Modal Verbs, Prepositions & Context Clues Worksheet — English Grammar Practice for 10-Year-Olds

Instructions

Read the explanation for each section carefully. Try your best to complete the exercises that follow. Good luck!

Part 1: Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are special helping verbs. They help the main verb show things like ability (can), possibility (might), permission (may), or obligation (must).

Examples: can, could, may, might, will, would, should, must

Circle or write down the correct modal verb to complete each sentence.

1. You ____________ finish your chores before you can go outside to play.

   ( can / must )

2. It looks cloudy. It ____________ rain later this afternoon.

   ( might / would )

3. I practiced a lot, so I ____________ ride my bike without training wheels now.

   ( can / should )

4. ____________ I please have a glass of water?

   ( Must / May )

5. You ____________ always be kind to others.

   ( should / might )

6. If I had a million dollars, I ____________ buy a giant trampoline.

   ( would / must )

Part 2: Prepositions of Place

Prepositions are words that show where something is located or the relationship between two things. Common prepositions of place include: in, on, under, behind, next to, between, above.

Read the description of the room below and fill in the blanks with the correct preposition from the box.

1. The toy car is hiding ____________ the bed.
2. A colorful poster is hanging ____________ the desk.
3. The soccer ball is ____________ the big toy box.
4. My cat loves to take a nap ____________ my comfy pillow.
5. The bookshelf is located ____________ the window and the door.

Part 3: Using Context Clues

When you find a word you don't know, you can be a word detective! Look for clues in the rest of the sentence to figure out the word’s meaning. These are called context clues.

Read each sentence. Use the context clues to figure out the meaning of the bold word. Choose the best answer.

1. The desert is a very arid place; there is very little rainfall there all year.
   • a) wet
   • b) dry
   • c) cold
2. He was so exhausted after the long hike that he fell asleep as soon as he got home.
   • a) excited
   • b) very tired
   • c) hungry
3. The ancient castle was colossal, with towering walls and huge rooms that could fit hundreds of people.
   • a) extremely large
   • b) very old
   • c) scary
4. The magician performed a baffling trick. We couldn't figure out how he made the rabbit disappear!
   • a) simple and easy
   • b) long and boring
   • c) confusing or puzzling

Answer Key

Part 1: Modal Verbs

1. must
2. might
3. can
4. May
5. should
6. would

Part 2: Prepositions of Place

1. under
2. above
3. in
4. on
5. between

Part 3: Using Context Clues

1. b) dry
2. b) very tired
3. a) extremely large
4. c) confusing or puzzling