Choose the correct sentence about a past obligation that WAS fulfilled.

I had to renew my passport before the trip.

I must to renew my passport before the trip.

I should renew my passport before the trip.

I need renew my passport before the trip.

Choose the sentence that correctly expresses a criticism of a past action.

You shouldn't have shouted at the junior staff.

You mustn't have shouted at the junior staff.

You couldn't have shouted at the junior staff.

You needn't shout at the junior staff.

Distinguish: which sentence says the person was NOT required to do it, and did not?

She didn't have to attend the briefing.

She needn't have attended the briefing.

She shouldn't attend the briefing.

She mustn't attend the briefing.

📚

Class 10 CBSE English — Chapter 22: Grammar: Modals MCQs with Answers

60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard

Practise the most important Class 10 CBSE English questions from Chapter 22, "Grammar: Modals" — 60 NCERT-aligned multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations. The set is split into 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard, so you can warm up on the fundamentals and then push into the exam-level problems that separate top scorers in CBSE Board exams.

"Grammar: Modals" is one of the chapters where comprehension, grammar and writing-skill questions really pays off. Each MCQ on this chapter is timed and uses exam-grade marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped), training the accuracy-under-pressure that real papers demand. Every question carries a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson rather than a dead end — the fastest way to close gaps before a test.

Use this chapter as targeted revision: attempt the Easy set first to confirm your basics on Grammar: Modals, then move to Medium and Hard to test application and problem-solving. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically, and the chapter feeds into your overall Class 10 English mastery score. 12 sample questions are solved in full below — answer and worked explanation — and signing in free opens all 60.

Class 10 English Grammar: Modals MCQs with answers

12 solved questions across the difficulty levels this chapter is graded on — answer and explanation shown for each. The remaining 48 are timed and scored when you sign in.

Q1Easy
Fill in the blank: 'She ___ swim across the river when she was fifteen.'
A.could✓ Correct
B.can
C.may
D.must
Answer: A. could
Explanation: 'Could' expresses an ability that existed in the past.
Q2Easy
Fill in the blank: '___ I borrow your pen for a moment, please?'
A.Should
B.Would
C.May✓ Correct
D.Must
Answer: C. May
Explanation: 'May' is the polite modal for asking permission.
Q3Easy
Fill in the blank: 'Every candidate ___ carry a valid admit card to the examination hall.'
A.might
B.must✓ Correct
C.may
D.could
Answer: B. must
Explanation: 'Must' expresses a strong obligation imposed by a rule.
Q4Easy
Fill in the blank: 'Take an umbrella; it ___ rain later this evening.'
A.must
B.shall
C.would
D.might✓ Correct
Answer: D. might
Explanation: 'Might' expresses a weak possibility.
Q5Easy
Fill in the blank: 'You ___ see a doctor if the fever does not come down.'
A.can
B.might
C.should✓ Correct
D.shall
Answer: C. should
Explanation: 'Should' is the standard modal for offering advice.
Q6Medium
Identify the error: 'You must to complete the assignment before Monday.'
A.must to should be must✓ Correct
B.complete should be completing
C.before should be by
D.Monday should be a Monday
Answer: A. must to should be must
Explanation: 'Must' is a bare modal and is never followed by 'to'.
Q7Medium
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.✓ Correct
D.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.
Q8Medium
Fill in the blank: 'You ___ have apologised; your silence made things worse.'
A.will
B.should✓ Correct
C.must
D.can
Answer: B. should
Explanation: 'Should have' expresses regret about something not done in the past.
Q9Medium
Choose the correct sentence about a past obligation that WAS fulfilled.
A.I must to renew my passport before the trip.
B.I should renew my passport before the trip.
C.I need renew my passport before the trip.
D.I had to renew my passport before the trip.✓ Correct
Answer: D. I had to renew my passport before the trip.
Explanation: Past obligation is expressed with 'had to', since 'must' has no past form of its own.
Q10Hard
Choose the sentence that correctly expresses a criticism of a past action.
A.You shouldn't have shouted at the junior staff.✓ Correct
B.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.
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.✓ Correct
D.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
Fill in the blank: 'He ___ have been driving fast; the road was completely icy.'
A.would not
B.cannot✓ Correct
C.must not
D.need not
Answer: B. cannot
Explanation: 'Cannot have' expresses a confident negative deduction about the past.

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Grammar: Modals — FAQs

What does Class 10 English Chapter 22 (Grammar: Modals) cover on XamBaaz?+

It covers 60 NCERT-aligned MCQs on "Grammar: Modals" — 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard — each with a timed quiz and an instant explanation, suitable 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 (limited-time launch price), with no per-chapter charges.

How should I revise "Grammar: Modals" for the exam?+

Start with the Easy quiz to confirm your fundamentals, then attempt Medium and Hard for application-level practice. Review each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy on this chapter until it is consistently 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 practise all 60 questions with instant scoring.

Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Modals" quizzes?+

Yes — the timed quizzes use exam-grade marking: +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skipped question. Note that MHT-CET and the CBSE board papers themselves carry no negative marking — our mocks for those are scored their way, not this way.

Are these important questions for Grammar: Modals?+

The set is curated to the NCERT syllabus and weighted toward the question patterns that actually appear in CBSE Board exams, across Easy, Medium and Hard — so it doubles as an "important questions" revision list for "Grammar: Modals".

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