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Modal Verbs Exercise and Answers

The document contains a series of exercises focused on modal verbs, specifically 'must', 'have to', and 'should'. It includes fill-in-the-blank sentences, synonym identification, and sentence completion tasks to practice the correct usage of these modals in various contexts. Answers to the exercises are provided at the end.

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20 views5 pages

Modal Verbs Exercise and Answers

The document contains a series of exercises focused on modal verbs, specifically 'must', 'have to', and 'should'. It includes fill-in-the-blank sentences, synonym identification, and sentence completion tasks to practice the correct usage of these modals in various contexts. Answers to the exercises are provided at the end.

Uploaded by

iucyj1309
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Exercise 1. Find the correct word to complete the sentences below.

1. When we were at school we ____________ wear a uniform.


2. You ____________ be an expert to use the basic functions of program.
3. You _____________to tell her that you are sorry.
4. We _____________go to the meeting. Why didn’t you go?
5. I _____________wear glasses, I still can see perfectly well.
6. We went to bed right after dinner because we __________ get up early the following
day.
7. We _____________ go for a drink one day.
8. You ______________ take any money. It wasn’t necessary.
9. What are you doing? You ________________be here!
10. We ____________________talk to each other because it was an exam.
11. You ________________ turn off your mobile phone on a plane.
12. You____________ have to drive. You can catch a train.
13. You_____________ go swimming after a big dinner.
14. Did you ____________ to study Latin at school?
15. You ___________ to take an umbrella. It’s raining.
16. I think we _____________ go now. It’s late.

Exercise 2. Choose the forms that mean the same as the underlined words.

1. You should visit them.


a. could
b. ought to
c. must

2. You mustn’t use the swimming pool before 10. Choose TWO correct options

a. aren’t allowed to
b. don’t have to
c. can’t

3. We have to clean our room every day.


a. ought to
b. should
c. ‘ve got to
4. You must come and see this. Choose TWO correct options
a. ‘ve got to
b. can
c. have to

5. You mustn’t arrive late. Choose TWO correct options


a. aren’t allowed to
b. don’t have to
c. can’t

6. You shouldn’t go so fast. It’s a bit dangerous.


a. ought not to
b. mustn’t
c. don’t have to

[Link] I have to go to the meeting with them?


a. Must I
b. Can’t I
c. Am I allowed to

8. I have to get up early.


a. should
b. have got to
c. should

9. You mustn’t take that elevator. It’s only for staff. Choose TWO correct options

a. can’t
b. aren’t allowed to
c. don’t have to

10. We aren’t allowed to play outside under any circumstances.


a. ought not to
b. mustn’t
c. shouldn’t
Exercise 3. Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate
modal verb from the list below. Remember that ought to is more formal than
should.

can / could / must / mustn’t / should / shouldn’t / have to / don’t have to /


ought to / ought not to / were able to

Example: Are you any good at athletics? How fast can you run?

1. The advice from the health committee is that all people with symptoms ___________go
to the doctor.
2. This is a non-smoking area, you ____________smoke here.
3. I hate big multinational companies. I think they __________pay more taxes.
4. When she was 4 years old, she _________ read perfectly well.
5. I ___________get up early tomorrow; I want to go running very early.
6. You __________ eat so many sweats. They are bad for you.
7. We ____________ wear a tie at work. I hate it!
8. The board agreed that employers ___________ have access to an employee’s medical
file.
9. There was a lot of traffic, but fortunately we __________ arrive on time.
10. I’m not working tomorrow, so I __________ get up early.

Exercise 4. Modals of Obligation. Put in ‘mustn’t’ or ‘don’t / doesn’t have to’:

1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _______________ be late.


2. You _______________ tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.
3. The museum is free. You _______________ pay to get in.
4. Children _______________ tell lies. It’s very naughty.
5. John’s a millionaire. He _______________ go to work.
6. I _______________ do my washing, because my mother does it for me.
7. We _______________ rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
8. You _______________ smoke inside the school.
9. You can borrow my new dress but you _______________ get it dirty.
10. We _______________ miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.
11. She _______________ do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.
12. I _______________ clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.
13. We _______________ forget to lock all the doors before we leave.
14. We _______________ stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.
15. I _______________ spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.
16. They _______________ get up early today, because it’s Sunday.
17. I _______________ eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!
18. We _______________ be late for the exam.
19. You _______________ tidy up now. I’ll do it later.
20. He _______________ cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.

