WREN & MARTI's English grammar-10 MCQs on Auxiliaries and Modals — Can, Could, May, Might — Their Uses
10 MCQs on Auxiliaries and Modals — Can, Could, May, Might — Their Uses
1. "She can speak five languages fluently and is currently learning a sixth one at the institute." — Identify the use of the modal "can" in this sentence.
- A) "Can" is used to express permission to speak five languages
- B) "Can" is used to express a future possibility of speaking five languages
- C) "Can" is used to express present ability or capacity
- D) "Can" is used to express a polite request to speak five languages
Answer: C) "Can" is used to express present ability or capacity ("Can" is used here to express the present ability or capacity of the subject to speak five languages — this is the most primary and fundamental use of the modal "can" — it indicates that the subject possesses the skill or capability to perform the action at the present time.)
2. "Could you please pass me the salt and pepper from the other end of the dining table?" — Identify the use of the modal "could" in this sentence.
- A) "Could" is used to express past ability to pass the salt
- B) "Could" is used to express a polite request
- C) "Could" is used to express a future possibility
- D) "Could" is used to express permission to pass the salt
Answer: B) "Could" is used to express a polite request ("Could" is used here to make a polite request — "could" is considered more polite and formal than "can" when making requests — the use of "could" softens the request and makes it more courteous — this is one of the most common uses of "could" in everyday polite communication.)
3. "May I have your permission to leave the examination hall a few minutes early today?" — Identify the use of the modal "may" in this sentence.
- A) "May" is used to express possibility of leaving the hall
- B) "May" is used to express the ability to leave the hall early
- C) "May" is used to express a polite request for permission
- D) "May" is used to express a past ability to leave the hall
Answer: C) "May" is used to express a polite request for permission ("May" is used here to seek formal permission — asking for permission using "may" is considered the most polite and formal way of making such a request — "may I" is significantly more formal and respectful than "can I" in seeking permission — this is one of the primary uses of the modal "may" in formal contexts.)
4. "She might attend the conference if she manages to complete her assignment on time." — Identify the use of the modal "might" in this sentence.
- A) "Might" is used to express past ability to attend the conference
- B) "Might" is used to express a very strong certainty about attending
- C) "Might" is used to express a weak or remote possibility in the future
- D) "Might" is used to seek permission to attend the conference
Answer: C) "Might" is used to express a weak or remote possibility in the future ("Might" is used here to express a future possibility that is less certain than "may" — "might" suggests a weaker or more remote probability than "may" — the conditional clause "if she manages to complete her assignment" reinforces the idea that the possibility depends on another uncertain condition making "might" the most appropriate modal.)
5. "When she was young, she could run faster than any of her classmates on the sports ground." — Identify the use of the modal "could" in this sentence.
- A) "Could" is used to express a polite request about running
- B) "Could" is used to express past ability or capacity
- C) "Could" is used to express a present possibility of running fast
- D) "Could" is used to express permission to run on the sports ground
Answer: B) "Could" is used to express past ability or capacity ("Could" is used here to describe a past ability that the subject possessed during her younger years — "could" is the past form of "can" and is used to express abilities that existed in the past but may not necessarily exist in the present — the time expression "when she was young" confirms the past context.)
6. "It may rain heavily later this evening so you should carry an umbrella with you." — Identify the use of the modal "may" in this sentence.
- A) "May" is used to seek permission to carry an umbrella
- B) "May" is used to express a present ability to rain
- C) "May" is used to express a polite request about the weather
- D) "May" is used to express a present possibility or probability
Answer: D) "May" is used to express a present possibility or probability ("May" is used here to express the possibility that it will rain later in the evening — "may" indicates that there is a reasonable chance of the event occurring — "may" expresses a stronger possibility than "might" — this use of "may" to express possibility is one of its most common functions in everyday English.)
7. "Can I borrow your dictionary for a few minutes to look up this word?" — Identify the use of the modal "can" in this sentence.
- A) "Can" is used to express present ability to borrow the dictionary
- B) "Can" is used to express informal permission or request in spoken English
- C) "Can" is used to express a future possibility of borrowing the dictionary
- D) "Can" is used to express past ability to borrow the dictionary
Answer: B) "Can" is used to express informal permission or request in spoken English ("Can" is used here informally to seek permission or make a request — although "may" is considered more formally correct for seeking permission "can" is widely and acceptably used in informal spoken English for the same purpose — in everyday conversation "can I" is more natural and commonly used than "may I.")
8. "She could have informed us earlier about the change in the venue of the important meeting." — Identify the use of "could have" in this sentence.
- A) "Could have" is used to express past ability that was successfully used
- B) "Could have" is used to express a past possibility that was not realised
- C) "Could have" is used to express permission that was granted in the past
- D) "Could have" is used to express a future possibility about informing
Answer: B) "Could have" is used to express a past possibility that was not realised ("Could have" is used here to express a past possibility or ability that was not actually used or realised — the structure "could have + past participle" indicates that the action was possible in the past but did not happen — it often implies mild criticism or regret that a possible action was not taken when it could have been.)
9. "You might want to reconsider your decision before you make it absolutely final and irreversible." — Identify the use of the modal "might" in this sentence.
- A) "Might" is used to express past ability to reconsider
- B) "Might" is used to express a very strong future certainty
- C) "Might" is used to make a tentative or indirect suggestion
- D) "Might" is used to express formal permission to reconsider
Answer: C) "Might" is used to make a tentative or indirect suggestion ("Might" is used here to make a gentle and tentative suggestion — the structure "might want to" is a very polite and indirect way of offering advice or making a suggestion without being forceful or direct — this use of "might" softens the suggestion considerably and is commonly used in formal and diplomatic communication.)
10. "Which of the following sentences correctly illustrates the use of "may have" to express a past possibility?"
- A) She may complete her project before the deadline if she works consistently.
- B) He may have forgotten to submit the form before the closing date.
- C) They might attend the seminar if their schedule permits them to do so.
- D) She could finish the assignment if she starts working on it immediately.
Answer: B) He may have forgotten to submit the form before the closing date. (This sentence correctly uses "may have" with the past participle "forgotten" to express a past possibility — the structure "may have + past participle" is used to speculate about something that possibly happened in the past — it expresses uncertainty about a past action — the other options use "may" "might" and "could" to express present or future possibilities rather than past ones.)
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