Grammar: Modals — Class 10 MCQs with Answers
Class 10 CBSE English · Chapter 22
60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 10 CBSE English questions from Chapter 22, "Grammar: Modals". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 60 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.
To score well in "Grammar: Modals", focus on comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Grammar: Modals, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 10 English mastery score. 12 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Grammar: Modals — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 10 English)
12 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation.
- Q1Easy
Fill in the blank: 'She ___ swim across the river when she was fifteen.'
A.could✓ CorrectB.canC.mayD.mustAnswer: A. could
Explanation: 'Could' expresses an ability that existed in the past.
- Q2Easy
Fill in the blank: 'Every candidate ___ carry a valid admit card to the examination hall.'
A.mightB.must✓ CorrectC.mayD.couldAnswer: B. must
Explanation: 'Must' expresses a strong obligation imposed by a rule.
- Q3Easy
Fill in the blank: 'Take an umbrella; it ___ rain later this evening.'
A.mustB.shallC.wouldD.might✓ CorrectAnswer: D. might
Explanation: 'Might' expresses a weak possibility.
- Q4Easy
Fill in the blank: 'You ___ see a doctor if the fever does not come down.'
A.canB.mightC.should✓ CorrectD.shallAnswer: C. should
Explanation: 'Should' is the standard modal for offering advice.
- Q5Easy
Fill in the blank: '___ I borrow your pen for a moment, please?'
A.ShouldB.WouldC.May✓ CorrectD.MustAnswer: C. May
Explanation: 'May' is the polite modal for asking permission.
- Q6Medium
Identify the error: 'He can be able to finish the work by evening.'
A.can be able to should be will be able to✓ CorrectB.finish should be finishingC.by should be tillD.evening should be the eveningAnswer: A. can be able to should be will be able to
Explanation: 'Can' and 'be able to' both express ability, so using them together is redundant.
- Q7Medium
Identify the error: 'You must to complete the assignment before Monday.'
A.must to should be must✓ CorrectB.complete should be completingC.before should be byD.Monday should be a MondayAnswer: A. must to should be must
Explanation: 'Must' is a bare modal and is never followed by 'to'.
- Q8Medium
Choose the sentence expressing the STRONGEST certainty.
A.He could be the new principal.B.He may be the new principal.C.He must be the new principal.✓ CorrectD.He might be the new principal.Answer: C. He must be the new principal.
Explanation: 'Must' expresses near certainty, while the others express degrees of possibility.
- Q9Medium
Fill in the blank: 'You ___ have apologised; your silence made things worse.'
A.willB.should✓ CorrectC.mustD.canAnswer: B. should
Explanation: 'Should have' expresses regret about something not done in the past.
- Q10Hard
Choose the sentence that correctly reports: 'I can finish it today,' he said.
A.He said that he can finish it today.B.He said that he could finish it today.C.He said that he can finished it that day.D.He said that he could finish it that day.✓ CorrectAnswer: D. He said that he could finish it that day.
Explanation: 'Can' shifts to 'could' and 'today' shifts to 'that day' in reported speech.
- Q11Hard
Distinguish: which sentence says the person was NOT required to do it, and did not?
A.She needn't have attended the briefing.B.She shouldn't attend the briefing.C.She didn't have to attend the briefing.✓ CorrectD.She mustn't attend the briefing.Answer: C. She didn't have to attend the briefing.
Explanation: 'Didn't have to' removes the requirement and leaves the action undone, unlike 'needn't have', which implies it was done anyway.
- Q12Hard
Choose the sentence that correctly expresses a criticism of a past action.
A.You shouldn't have shouted at the junior staff.✓ CorrectB.You mustn't have shouted at the junior staff.C.You couldn't have shouted at the junior staff.D.You needn't shout at the junior staff.Answer: A. You shouldn't have shouted at the junior staff.
Explanation: 'Shouldn't have' criticises something that was in fact done.
Key concepts: Grammar: Modals (Class 10 English)
Modals carry meaning rather than tense: each one names a function — ability, permission, obligation, prohibition, possibility, deduction, advice, request or offer. Every question here is really asking which function the sentence performs.
- Ability
- 'Can' for the present ('He CAN speak three languages'), 'could' for the past ('She COULD swim when she was fifteen'; 'she COULD NOT ride a bicycle').
- Permission
- 'May' is the polite modal for asking: 'MAY I borrow your pen for a moment, please?'
- Obligation — must
- A strong obligation imposed by a rule or a firm deadline: 'Every candidate MUST carry a valid admit card'; 'Students MUST submit the project by Friday.'
- Obligation — have to
- An obligation imposed from outside, and it agrees with its subject: 'Visitors HAVE TO wear identity badges at all times.'
- Prohibition versus no obligation
- 'Must not' forbids — 'You MUST NOT smoke inside the hospital.' 'Need not' says something is unnecessary — 'You NEED NOT bring your own stationery; the school provides it.' They are not opposites of each other.
- Weak possibility
- 'Might' for something merely possible: 'Take an umbrella; it MIGHT rain later.' 'May' for a reasonable possibility: 'He MAY be in a meeting.'
- Possible danger
- 'Could' warns of what is possible rather than likely: 'Do not touch that wire; it COULD be live.'
- Confident deduction
- 'Must' draws a conclusion from evidence: 'The lights are on, so somebody MUST be at home.'
- Confident expectation
- 'Should have' expects something to be true by now: 'She left an hour ago, so she SHOULD HAVE reached home.'
- Advice
- 'Should' is the standard modal for advice: 'You SHOULD see a doctor if the fever does not come down.'
- Moral duty — ought to
- 'Ought to' expresses a moral obligation and is ALWAYS followed by 'to': 'You OUGHT TO have told me about the change in schedule.'
- Requests, offers and suggestions
- 'Would you please…' makes a request polite; 'Shall I…' offers help; 'Shall we…' makes a suggestion. The pronoun after 'shall' decides which.
- Form
- Every modal except 'ought' takes the BARE infinitive — no 'to', and no -s in the third person.
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Start this chapter free →Grammar: Modals — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 10 English Grammar: Modals?+
Modals carry meaning rather than tense: each one names a function — ability, permission, obligation, prohibition, possibility, deduction, advice, request or offer. Every question here is really asking which function the sentence performs. Key ideas include Ability, Permission, Obligation — must, Obligation — have to, Prohibition versus no obligation, Weak possibility.
What does Class 10 English Chapter 22 (Grammar: Modals) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 60 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Modals": 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "Grammar: Modals" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Grammar: Modals" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 10 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 11 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Grammar: Modals" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Grammar: Modals" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 12 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Modals" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Grammar: Modals (Class 10 English)?+
The questions that matter most test Ability, Permission, Obligation — must, Obligation — have to, Prohibition versus no obligation, Weak possibility. This page shows 12 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 60 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for Grammar: Modals?+
Yes — Class 10 English Grammar: Modals has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.