This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Auxiliary and Modal Verbs – Used to, Need, Dare”.
1. Which of the following is correct about the auxiliary ‘used to’?
a) Denoting necessity or obligation
b) Used in negatives and interrogatives
c) Does not take the third person singular
d) To express a discontinued habit
View Answer
Explanation: The auxiliary ‘used to’ depicts or expresses a discontinued habit . Although it is an auxiliary verb, often ‘use to’ replaces ‘used to’ in colloquial English.
2. Fill in the correct auxiliary verb.
I ______________ the cello when I was a little girl.
a) used play
b) used not to play
c) used to play
d) use play
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Used to’ is an auxiliary verb which demonstrates an old but discontinued habit. It is mostly used only when speaking in the past tense.
3. Say whether true or false.
Very often, ‘did not use to’ replaces ‘used not to’.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Although ‘used to’ is an auxiliary verb by nature, in conversational or informal English, ‘did not use to’ often replaces ‘used not to’. Similarly, ‘did you use to’ replaces ‘used to’.
4. Choose the incorrect statement.
a) You need to hardly do any work.
b) Need I remind you of your promise?
c) Tom need not go to school tomorrow.
d) Swen needs to be given his medicines on time.
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Need’ is an auxiliary verb which denotes necessity or obligation. It is used with an infinitive directly and ‘to’ is omitted in negative, interrogative and in sentences containing semi-negative words such as ‘hardly’.
5. Choose the correct option.
I ______________ her, so I called her to deliver the message.
a) needn’t to see
b) didn’t need to see
c) needn’t have seen
d) mustn’t see
View Answer
Explanation: Didn’t need to see is the correct negative conjugation of the auxiliary verb need. Needn’t to see and needn’t have seen are incorrect verb conjugations. Mustn’t see expresses a negative obligation.
6. Fill in the correct helping verb.
One ______________ vary of strangers when travelling alone.
a) need be
b) needed be
c) needs to be
d) needed to be
View Answer
Explanation: When conjugated with ‘do’, ‘need’ has forms such as ‘needs’, ‘needed’, etc. It is used directly with a verb infinitive form in the sentence.
7. Choose the correct auxiliary.
You ______________ for me, I could have gone to the library by myself.
a) couldn’t wait
b) needn’t have waited
c) didn’t need to wait
d) don’t need to wait
View Answer
Explanation: The helping verb ‘need’ can be conjugated with or without ‘do’. When conjugated without ‘do’, it is used with an infinitive without ‘to’ only in negative and interrogative sentences.
8. Which of the following is false about the helping verb ‘dare’?
a) Is different from the ordinary verb dare which means to challenge
b) Does not take – s in the third person singular present tense
c) Is generally used in negative and interrogative sentences
d) Cannot be conjugated without ‘do’
View Answer
Explanation: The auxiliary ‘dare’ may or may not be conjugated with ‘do’. When it is conjugated without ‘do’, it is followed by an infinitive without ‘to’. When conjugated with ‘do’, it takes an infinitive with or without ‘to after it.
9. What is the correct alternative?
Chris ______________ be late, for the fear of upsetting his boss.
a) need not
b) dare not
c) would not
d) shall
View Answer
Explanation: As an auxiliary, ‘dare’ means to be brave enough. It is quite distinct from the ordinary form of the verb where ‘dare’ means to challenge someone or something at any given moment in time.
10. Choose the correct answer for the sentence.
How ______________ interrupt me while I’m addressing the class?
a) dare you
b) shall you
c) would you
d) could you
View Answer
Explanation: The auxiliary verb ‘dare’ is generally used in interrogative sentences and negative sentences. It may be conjugated with or without ‘do’. It is quite different in meaning from the ordinary verb ‘dare’.
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