Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries — Class 9 MCQs with Answers
Class 9 CBSE English · Chapter 21
60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard · Updated
Jump to the 6 solved questions
Practise the most important Class 9 CBSE English questions from Chapter 21, "Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries". 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: Modal Auxiliaries", 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: Modal Auxiliaries, 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 9 English mastery score. Try the 6 sample questions below: tap an option to see the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 9 English)
6 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. Tap an option to check yourself.
0 of 6 answered
- Q1 of 6Easy
'She ___ swim when she was five.'
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Answer: could
Explanation: 'could' expresses past ability.
- Q2 of 6Easy
'You ___ respect your elders.'
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Answer: should
Explanation: 'should' expresses advice/duty.
- Q3 of 6Medium
'He isn't answering; he ___ be sleeping.'
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Answer: must
Explanation: 'must be' = a confident present deduction.
- Q4 of 6Medium
'___ we go for a walk? It's a lovely evening.'
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Answer: Shall
Explanation: 'Shall we...' makes a suggestion.
- Q5 of 6Hard
Choose the sentence expressing NO ability in the past.
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Answer: She couldn't solve the puzzle.
Explanation: 'couldn't solve' = was not able to (no past ability).
- Q6 of 6Hard
Which sentence expresses past regret correctly?
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Answer: I should have studied harder for the exam.
Explanation: 'should have + past participle' expresses past regret about what was not done.
Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries notes: key concepts (Class 9 English)
Modal auxiliaries — can, could, may, might, must, should, shall, would — carry meaning rather than tense. Each question in this chapter tests which FUNCTION a modal performs: ability, permission, obligation, advice, possibility, deduction, request, offer or suggestion.
- Ability
- 'Can' for present ability ('I CAN speak three languages'; 'Birds CAN fly'); 'could' for past ability ('She COULD swim when she was five').
- Permission
- 'May' asks for and grants polite permission: 'MAY I come in, sir?'; 'You MAY go now, the class is over.' 'May' can also grant permission with a condition.
- Strong obligation
- 'Must' expresses necessity or a rule: 'Students MUST wear the school uniform'; 'Passengers MUST fasten their seat belts.'
- Prohibition
- 'Must not' forbids: 'You MUST NOT tell lies.' Note that this is stronger than 'should not', which only advises against.
- Advice and duty
- 'Should' recommends rather than compels: 'You SHOULD respect your elders'; 'You SHOULD see a doctor about that cough'; 'We SHOULD save water.'
- Possibility
- 'May' and 'might' express that something is possible but uncertain: 'It MIGHT rain later'; 'She MAY know the answer, ask her.'
- Deduction — positive
- 'Must' expresses a confident logical conclusion from evidence: 'He MUST be at home, his car is outside'; 'He isn't answering, he MUST be sleeping.'
- Deduction — negative
- 'Can't' expresses confident impossibility: 'That CAN'T be John — he is abroad right now.' Note it is 'can't', not 'mustn't', for a negative deduction.
- Past possibility
- 'Might have + past participle' places a possibility in the past: 'They MIGHT HAVE missed the train; they left very late.'
- Polite requests
- 'Could you…' and 'Would you please…' make a request polite: 'COULD you help me with this bag?'; 'WOULD you please close the door?'
- Offers and suggestions
- 'Shall I…' offers help ('SHALL I carry your books?'); 'Shall we…' suggests ('SHALL we go for a walk?'); 'Would you like…' offers politely.
- Form of every modal
- A modal is always followed by the BARE infinitive — no 'to', and no -s in the third person: 'She can swim', never 'She cans to swim'.
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Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 9 English Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries?+
Modal auxiliaries — can, could, may, might, must, should, shall, would — carry meaning rather than tense. Each question in this chapter tests which FUNCTION a modal performs: ability, permission, obligation, advice, possibility, deduction, request, offer or suggestion. Key ideas include Ability, Permission, Strong obligation, Prohibition, Advice and duty, Possibility.
What does Class 9 English Chapter 21 (Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 60 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries": 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: Modal Auxiliaries" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 9 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 10 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries" 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: Modal Auxiliaries" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 6 sample questions are on this page with answers: tap an option, or "Show answer", to see the correct option and a step-by-step explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries" 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: Modal Auxiliaries (Class 9 English)?+
The questions that matter most test Ability, Permission, Strong obligation, Prohibition, Advice and duty, Possibility. This page shows 6 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: Modal Auxiliaries?+
Yes — Class 9 English Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries 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.
Are there question answers and extra questions for Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries (Class 9 English)?+
Yes. This page has 6 solved questions on Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Sign in to practise all 60 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.