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Joy English · Level B1 · Modal verbsjoy-english.com

Obligation and advice: must, have to, should

Name:Date:

Say what is necessary, what is not necessary, what is not allowed and what is a good idea.

Choose the best form

Choose the option that best completes each sentence.

  1. You ___ touch the paintings. It's against the museum rules.
    • a) mustn't
    • b) don't have to
    • c) shouldn't to
  2. It's Saturday tomorrow, so I ___ get up early.
    • a) mustn't
    • b) haven't to
    • c) don't have to
  3. You look tired. You ___ go to bed earlier.
    • a) have
    • b) should
    • c) must to
  4. Yesterday Kofi ___ work late because his colleague was ill.
    • a) had to
    • b) must
    • c) has to
  5. ___ you have to wear a uniform at your school?
    • a) Are
    • b) Must
    • c) Do
  6. Visitors ___ show their ticket at the entrance. That's the rule.
    • a) don't have to
    • b) have to
    • c) shouldn't
  7. You ___ eat so much sugar. It's bad for your teeth.
    • a) shouldn't
    • b) don't have to
    • c) haven't to
  8. Lena ___ take the bus to work. She lives very close to her office.
    • a) has to
    • b) mustn't
    • c) doesn't have to

Write the correct form

Type the correct form of the words in brackets.

  1. My sister is a doctor, so she ___ (have to) work at weekends sometimes.
  2. We ___ (not / have to) wait long at the airport last night. Our bags came quickly.
  3. You ___ (must / not) tell anyone. It's a secret!
  4. You ___ (should / not) leave your bike outside. Someone might take it.
  5. Students ___ (not / have to) buy the books. The school gives them for free.
  6. ___ (do) Ravi have to work tomorrow?
  7. When I was a child, I ___ (have to) share a bedroom with my two brothers.
  8. Next year, Mina ___ (will / have to) take the bus because her school is moving.

Answer key

Choose the best form

  1. a) mustn'tTouching is not allowed, so we use mustn't. Shouldn't to is never correct.
  2. c) don't have toGetting up early isn't necessary, but it isn't forbidden either, so we use don't have to.
  3. b) shouldThis is advice, so we use should + verb without to.
  4. a) had toMust has no past form, so for past obligation we use had to.
  5. c) DoQuestions with have to need do, does or did.
  6. b) have toA rule creates an obligation, so we use have to.
  7. a) shouldn'tThis is advice about a bad idea, so we use shouldn't.
  8. c) doesn't have toShe can walk, so the bus isn't necessary. We use doesn't have to.

Write the correct form

  1. has toWith she in the present, have to becomes has to.
  2. didn't have to / did not have toThis is a past situation with no obligation, so we use didn't have to.
  3. mustn't / must notTelling is not allowed, so we use mustn't (must not).
  4. shouldn't / should notThis is advice about a bad idea, so we use shouldn't.
  5. don't have to / do not have toBuying the books isn't necessary, so we use don't have to.
  6. doesQuestions with have to need do or does. Ravi is one person, so we use does.
  7. had toThis is a past obligation, so we use had to.
  8. will have to / 'll have toMust has no future form, so for future obligation we use will have to.

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