Đáp án bài tập phân biệt MUST và HAVE TO và SHOULD


Exercise 1.
1. had to
2. don’t have to
3. have got to (instead of have to in informal English)
4. had to
5. don’t have to
6. had to
7. must
8. didn’t have to
9. must not
10. weren’t allowed to
11. must
12. don’t
13. shouldn’t
14. ought
15. don’t
16. have

Exercise 2.
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. A – C
5. A – C
6. A
7. A
8. B
9. A – B
10. B
Exercise 3.
1. ought to (should is also possible)
2. mustn’t
3. should (ought to is also possible)
4. could
5. must
6. shouldn’t (ought not to is also possible)
7. have to
8. ought not to (shouldn’t is also possible)
9. were able to
10. don’t have to

Exercise 4.
1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You mustn’t be late.
2. You mustn’t tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.
3. The museum is free. You don’t have to pay to get in.
4. Children mustn’t tell lies. It’s very naughty.
5. John’s a millionaire. He doesn’t have to go to work.
6. I don’t have to do my washing, because my mother does it for me.
7. We don’t have to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
8. You mustn’t smoke inside the school.
9. You can borrow my new dress but you mustn’t get it dirty.
10. We mustn’t miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.
11. She doesn’t have to do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.
12. I don’t have to clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.
13. We mustn’t forget to lock all the doors before we leave.
14. We don’t have to stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.
15. I mustn’t spend too much money today. I’ve only got a little left.
16. They don’t have to get up early today, because it’s Sunday.
17. I mustn’t eat too much cake, or I’ll get fat!
18. We mustn’t be late for the exam.
19. You don’t have to tidy up now. I’ll do it later.
20. He doesn’t have to cook tonight because he’s going to a restaurant.

Common questions

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'Must' is used to express a strong obligation or necessity, typically imposed by external authorities, or to indicate prohibition in the negative form (mustn't). On the other hand, 'ought to' is used to give advice or recommendations, indicating a weaker sense of obligation based on personal or moral grounds rather than external rules .

When discussing future obligations, 'must' often indicates an obligation subjectively deemed necessary, possibly reflecting urgency or personal decision, whereas 'have to' points to obligations dictated by external circumstances or agreed conditions. The choice impacts the formality and perceived flexibility of the obligation in discourse .

'Can't' and 'mustn’t' can be used interchangeably when the intention is to convey a strict prohibition without ambiguity. However, 'can't' often conveys a restriction due to inability or external rules, while 'mustn’t' implies a direct prohibition, usually due to moral or ethical considerations, adding a layer of urgency. This distinction reflects subtle nuances in the strength and source of prohibitions in English .

Modal verbs such as 'must,' 'mustn’t,' 'have to,' and 'don’t have to' express differing levels of necessity. 'Must’ conveys an absolute necessity usually dictated by rules or laws, while 'have to' indicates a necessity that may be circumstantial or less formally required. 'Mustn’t' and 'can’t' indicate strong prohibitions, whereas 'don’t have to' indicates that something is not necessary, highlighting absence of obligation .

'Don’t have to' suggests that there is no obligation or necessity, leaving the choice open to the individual, as in being free from a requirement. In contrast, 'mustn’t' conveys a prohibition, a clear instruction not to do something. The choice between these modals affects the perceived flexibility or rigidity of the guidelines being communicated .

Grammatically, 'should' and 'ought to' function similarly, providing advice or expressing expectations, but 'ought to' is slightly more formal and suggests a stronger recommendation. While 'should' is more commonly used and carries a tone of suggestion, 'ought to' imparts a sense of duty or correctness that is more moral in nature, aligning instructions with social norms .

Correct application of modals like 'must,' 'should,' and 'can' enhances instructional language by clearly defining the level of obligation, advisability, and possibility. Structured use guides recipients accurately in determining what is compulsory, recommended, or optional, thus reducing ambiguity and fostering precise understanding. This precision is crucial in contexts demanding strict adherence to rules or recommendations .

Learners often struggle with differentiating these modals due to their overlapping meanings. 'Should' and 'ought to' suggest advisability but not strict necessity, with 'ought to' being a slightly stronger suggestion. 'Must' denotes strong necessity or obligation, often confused with 'should' for advice. Context clues and the strength of the advice versus rule are critical in determining which modal to use .

'Have to' is preferable when the obligation comes from external factors, such as rules or schedules, while 'must' implies a more personal, urgent necessity, often internally imposed. For instance, in conversational English, 'have to' is commonly used for everyday obligations, making it sound less formal and more practical for routine matters .

Modal verbs like 'could' and 'can' depict possibilities or abilities. 'Can' denotes present abilities or possibilities, while 'could' expresses past abilities or hypothetical possibilities, offering a sense of potentiality rather than certainty. These modals allow for nuanced expressions of what might be possible or was possible in certain conditions, often without commitments .

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