Study the rules, look at the examples, then do the exercises.
Every day we talk about what is necessary, what is forbidden, and what is a good idea. To do this in English we use a special group of small verbs called modals: must, have to, mustn't, should, ought to, had better. They never change for the subject (no -s), and most of them are followed by the bare infinitive — the verb with no to (must go, not must to go).
In this unit you will learn three things: how to express obligation (something is necessary), how to express prohibition and no obligation (the famous mustn't vs don't have to trap), and how to give advice. You will also see how to talk about a past obligation with had to.
Both must and have to say that something is necessary. The form is different: must is a modal (always the same, + bare infinitive), while have to behaves like a normal verb and uses do / does in questions and negatives.
| Positive | Negative | Question | |
|---|---|---|---|
| must | I must go. | — (see mustn't below) | Must I go? |
| have to | She has to go. | She doesn't have to go. | Does she have to go? |
This is the most important — and most tested — point in the whole unit. The two forms look similar but mean the opposite. Read this table very carefully.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mustn't | It is forbidden. Do NOT do it. (prohibition) | You mustn't park here. (It is not allowed.) |
| don't have to | It is not necessary, but you can if you want. (no obligation) | You don't have to park here. (You can, but it's free to choose.) |
When something is not a rule but a good idea, we give advice. Three forms are common at B1. All are followed by the bare infinitive.
| Form | Strength | Example |
|---|---|---|
| should / shouldn't | normal advice (most common) | You should drink more water. You shouldn't eat so late. |
| ought to | the same as should, a little more formal | You ought to see a doctor. |
| had better ('d better) | strong advice or a warning about now | You 'd better leave now, or you'll be late. |
Here is a common surprise: must has no past form. When we talk about an obligation in the past, we must use had to for everybody.
| Time | Obligation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present / general | must / have to | Today I have to work late. |
| Past | had to | Yesterday I had to work late. |
| Past, no obligation | didn't have to | On Sunday I didn't have to work. |
These are the errors B1 students make most often with obligation and advice. Check your own writing against this list.
| Wrong ✗ | Right ✓ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| You mustn't to smoke here. | You mustn't smoke here. | must / mustn't take the bare infinitive (no "to"). |
| It's free, so you mustn't pay. | It's free, so you don't have to pay. | no obligation, not prohibition → don't have to. |
| Yesterday I must leave early. | Yesterday I had to leave early. | past obligation → had to (must has no past). |
| You should to rest more. | You should rest more. | should + bare infinitive, no "to". |
| Does he must wear a tie? | Does he have to wear a tie? | use have to (with do/does) for questions. |
A new employee, Can, asks his colleague Lucy about the rules at work. Read it twice and notice each obligation, prohibition, no-obligation and piece of advice.
Choose the correct answer. — 10 questions, each one is marked instantly. Questions get harder as you go.
Learn the words, then use them in your own sentences about rules in your life.
Write 8 sentences about the rules in a place you know well (your school, workplace, home or city). Use at least 8 of the words above.
Sentence starters (you can begin with these):
Değerlendirme öğretmenin tarafından yapılacak. (Your teacher will review your task.)
Read the text, then answer the questions.
Good readers prepare before they start. Before you read, think about these three questions (you do not need to write the answers):
Words to spot (from the Speaking section): rule · obligation · forbidden · strict · flexible · deadline · follow · advice
Elif started a new job at a design company last month, and she quickly learned that every workplace has its own rules. On her first day, her manager gave her a long list of things she had to do and things she must never do.
The company is called Bright Studio, and it makes posters, websites, and logos for shops and restaurants. Elif applied for the job in the spring, and she was very happy when she got it. On her first morning, she arrived early because she did not want to be late. She waited outside the building for a few minutes and took a deep breath. A new job can feel a little scary, but it can also be exciting. When she walked in, a friendly woman at the front desk smiled and showed her the way to her manager's office. Her manager, Aylin, was kind and calm. She told Elif that the first week is always the hardest, and that nobody remembers every rule on the first day. 'Take your time,' she said. 'You don't need to learn everything at once.'
Some rules were strict. Elif must wear her ID badge at all times, and she mustn't share company files with anyone outside the office. Because the company works with important clients, she also has to keep every project secret until it is finished. 'You must be careful with private information,' her manager said, 'but you can always ask me if you are unsure.'
Elif soon understood why some of these rules were so important. Bright Studio keeps a lot of private information about its clients, such as new logos, secret plans, and prices that other companies must not see. If this information gets out, the company can lose the trust of its clients, and it may even lose money. For this reason, everyone in the office has to lock their computer before they leave their desk, even for a short break. They also mustn't talk about their projects on the bus or in a café, because someone might hear them. On her second day, a colleague named Deniz explained the security rules again. 'You must think before you send an email,' he said. 'Always check the address twice. And you should never write a password on a piece of paper. It is a small thing, but it can cause big problems.' Elif wrote all of this down in her notebook.
However, other rules were more relaxed. Elif doesn't have to wear a suit, so she usually comes to work in comfortable clothes. She doesn't have to arrive at exactly nine o'clock either, because the company has flexible hours. When she has a lot of work, she can start early, while on quiet days she can begin a little later.
The flexible hours were one of Elif's favourite things about the job. In her last job, she had to be at her desk at exactly nine o'clock, and she often felt stressed on the bus. Now she can plan her day in a way that suits her. On busy mornings, she comes in early so that she can finish a project on time. On quiet days, she can stay a little longer in the morning and start at ten. The company also lets people work from home two days a week, so Elif doesn't have to come to the office every single day. The dress code is relaxed too. She still tries to look neat and tidy when she meets clients. 'You can wear what you like,' Aylin told her, 'but remember that clients see us too.' Elif thought this was a fair rule.
