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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Modal Verbs Test ( Must, Have to, Can, Might)

Modal Verbs Test ( Must, Have to, Can, Might)

This is a test I´ve created to check the knowledge of usage of modal verbs: have to, must, can and might. It is an elementary level and it includes vocabulary connected to household chores. ...
15 Views 32,782 ElemPre-Int
Cultural Differences - Reading Comprehension

Cultural Differences - Reading Comprehension

This worksheet can be used with pre-intermediate students to work with communication, how people communicate and behave according to their culture. It's a lesson prepared for 1 hour 15 minutes and ...
38 Views 84,159 ElemPre-Int
Song Worksheet: That should be Me by Justin Bieber

Song Worksheet: That should be Me by Justin Bieber

I have a group of 10 girls who love Justin Bieber and his songs, so I've chosen this song to introduce the modal verb "Should". It also deals with vocabulary through different activities such as g ...
4 Views 15,862 ElemPre-Int
Song Worksheet: Hall of Fame

Song Worksheet: Hall of Fame

This is a worksheet to work with the song "Hall of fame" by The Script.They are simple activities because the song is not complex.I recommend to use the video to talk about what the song is about. ...
10 Views 25,372 ElemPre-Int
Past Modal Verbs

Past Modal Verbs

Help students gain practice with past modal verbs! This worksheet for intermediate students gives both introductory information and follow-up exercises about using modal verbs to speculate about t ...
31 Views 45,082 Pre-IntIntAdv
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Can /Can't

Can /Can't

Before you give this exercise you can make a hot potato with the sentences from exercise 2,then you can give them the worksheet and they will practice  abilities ( can and can't ) , word orde ...
14 Views 80,604 Beg
Can Zoo Animals Sing?

Can Zoo Animals Sing?

This worksheet is designed to be used within the context of a theme on zoo animals for an elementary (grade 2) classroom. The sheet is an oral activity where students discuss the different activi ...
7 Views 11,662 Elem
Giving advice: I Think you should

Giving advice: I Think you should

A set of 20 cards with various problems. Students are supposed to think of a piece of advice for each, using the structure "I think you should... / I don't think you should.... Suitable for pairwo ...
26 Views 33,279 ElemPre-Int
Modal Verbs Intermediate Worksheet

Modal Verbs Intermediate Worksheet

This is a 2-page worksheet for intermediate students on modal verbs. The first page is basically just a grammar guide with simple explanations and example sentences and the second page has 3 acti ...
26 Views 95,108 Pre-IntInt
Advice Please! You Should!

Advice Please! You Should!

This worksheet is for students to practise giving friendly advice. There are various situations and you need to give your friend appropriate advice. The sheet is suitable for beginners and pre in ...
8 Views 20,403 ElemPre-Int
Song Worksheet: Cinema by Benny Benassi

Song Worksheet: Cinema by Benny Benassi

This worksheet has listening comprehension exercises. It could be used for practising types of films or introducing the topic of films. I used this worksheet with pre-intermediate students as a wa ...
5 Views 7,596 Pre-IntInt
Save The World [Reading]

Save The World [Reading]

This text is about how to stop global warming. There is a small description and then some tips to help stopping the global warming. I asked text questions. Actually my aim was to revise the topic ...
12 Views 28,473 ElemPre-Int
Song Worksheet: Everlong by Foo Fighters

Song Worksheet: Everlong by Foo Fighters

Gap fill activity using the song Everlong by The Foo Fighters. It can be used as a warmer for Halloween, as it contains references from an 80's horror film, The Evil Dead, or as a review for verbs ...
7 Views 15,771 IntAdvExam
In Other Words. Modal Verbs

In Other Words. Modal Verbs

This is a rephrasing worksheet about Modal Vebs designed for Intermediate and Upper-Intermediate students. They can practise modal verbs such as can, can't, should, may, might in their present and ...
11 Views 16,295 IntAdv
Modal Verbs Elementary Worksheet

Modal Verbs Elementary Worksheet

This is a worksheet for revising modal verbs: can, can’t, may, could, couldn't, must, mustn't, should and shouldn't. Recommended for elementary students who are asked to make questions and ...
11 Views 62,210 ElemPre-Int
Sentence Transformation 1

Sentence Transformation 1

Workshheet useful to revise some grammar structures such as modals, neither ...nor, condtionals types, had better, would rather and tenses. Students are given 20 sentences and a word that CAN'T b ...
18 Views 47,544 Pre-Int
Common Problems: How to Solve Them

Common Problems: How to Solve Them

This is a power point presentation showing some problems we normally have. You can play with your students asking them to give each other a possible solution for those. Or you can make them act it ...
34 Views 27,820 ElemPre-IntInt
Snakes and Ladders Board Game

Snakes and Ladders Board Game

Little children learn better if they enjoy their learning. Board game is an effective way to do so. In this activity little children can practice some warm up activities, speak about what they can ...
24 Views 68,789 BegElem
Human Bingo [Find Someone Who Can...]

Human Bingo [Find Someone Who Can...]

The students will find someone from their class who is best described by the words/phrases in each box. Just like in real bingo, they need to form the pattern (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) for ...
5 Views 12,272 Elem
Modal Verbs: Explanation and Exercise

Modal Verbs: Explanation and Exercise

This worksheet can be used to explain what modals are and how we use them (with many examples.) The road signs can be used to elicit sentences using modal verbs, for example: You can park here. Yo ...
15 Views 31,848 ElemPre-IntIntAdv
Modals+Have+V3 Speaking Exercise

Modals+Have+V3 Speaking Exercise

, Modal Verbs
This is a speaking activity which is very easy and useful because as you know Ss don't have the chance to use this form very much. You should just tell them the situation (or you can give them cop ...
10 Views 11,084 IntAdv
Modal Verbs Multiple Choice

Modal Verbs Multiple Choice

In this worksheet the students will revise the use of modal verbs (present, past and perfect forms) There are 30 sentences with three options to fill in the gaps. The students have to choose the c ...
27 Views 79,790 IntAdvExam
Modal Verbs Elementary Worksheet

Modal Verbs Elementary Worksheet

This is a worksheet for revising modal verbs at elementary level. There are 3 activities in which students are asked to make questions and give true answers following the example,decide what they ...
16 Views 41,269 ElemPre-Int
Various Exercises for Elementary Students 2

Various Exercises for Elementary Students 2

This worksheet contains 7 exercises for elementary students. The tasks are concerned with the use of: the verb TO BE, the Present Simple tense, prepositions, adverbs of frequency and plural forms ...
18 Views 19,866 Elem
School Rules: Must

School Rules: Must

This activity is a 'True- False' kind. In the video there is some amusement about school rules and you can develop it by adding different questions. The video URL is given at the bottom of the act ...
14 Views 24,647 IntAdv

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