Grammar practice

Rules, recommendations, and permission

1 Choose the sentence (a or b) with the same meaning as the first sentence.
1 You must listen to the teacher in class.
a You have to listen to the teacher in class.
b You should listen to the teacher in class.
2 You don’t have to pay to go to the concert. It’s free.
a You must not pay to go to the concert.
b It isn’t necessary to pay to go to the concert.
3 It’s a good idea to learn the guitar. I think you’ll be good at it.
a You should learn the guitar.
b You have to learn the guitar.
4 You can’t go in because the show has already started.
a You must not go in.
b You don’t have to go in.
5 New students are allowed to go home early today if they want to.
a New students must go home early today.
b New students can go home early today.
6 Can I use your phone for a moment?
a May I use your phone for a moment?
b Should I use your phone for a moment?

2 Complete the sentences with the words below.

allowed to  can  have to  must  must not  should

1 All customers pay for their food before eating it.

2 Do we eat all the vegetables, Dad? I’m really full, and I don’t really like them.
3 Are you stay out late on a weekday?
4 You wear any clothes you want to at the school dance. It’s your choice!
5 I think you say “sorry” to Amanda. She’s upset.
6 Students speak during exams. It isn’t permitted.

3 Complete the sentences with the past or future form of the modals in bold. More than one
answer may be possible.
1 These days, students can’t take their cell phones into exams. When my parents were young, they
take any paper dictionaries into exams.
2 This term, we can’t eat in class. Next term, we eat anywhere on
the school campus.
3 I don’t have to get up early today, and I get up early yesterday.
I love weekends!
4 All students must wear a school uniform, and next term, all students
wear black shoes at school.
5 You can park here if you pay. Yesterday was Sunday, so you park
here for free.
6 Students must contact the school if they are going to be absent. In the past, they
phone the school, but now they can send a text or email if
they prefer.

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 Grammar practice

4 Complete the text. Use the correct form of modals and the verbs in parentheses.

When I was young, I went to a boys’ school, and the rules about school uniforms were very strict.
We 1 (wear) a school uniform every day, and if we took off our tie,
we would be in big trouble. We 2 (not go) to school
in jeans or sneakers. No chance! In the winter, we 3
(put)
our jackets on. They were blue and heavy, and I hated them. Fortunately, when it was hot in summer,
we 4 (not wear) them if we didn’t want to.
We 5 (attend) classes in our shirt and tie, which was cooler,
but still uncomfortable.
Today, I am a teacher at a school for sixteen- to eighteen-year olds. Students at our school
6
(not come) into classes in a school uniform if they don’t
want to, but they 7
(not wear) sneakers. That’s against the rules.
However, things are changing. I think that in the future, students 8 (sit)
in class wearing any clothes they like – that’s because I think society won’t be so interested in
setting a lot of rules.

5 Rewrite the sentences using the words and phrases below. You can use the words more than
once. There is one extra word / phrase. More than one answer may be possible.

can  can’t  could  doesn’t have to  don’t have to  has to

have to  may  must  must not  should

1 I recommend buying a new pair of shoes.

You .
2 You aren’t allowed to talk during the show.
You .
3 It isn’t necessary to bring anything to eat.
We .
4 The students aren’t permitted to use their cell phones.
The students .
5 Visitors are obliged to show identity cards in the factory.
Visitors .
6 Excuse me, is it OK if I leave now?
Excuse me, ?
7 We were allowed to touch the animals.
We .
8 Tom is obliged to work an extra hour on Saturday mornings.
Tom .

6 Complete the rules for your classroom.

1 You must not .
2 You can .
3 You aren’t allowed .
4 You don’t have to .
5 You should .

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