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Unit 7.1 · B2 Grammar

Present modal verbs

obligation and necessity with must and have to; lack of obligation or necessity with don't have to, don't need to and needn't; advice with should and ought to; permission and prohibition with can, may, can't and mustn't; possibility with could, might and may.

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  1. 1. All contractors _____ show photo identification before entering the secure area.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Ahave to✓
    Bmight
    Cdon't have to
    Dcould

    💡 Have to expresses an obligation imposed by an external rule.

  2. 2. Needn't and don't need to can both mean that an action is not necessary.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Both forms express lack of necessity, although needn't is less common.

  3. 3. The laboratory notice gives an emphatic prohibition: 'You _____ enter without protective glasses.'

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    mustn't · must not

    💡 Mustn't expresses a strong prohibition; it does not mean that an action is optional.

  4. 4. Which sentence means that attending the workshop is optional?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AYou don't have to attend the workshop.✓
    BYou mustn't attend the workshop.
    CYou can't attend the workshop.
    DYou ought not attend the workshop.

    💡 Don't have to expresses lack of obligation, so attendance is a choice.

  5. 5. Match each contextualised modal expression to its main function.

    Matching30s
    All applicants must submit the form→strong obligation
    You needn't bring a printed copy→lack of necessity
    You ought to check the figures→advice
    Visitors may enter after an ID check→formal permission
    The timetable might change→possibility

    💡 The expressions illustrate obligation, lack of necessity, advice, permission and possibility.

  6. 6. Use should to give advice: Your files are valuable. You _____ back them up before updating the system.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    should

    💡 Should + bare infinitive is the usual form for advice.

  7. 7. Put the chunks in order to make a sentence giving formal permission.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.Employees
    2. 2.may use
    3. 3.the roof terrace
    4. 4.with permission
    5. 5.during lunch breaks.

    💡 May + bare infinitive can give permission in a relatively formal style.

  8. 8. There will be pens at the venue, so you _____ bring one.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Aneedn't✓
    Bmustn't
    Ccouldn't
    Doughtn't to

    💡 Needn't means that bringing a pen is unnecessary.

  9. 9. Ought to is normally the preferred form in direct questions and negative advice.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 The reference notes that ought to is generally not used in direct questions or negative forms.

  10. 10. Use should in a direct advice question: Do you think I _____ apologise for the misunderstanding?

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    should

    💡 Should is natural in a direct question asking for advice.

  11. 11. The figures are provisional, so the final total _____ be slightly lower.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Amight✓
    Bhas to
    Cmustn't
    Dneedn't

    💡 Might expresses a possible, but uncertain, outcome.

  12. 12. Match each situation to the most suitable modal expression.

    Matching30s
    A legal requirement→have to comply
    A strong warning on a door→mustn't enter
    A helpful recommendation→should compare prices
    An optional extra task→don't have to complete it
    A possible explanation→could be a fault

    💡 Each expression matches the intended degree of obligation, prohibition, advice, choice or possibility.

  13. 13. Use have to for an external obligation: Guests _____ leave their rooms by noon.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    have to

    💡 Have to is appropriate for an obligation created by a hotel rule.

  14. 14. Modal verbs such as must, can and might keep the same form with every subject.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Present modal verbs do not take a third-person -s ending.

  15. 15. Which request for permission is the most formal?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AMay I leave the documents here?✓
    BCan I leave the documents here?
    CMust I leave the documents here?
    DShould I leave the documents here?

    💡 May can ask for permission and is more formal than can.

  16. 16. Reorder the chunks to explain that printing is unnecessary.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.You
    2. 2.don't need to
    3. 3.print the form
    4. 4.because we accept
    5. 5.digital copies.

    💡 Don't need to + bare infinitive expresses lack of necessity.

  17. 17. The security policy is strict: you _____ share your password with anyone. (strong prohibition)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    mustn't · must not

    💡 Mustn't gives emphatic prohibition.

  18. 18. Which sentence gives a grammatically correct recommendation?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AYou ought to speak to your supervisor.✓
    BYou ought speak to your supervisor.
    CYou should to speak to your supervisor.
    DYou have speak to your supervisor.

    💡 Ought is followed by to + infinitive; should would take the bare infinitive.

  19. 19. You don't have to wear a helmet means that wearing one is prohibited.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 Don't have to expresses lack of obligation, not prohibition.

  20. 20. The rail delay _____ affect our connection, but it is only a possibility.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    might · could · may

    💡 Might, could and may can all express present or future possibility.