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 (a summer camp, your school, a club or a sports team). 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
Last July, I went to Pine Lake Summer Camp for the very first time, and I was both excited and a little nervous. My name is Emir, and I had never spent a whole week away from home before. When my parents dropped me off, a camp leader called Aslı welcomed us with a big smile and handed every child a small booklet. "These are our camp rules," she said. "You don't have to remember them all today, but you must read them before bed."
That evening, all the campers sat around the fire, and Aslı explained the most important rules. Some of them were strict. We must be back in our cabins by nine o'clock, and we mustn't leave the camp area on our own, because the forest is very big and it is easy to get lost. We also have to keep our cabins tidy, and every morning one group has to help in the kitchen while another group tidies the campfire area.
Safety came first, so a few rules could not be broken. Nobody must swim in the lake without a leader watching, and we mustn't light a fire by ourselves. "If you break a safety rule," Aslı said seriously, "you will have to sit out of the next activity." However, she also told us that we should never be afraid to ask for help, and that a good camper always looks after the younger children.
Luckily, other rules were much more relaxed. We don't have to wake up at the same time on rest days, and we don't have to join every single activity. "You can choose," Aslı said. "You should try new things, but you don't have to do anything that frightens you." I was pleased, because I did not want to climb the tall wall on the first day.
Then came the advice. Aslı gave us some useful tips for a happy week. She said we should drink plenty of water in the hot weather, and that we ought to wear a hat when the sun is strong. "You had better not stay up too late," she added, "or you will be too tired for the morning hike." My friend Can, who had been to the camp before, gave me his own advice. "You should make friends quickly," he said, "and you mustn't forget to write home, or your parents will worry."
During the week, I tried hard to follow the rules. I helped in the kitchen on Tuesday, and I kept my part of the cabin very tidy. When I did not understand something, I asked a leader, and nobody was ever annoyed. Although some rules felt strict at first, I soon understood why they mattered. Because everyone followed the same rules, the whole camp stayed safe and friendly.
By the end of the week, I had learned so much. I could put up a tent, cook simple food over the fire, and swim a little further than before. I had also made three new friends. On the last night, we sat by the fire again, and Aslı thanked us for being such good campers. "You don't have to be perfect," she said, "but you must always be kind and careful." Those words stayed with me.
When my parents came to collect me, I did not want to leave. Pine Lake had taught me something important: rules are not there to spoil our fun. They keep everyone safe, so that we can all enjoy the adventure together. Next summer, I am definitely going back, and this time I already know all the rules.
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" at the camp? Give one example of each.
2. Why do you think the camp has a rule that nobody must swim without a leader watching?
3. Which piece of advice from Aslı or Can 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 summer camp, a club, a sports team or another place you know well. 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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