There were a few other rules that Elif had to remember as well. In meetings, everyone must turn off the sound on their phones so that nobody gets interrupted. If a client comes to visit, the team should keep the office tidy and offer them a drink. Elif also learned that she doesn't have to answer emails after work, because the company believes that people need to rest. 'You had better switch off your laptop in the evening,' Deniz joked, 'or you will dream about work all night.' Elif laughed, but she knew he was right. A good balance between work and rest, she thought, is one of the best rules of all.
Her manager also gave her some friendly advice. 'You should ask questions when you don't understand something,' she said. 'And you ought to take a short break every hour. You had better not skip lunch, or you will feel tired by the afternoon.'
During her first week, Elif tried to follow all of this advice. She took a short break every hour, and she made herself a cup of tea in the small kitchen. There she met other members of the team, and they were all happy to help her. When she didn't understand a task, she asked questions instead of guessing, and her colleagues never seemed annoyed. One afternoon, she almost forgot to eat because she was so busy, but then she remembered her manager's words and stopped for lunch. After the break, she felt fresh again and worked much better. She also learned that she ought to save her work often, because computers can crash without warning. These were small habits, but they made her days easier and calmer.
By Friday, Elif felt much more comfortable. She knew where the meeting rooms were, she remembered most of the rules, and she had already made a few friends. In the afternoon, Aylin came to her desk and asked how her first week had been. 'It was a lot to learn,' Elif said honestly, 'but everyone has been very kind, and I think I understand the rules now.' Aylin smiled and told her that she had done well. 'Every workplace has its own way of doing things,' she said. 'You should not worry if you make a small mistake. The important thing is that you try, and that you ask when you are not sure.'
At first, Elif had to read the rules many times to remember them all. Although it was a lot to learn, she felt happy. She had a good feeling about the job, and she knew she had made the right choice.
Choose the correct answer.
Are these sentences true or false, according to the text?
Complete each sentence with ONE word from the text. Mind the modal form.
Write your answer in your own words. These questions are not marked automatically.
1. What is the difference between a rule with "mustn't" and a rule with "don't have to" in Elif's office? Give one example of each.
2. Why are the company's working hours a good thing for Elif?
3. Which piece of advice from the manager do you think is the most useful, and why?
Find these connectors in the text — each one appears at least once: and, but, so, because, when, while, however, although, also. (You will use these same connectors in the Writing section.) Note them down, then check.
Todd asks Sarah about the rules and duties of teaching English in different countries.
You will hear Todd interviewing Sarah about her experience of teaching English abroad — the dress code, the lessons, the paperwork and the help teachers get. You will listen TWICE. First listen: answer questions 1-5. Second listen: answer questions 6-10. (Kaydı İKİ kez dinleyeceksin: ilk dinlemede 1-5, ikinci dinlemede 6-10.)
Write and submit your paragraph; your teacher will review it.
A list of short, separate rules is not real writing. What connects your ideas is linking words. At A2 you used and, but, so, because. At B1 you add four more powerful connectors: also, when, while, although and however. These let you show contrast, background situations and extra information like a confident writer.
| Connector | Use it to... | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | add information | You must wear a badge, and you have to sign in. |
| but | show a small contrast | The hours are long, but the rules are fair. |
| so | show a result | It's a hospital, so you mustn't make noise. |
| because | give a reason | You have to be quiet because people are working. |
| also | add an extra point | You must be on time. You also have to wear a uniform. |
| when | say at what time | You should ask when you don't understand a rule. |
| while | contrast two situations | Some rules are strict, while others are flexible. |
| although | show a strong contrast | Although the rules are strict, they keep us safe. |
| however | contrast between two sentences | You must follow the rules. However, you can always ask questions. |
See the difference — the same rules, written two ways:
| Separate sentences ✗ | Connected, fluent writing ✓ |
|---|---|
| You must wear a badge. You mustn't be late. The dress code is relaxed. You don't have to wear a suit. You should be polite. | You must wear a badge, and you mustn't be late. However, the dress code is relaxed, so you don't have to wear a suit. Although the rules are clear, you should always be polite. |
A "rules" paragraph has three parts. The skeleton stays the same every time — you change the content, not the structure:
| Part | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Opening | A general sentence about the place and its rules | My school has quite a lot of rules that every student has to follow. |
| 2. Body | The obligations (must / have to), the prohibitions (mustn't), what is not necessary (don't have to), and some advice (should). Link with connectors. | You must arrive on time, and you mustn't use your phone in class. However, you don't have to wear a uniform. |
| 3. Closing | Your opinion, or a piece of advice for a newcomer | Although some rules are strict, I think they are fair, so my advice is that you should follow them. |
Write about the rules of a place you know well (your school, workplace, gym, library or city). Use modals of obligation and advice.
Değerlendirme öğretmenin tarafından yapılacak. (Your teacher will evaluate your writing.)
Mixed questions from the whole unit, then check what you can do.
14 questions: grammar + vocabulary + reading + listening. Each question is marked instantly.
Tick what you can do now. Honest answers help your teacher.
İşaretlemediğin madde varsa ilgili bölüme dönüp tekrar çalış — soldaki menüden her bölüme geri dönebilirsin.
Oturum kontrol ediliyor...