TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S When you were a child

Activity Type Introduction

Speaking activity: survey, In this past obligation and prohibition activity, students ask and
asking and answering answer questions about what they were and weren’t allowed to
questions, freer practice do and had to do when they were a child. This activity can be used
(group work) to practice permission, obligation and prohibition in the past.

Procedure
Focus
Divide the students into groups of up to 12.
Permission, obligation
and prohibition in the
Give one card to each student.
past

were(n't) allowed to Explain that each student is responsible for finding the answer to
the question on their card by speaking to everybody in the group.
had to / didn't have to
Have the students prepare the question they need to ask and
review each one, e.g. 'Were you allowed to watch TV at night
Aim when you were a child?'
To ask and answer
The students then go around their group finding out about what
questions about what you
their classmates were and weren’t allowed to do and had to
were and weren’t allowed
do when they were a child by asking questions with 'Were you
to do and had to do when
allowed to...?' or 'Did you have to...?'
you were a child.
Students put a tick or cross on the back of the card each time a
classmate answers yes or no.
Preparation
Make one copy of the When everyone has finished, the students sit down in their groups
cards for each group of and take it in turns to talk about the information they found out.
12 and cut as indicated.
Each student writes about the group's findings.

Level Example:
Upper-intermediate (B2)
In our group, nobody was allowed to buy their own clothes. Most
people weren't allowed to go out with their friends in the evening,
Time but Darren and Tony were allowed to sometimes, etc.

25 minutes When everyone has finished, the groups take it in turns to report
back to the class on what they found out during the activity.

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 MODAL VERBS OF OBLIGATION AND PROHIBITION

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S When you were a child

Find out Find out

How many people How many people

were allowed to watch were allowed to go
TV at night? out alone?

Find out Find out

How many people
How many people
had to sometimes look
had to wear a
after a younger brother
uniform to school?
or sister?

Find out Find out

How many people How many people

had to be home had to go to bed
by a certain time? at a certain time?

Find out Find out

How many people How many people
were allowed to go were allowed to
out with their friends play outside with
in the evening? their friends?

Find out Find out

How many people How many people

had to help with were allowed to
the housework? eat sweets?

Find out Find out

How many people
How many people
had to go to their
were allowed to choose
room when they
their own clothes?
were in trouble?

Teach-This.com © 2021 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.