26/9/2020 Test English - Prepare for your English exam

Modal verbs – permission, obligation, prohibition, necessity

 Exercises  Explanation

Exercises: 1 2 3

Exercise 1
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.

You have completed this test.

Correct answers: 2/10.
Your score is 20%.
Check your answers:

1 You 'd better not use this product without protection.

 We use had better + infinitive (without to) to talk about actions we think someone should or shouldn’t do.
There is often a negative resultif the action is carried out. We normally use the shortened form ‘d better, and the
negative form is never contracted: ‘d better not.

2 You don't have to go to the ceremony if you don't feel like it. It'll be very boring anyway.

 The negative forms mustn’t and don’t have to are completely different. Mustn’t is used to express prohibition
(an obligation not to do something), whereas don’t have to + infinitive to say that something is not necessary.

3 We took too much risk. We shouldn't make that decision.

Correct answer: needn't have made

 When something was not necessary but we did it, we can use both didn’t need to + infinitive and needn’t
have + past participle.

4 He needn't have taken the bus because his brother picked him up at the station.

Correct answer: didn't need to take

 When something was NOT necessary and we did NOT do it, we use didn’t need to (NOT needn't have
done).
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
about cookies and how to change your cookie settings

5 He had better not spend so much money on Ithe trip. I specially told him to spend as little as possible.
agree

https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/modal-verbs-permission-obligation-prohibition-necessity/ 1/3
26/9/2020 Test English - Prepare for your English exam

Correct answer: shouldn't have spent

 We cannot use shouldn't spend or had better not spend here because we use these forms to talk about the
present or future.
 We use perfect modal verbs to talk about the past.

6 The refugees [no answer] to work outside the camp.

Correct answer: are not allowed

 The only correct form is are not allowed.
 We can say mustn't work (NOT mustn't to work), and we can say had better not work (NOT had better not
to work).

7 We couldn't find a hotel so we [no answer] in the car. It was so uncomfortable!

Correct answer: had to sleep

 We need to express past obligation, and had to is the only form we have in this sentence to do it.
 We should have slept in the car means 'we didn't sleep in the car but it was the right thing to do'.
 We must have slept in the car means 'I'm sure we slept in the car'.

8 You [no answer] forget to take your medicine.

Correct answer: mustn't

 We use mustn't to express prohibition and don't have to to express lack of necessity.
 We can say ought not to forget (NOT ought not forget).

9 We [no answer] early because it was a holiday, so we slept till late.

Grammar » B2 Grammar lessons and exercises » Modal verbs – permission, obligation, prohibition, necessity

Correct answer: didn't have to get up

 When something was not necessary but we did it, we can use both didn’t need to + infinitive and needn’t
have + past participle.
 However, when something was NOT necessary and we did NOT do it, we use didn’t need to (NOT needn’t
have done).

10 You [no answer] call me as soon as you arrived. I was very worried!

Correct answer: were meant to

 We can use be supposed/meant to + infinitive to express obligation or permission, to say what we should or
shouldn’t do.

Exercises: 1 2 3

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
about cookies and how to change your cookie settings

I agree
Related tests:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/modal-verbs-permission-obligation-prohibition-necessity/ 2/3
26/9/2020 Test English - Prepare for your English exam

Can, could, be able to

– ability and possibility

have to, must, should

– obligation,
prohibition, necessity,
advice

TAKE A LEVEL TEST


  

Menu Levels

Grammar Points A1 Elementary

Listening tests A2 Pre-intermediate
Reading tests B1 Intermediate
Use of English B1+ Upper-intermediate
Writing B2 Pre-advanced

Links Info

Homepage Terms of Use

About us Privacy Policy
Grammar contents Contact us

© 2016-2020 Copyright: test-english.com All rights reserved. Made at illadelsbous.com

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
about cookies and how to change your cookie settings

I agree

https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/modal-verbs-permission-obligation-prohibition-necessity/ 3/3