Modal verbs - Other

This page contains quiz questions on three modal verbs not covered elsewhere: shall, will, and need.

By thinking about the quiz questions below and reading the explanations you will - might - can - could - may - ought to learn more about the difficulties associated with modal verbs.

Note: All of the modals in the previous sentence are possible - with somewhat different meanings.


Quiz

1. shall

  • What is the difference in the meaning of shall in the following questions: Shall I call you when I arrive? and Shall we go swimming?
  • Can you say Shall you call me when you arrive?
  • What is the shortened form of shall not?
  • What is the meaning of shall in the sentence She shall be here on time.
  • In the sentence Shall I call you when I arrive? , 'shall' means Do you want me to call you... ? In the question Shall we go swimming?, 'shall' has the function of making a suggestion; e.g. Let's go swimming!
  • Shall you call me when you arrive? is not possible. You have to say something like: Why don't you call me... or Please call me... .
  • The shortened form of shall not is shan't. E.g. I shan't be happy if you're late again.
  • When shall has the function of referring to the future, it can only be used in the first person (I/we). For example: I shall let you know as soon as she arrives.
    So, when shall is used in the second or third person as in the quiz sentence, it is NOT a synonym for will - (It does not mean: She will be here on time).
    Instead, it expresses the speaker's determination that something will happen. She shall be here on time (with heavy stress on the word shall ) means: She has no choice - she must be here on time or If she is not here on time, she will be in deep trouble.

2. will

  • What is the meaning of will in the sentence Boys will be boys!
  • What is wrong with the sentence I'll keep opening my big mouth!
  • What is the function of will in the sentence Will you shut up!
  • Can you say I will a new car ?
  • What's the difference between the question Will you have some more cake? and the question Won't you have some more cake?
  • In the sentence Boys will be boys! or Accidents will happen! 'will' expresses a general truth about the world.
  • The sentence I'll keep opening my big mouth! is possible if it expresses the speaker's intention to keep opening her big mouth; e.g. I don't care what you say, I'll keep opening my big mouth any time I want . (But it sounds highly unlikely!)
    A much more likely interpretation of the sentence is that the speaker wants to express her dismay at the fact that she keeps saying things that are embarrassing to herself or the person she is speaking to.
    In this case, it is necessary to use the full form of will and put heavy stress on it; i.e. I will keep opening my big mouth!
    A similar sentence criticizing someone's behaviour is: Well, if you will drive so fast, what do you expect?
  • The function of will in the sentence Will you shut up! is to say: I very much want you to stop talking!
  • You cannot say I will a new car. This is a common mistake by beginning German learners of English; c.f. Ich will ein neues Auto = I want a new car.
  • Will you have some more cake? is a neutral question, whereas Won't you have some more cake? pushes the other person a little more firmly to say yes.

3. need - Which of the following sentences are wrong?

  • I need to go.
  • I don't need to go.
  • I need not go.
  • I need not to go.
  • I don't need go.
  • I need go.
  • I didn't need to go.
  • I didn't need go.
  • I needed not go.
  • I needed not to go.
  • Need I go?
  • Need I to go?
  • Do I need go?
  • Do I need to go?

The sentences marked in red are wrong.

  • I need to go.
  • I don't need to go.
  • I need not go.
  • I need not to go.
  • I don't need go.
  • I need go.
  • I didn't need to go.
  • I didn't need go.
  • I needed not go.
  • I needed not to go.
  • Need I go?
  • Need I to go?
  • Do I need go?
  • Do I need to go?

These final questions about modal verbs have served once again to prove my point that English is not an easy language! But if you are a new learner of English who has strayed onto these pages, please do not despair.

Most of the quiz questions have been based on the rarer functions of the modal verbs. The basic and most common functions of the modals are really quite easy and can be learned quickly, as in the following sentences:

  • I must go. (obligation)
  • I can speak 3 languages. (ability)
  • Could you help me, please? (polite request)
  • You shouldn't do that. (admonition)
  • I would (I'd) like some more cake, please. (polite request)
  • I ought to stop smoking. (desirable action)
  • I will (I'll) help you. (promise)
  • You don't need to go yet. (non-obligation)
  • Shall I cook dinner now? (suggestion)
  • I may be late tomorrow. (possibility)
  • She might not be able to come. (weak possibility)

Modal verb pages