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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The Mystery of

The Mystery of "Nasca Lines" (Listening/Reading Activity)

Nasca Lines are one of the greatest mysteries in the world. The worksheet offers you pictures for guessing the story and meaning of these lines using modals of deduction; a running dictation; list ...
14 Views 23,244 Pre-IntIntAdv
Dear Abby-Type Problems/ Giving Advice

Dear Abby-Type Problems/ Giving Advice

This is an activity for free practice of the modal should and other expressions of advice. The students usually love moving around and being in role. It's a fun, dynamic activity, with minimal tea ...
9 Views 33,228 Pre-IntIntAdv
I Can/ I Can't

I Can/ I Can't

This is a presentation with free time activities and sports. Can be used as presentation of using modal verb can/can't for expressing ability. Include sports, outdoor activities, sport games, play ...
7 Views 18,844 BegElem
Free Time Activities and Sports

Free Time Activities and Sports

This is a poster with free time activities and sports. Based on the presentation of using modal verb can/can't for expressing ability. Include sports, outdoor activities, sport games, playing musi ...
15 Views 79,929 BegElem
Modal Verbs: Can, Could, Would

Modal Verbs: Can, Could, Would

A few slides to explain how to use the modal verbs can,could and would.It can be used in the classroom or like support to students outside the classroom.It´s very simple and contains no exer ...
9 Views 28,884 ElemPre-Int
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Movie Worksheet: Peppa Pig- Ice-skating. (Practising 'Can' with Six Year Olds)

Movie Worksheet: Peppa Pig- Ice-skating. (Practising 'Can' with Six Year Olds)

Activities based on a Peppa Pig episode, for young learners aged about 6. Practising "can" in questions and short answers. After watching, a teacher may check the answers and elicit "Yes, he/she c ...
9 Views 14,831 BegElem
Cold Weather Survival Tips

Cold Weather Survival Tips

This worksheet is a reading activity created as one of the tasks in winter English speaking camp. It’s quite informative and deals with the question how to survive/keep warm in cold weather. ...
4 Views 13,346 Pre-IntIntAdv
Street Signs

Street Signs

There are 2 activities in this worksheet, first students have to write the street signs warnings and then draw other signs. It can also be used to review the modal verb must, students would h ...
5 Views 20,717 Elem
The Invention Game

The Invention Game

Distribute a copy of one item to your students. They need to read the instruction and if everything is clear follow them. At the end of the game they should make a final decision of who should be ...
17 Views 39,755 IntAdvExam
Giving Advice Phrases and Situations (Healthy Lifestyle)

Giving Advice Phrases and Situations (Healthy Lifestyle)

This worksheet contains different phrases for giving advice and short role play situations for using them while talking about Healthy Lifestyle. Divide the ss into 2 groups. Cut out the situations ...
33 Views 120,974 ElemPre-IntInt
Agony Aunt Letters and Giving Advice

Agony Aunt Letters and Giving Advice

In this activitity there are 14 letters of desperate people looking for advice. They have written to Agony Aunt Anne and are waiting for an answer .Can you help them? Use any suitable modal verb. ...
19 Views 152,530 Pre-Int
Modal Verbs: Must / Mustn't Elementary Worksheet

Modal Verbs: Must / Mustn't Elementary Worksheet

This is a worksheet for teaching or revising modal verbs at elementary level. There are 2 different activities in which students are asked to mind the examples given and change the sentences ...
14 Views 47,524 Elem
Turkey Information Sheet

Turkey Information Sheet

This is a vacation/holiday activity information sheet about Turkey. It includes sightseeing of three Turkish cities, food & drink, and festival and special events in Turkey. It can be used for ...
8 Views 11,510 All
Indonesia Information Sheet

Indonesia Information Sheet

This is a vacation/holiday activity information sheet about Indonesia. It includes sightseeing of three Indonesian cities, food & drink, and festival and special events in Indonesia. It can be ...
5 Views 9,016 All
India Information Sheet

India Information Sheet

This is a vacation/holiday activity information sheet about India. It includes sightseeing of three Indian cities, food & drink, and festival and special events in India. It can be used for an ...
7 Views 12,712 All
Where I Can Buy Clothes

Where I Can Buy Clothes

This worksheet has the purpose to practice and review the uses of the modals “can” and “would like to” to give suggestions, it can be uses with mainly elementary students, ...
3 Views 9,272 Elem
Ask and Answer Questions Using

Ask and Answer Questions Using "Would Like"

This worksheet has the intention to practice simple questions and answers to the modals “can” and “would like to”, in simple and very easy questions. Here the aim is to dev ...
5 Views 25,478 Elem
Talking about Football - Modal Verbs of Obligation

Talking about Football - Modal Verbs of Obligation

I work in a military college in Oman, and all my students are boys. They are football-crazy, so I used the FIFA rules to make a worksheet to help them review modal verbs to express obligation. I h ...
8 Views 25,516 Pre-Int
Conversation Activity- Dilemma Discussion

Conversation Activity- Dilemma Discussion

Very good activity to make your students talk and debate in the classroom. Speaking and writing skills are developed in this simple and fun activity, this worksheet can be done individually or in ...
25 Views 41,868 Pre-IntInt
Can, Can’t / Must, Mustn't Elementary Worksheet

Can, Can’t / Must, Mustn't Elementary Worksheet

This is a simple and easy worksheet for teaching modal verbs (can and must) at elementary level. There is an easy activity in which students are asked to complete thirty two different senten ...
22 Views 157,844 Elem
Ñan and Ñan't

Ñan and Ñan't

It is a perfect activity if you want your students to practice can and can't for abilities. Students will absolutely have fun with it. It contains pictures. You just need a dice and a marker for y ...
13 Views 11,735 ElemPre-IntInt
Movie Worksheet: Mele Kalikimaka

Movie Worksheet: Mele Kalikimaka

This worksheet is meant for young learners. It uses Bing Crosby's song and Youtube video to review Christmas vocabulary, motivate students to speak, and practice both their reading and listening ...
3 Views 7,390 Pre-Int
Movie Worksheet: Superheroes and Superpowers

Movie Worksheet: Superheroes and Superpowers

This worksheet is based on two short videos that can be seen on youtube: The Incredibles Trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbzbC9285I and Jack-Jack attack. http://www.yo ...
23 Views 47,337 BegElemPre-Int
Christmas Problems

Christmas Problems

Speaking activity. 'Imagine you are a radio presenter, Marie, and you have a programme to give your listeners some advice. This week- Christmas special! Welcome your listeners, tell them about the ...
10 Views 12,662 Pre-IntIntAdv
Must and Have To Intermediate Worksheet

Must and Have To Intermediate Worksheet

This is a worksheet for revising must and have to at intermediate level. There are 2 activities in which students are asked to fill in the blank spaces with a suitable modal verb and fill in ...
9 Views 34,656 Pre-IntInt

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