. There are 4 exercises : a fill in the blanks, order the lines, match the lin ...
This worksheet is designed to test the students' understanding of modals can, can't, could, and couldn't. It is composed of 8 multiple choice questions which are particularly suitable for &n ...
This fun video activity is to practise using past modals "should have.." and "would have..." to discuss past mistakes. The video describes the top ten stupid mistakes made by people. Learners shou ...
This listening activity has 3 exercises for students to review some modals such as "can" for ability and "will" for future, both positivie and negative stataments, and some common action verbs us ...
This worksheet is appropriate for teaching animals related vocabulary items and animals abilities. This worksheet contains two parts. It's suitable for young learners and elementary students. ...
This fun video activity is to practise future predictions. While watching a clip from the hit TV series Family Guy, learners have to make predictions about what they expect to happen next. Learner ...
This worksheet gives students an opportunity to practice their models of obligation and recommendation while practicing airport vocabulary. Students start off with a conversation and then talk abo ...
I have designed this worksheet about animals for reviewing the third person singular and third person plural (do and does) for the elementary level. Also, it includes the grammar of can and c ...
This worksheet was created to help students practice the use of had better. There are six situations which should be solved by the students. You can edit the worksheet so you can use it with other ...
Modal verbs and their usage cause lots of problems to our students. I hope that with this ppt they will be able to understand not only what modality is but also when they can use one or another ve ...
This is a good exercise to give to your students. It deals with History and using the verb can exercises. Also there are instruments which they need to choose according to the movie. You sho ...
This worksheet will help you to identify the difference between have to and must, and there is a free exercise that you can do with your students in junior high or elementary school. I designed it ...
This is a worksheet to help learners practise the modal verb 'can'. It is a short questionnaire to enable learners to conduct a mini class survey. They write the names of the learners they are int ...
Can and can't for young learners. The worksheet contains a variety of pictures in which students will have to circle and cross depeding on the sentences given. E.g., She can dance. She can't ...
This worksheet is a quick exercise where children move around in class in order to find someone who can or can't do specific activities which are listed in the worksheet. They ask: Peter, can you ...
This is a Power Point Presentation of the most common requests in class.E.g. May I go to the bathroom? May I come in? May I drink some water? Can you lend me...?) You can print them and have ...
It is a power point file which gives the students the way to describe animals. Obviously it is suitable for Movers. I mean those who know can/simple present/ have got-has got. I use this kind of d ...
This task will help the teachers in their carrier if they want to make the lessons mote interesting. The warm ups help the kids with lesson start - every student can work with the dictionary, or i ...
This is a worksheet for practicing and reviewing can and can't. It contains gap-filling and question activities. It is designed for elementary levels. Hope it helps!
12 31,271Elem
Got a great worksheet on
Modal Verbs?
Tell us about it and become a BusyTeacher contributor!