This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Auxiliary and Modal Verbs – Must, Ought to”.
1. Is the statement true or false?
‘Ought to’ expresses necessity.
a) False
b) True
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Ought to’ refers to a moral obligation or desirability. For the expression of necessity, ‘must’ is used in the statement. There is only a slight difference between the two.
2. Which of the following is ‘must’ not used for?
a) To express necessity or general obligation
b) To refer to the present or the near future
c) To express probability
d) To express logical certainty
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Explanation: ‘Must’ is used in several conditions such as to express necessity, to refer to the present or the near future, or to express logical certainty. ‘Ought to’ is used to express probability in a sentence.
3. State whether true or false.
Must has no past form.
a) False
b) True
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Explanation: ‘Must’ has no past form. It is used to refer to the present or the near future. To talk about the past, we use ‘had to’ which is the past form of ‘have to’.
4. Pick the incorrect statement out of the following.
a) Tim must wake up early every day of last week.
b) We ought to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.
c) The gold prices ought to come down in the next month.
d) She must have finished packing for the trip.
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Explanation: The verb correct conjugation in this sentence should be ‘Tim had to wake up early every day of last week’. This is because ‘must’ has no past form. To talk about the past, we use ‘had to’.
5. Which helping verb fits best?
You ______________ exert yourself so much over such a simple task.
a) ought to
b) mustn’t
c) ought not to
d) must
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Must’ is used to express a simple necessity or obligation. Here, the sentence is about a general necessity. In a negative statement, it is either used as ‘must not’ or ‘mustn’t’.
6. Which of the following auxiliaries is correct for the statement?
You ______________ better than to trust a liar like that.
a) must know
b) had to know
c) ought to know
d) ought not to know
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Explanation: ‘Ought to’ is used in sentences when the speaker wants to express a moral obligation or desirability towards a certain person or thing. It slightly differs from ‘must’ in the case of general and moral obligation.
7. Pick the correct auxiliary verb.
You ______________ practice regularly if you wish to win the contest.
a) must
b) must to
c) must not
d) must not to
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Must’ is used in cases where the speaker wishes to depict a necessity or general obligation. In negative statements, ‘must not’ or ‘mustn’t’ is used.
8. Choose the correct auxiliary.
I ______________ visit her myself and find out the truth behind the matter.
a) ought to
b) had to
c) have to
d) must
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Must’ is often used when the obligation comes from the speaker. But when the obligation is coming from someone else, ‘have to’ is used.
9. Fill in the blank with the correct helping verb.
______________ report to you every evening at the end of my shift?
a) Ought to I
b) Must to I
c) Must I
d) Ought I
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Must’ is used to express a general obligation or necessity. Whereas, ‘ought (to)’ is used in cases where the speaker is speaking or referring to a moral obligation.
10. Which is the correct helping verb?
This course ______________ your daughter improve her handwriting.
a) ought help to
b) ought to help
c) must help
d) must to help
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Ought to’ is used to express probability of the occurrence of a certain event. The correct structure of usage is auxiliary + main verb. So in this sentence, the correct structure would be ‘ought to help’.
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