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 bring your phone to class. (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 bring your phone to class. (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 tidy your room. You shouldn't eat so many sweets. |
| ought to | the same as should, a little more formal | You ought to brush your teeth twice a day. |
| had better ('d better) | strong advice or a warning about now | You 'd better hurry, or you'll miss the school bus. |
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 finish my homework. |
| Past | had to | Yesterday I had to finish my homework. |
| Past, no obligation | didn't have to | On Sunday I didn't have to go to school. |
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 shout here. | You mustn't shout here. | must / mustn't take the bare infinitive (no "to"). |
| The park is free, so you mustn't pay. | The park is free, so you don't have to pay. | no obligation, not prohibition → don't have to. |
| Yesterday I must leave school early. | Yesterday I had to leave school early. | past obligation → had to (must has no past). |
| You should to sleep more. | You should sleep more. | should + bare infinitive, no "to". |
| Does he must wear a uniform? | Does he have to wear a uniform? | use have to (with do/does) for questions. |
A new student, Emir, asks his classmate Sena about the rules at school. 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, your home, a club or the playground). 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
Defne started at a new school last month, and she quickly learned that every school has its own rules. On her first day, her teacher gave her a long list of things she had to do and things she must never do.
The school is called Green Valley, and it is next to a big park full of trees. Defne moved to the town in the summer, so she did not know anyone yet. On her first morning, she arrived early because she did not want to be late. She waited by the gate for a few minutes and took a deep breath. A new school can feel a little scary, but it can also be exciting. When she walked in, a friendly girl called Zeynep smiled and showed her the way to the classroom. Their teacher, Mr Kaya, was kind and calm. He told Defne that the first week is always the hardest, and that nobody remembers every rule on the first day. 'Take your time,' he said. 'You don't have to learn everything at once.'
Some rules were strict. Defne must wear her school uniform every day, and she mustn't run in the corridors, because someone could fall. She also has to raise her hand before she speaks in class. 'You must be kind to everyone,' Mr Kaya said, 'but you can always come to me if you have a problem.'
Defne soon understood why some of these rules were so important. Green Valley is a busy place with hundreds of children, so everyone has to follow the same rules to stay safe. In the science room, students mustn't touch the equipment without a teacher, because it can be dangerous. On the stairs, everyone should walk on the left, while the older children help the younger ones. Zeynep explained the playground rules too. 'You must share the swings,' she said, 'and you had better not push, or you will get a warning.'
However, other rules were more relaxed. Defne doesn't have to bring her own lunch, because the school has a nice canteen. She doesn't have to join a club either, although most children choose one. Defne picked the chess club, and she was very happy.
There were a few pieces of advice as well. Mr Kaya told her that she should drink water at break time, and that she ought to go to bed early so she is not tired in class. 'You had better not forget your homework,' he added with a smile, 'or you will feel sorry the next day.' Defne wrote everything in her notebook.
During her first week, Defne tried to follow all of this advice. When she did not understand a task, she raised her hand and asked, and Mr Kaya never seemed annoyed. Although some days felt long, she slowly learned where everything was.
By Friday, Defne felt much more comfortable. She knew where her classroom was, she remembered most of the rules, and she had already made a few friends. Although it was a lot to learn, she felt happy. She had a good feeling about her new school, and she knew it would be a great year.
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 Defne's school? Give one example of each.
2. Why is it a good thing that Defne doesn't have to bring her own lunch?
3. Which piece of advice from Mr Kaya 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 your uniform, and you have to bring your books. |
| but | show a small contrast | The homework is hard, but the teachers are kind. |
| so | show a result | It's a library, so you mustn't make noise. |
| because | give a reason | You have to be quiet because people are reading. |
| 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 your uniform. You mustn't be late. The lunch is free. You don't have to bring food. You should be polite. | You must wear your uniform, and you mustn't be late. However, the lunch is free, so you don't have to bring food. 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, your home, a club, or the library). 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.
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