8.

Obligation and prohibition

When do we use must, have to and be
allowed to?
We use must and have to for obligation; not have to for lack of
obligation; and mustn’t and not be allowed to for prohibition.

She had to work really hard last week, and

she’ll have to do the same next week.

They don’t have to go to school on Saturdays.

We mustn’t talk too loudly in the art gallery,

and we’re not allowed to take photos.

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 Read the text and find examples of obligation, lack of
obligation, and prohibition. Are they about the past,
present or future?
When I was younger, I used to love Art. We had to
sit quietly in class, but we didn’t have to follow the
teacher’s art ideas. The lessons were really
creative. These days, we mustn’t draw anything
that isn’t planned by our teacher. It’s annoying!
Next year, I’m going to college. I’ll only have to
study three subjects there, so I won’t have to do
any maths or science. I must find out about the Art
lessons at college. Will I be allowed to produce the
art that I want?

prohibition
question
Look
lack
obligation ininthe
the
ofatobligation
these
about future
present
examples. pastin the future
prohibition
past
present
in the future

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How do we make sentences about
obligation and prohibition?
Obligation and prohibition
Obligation
We use must or have to to
talk about present
You must be home before 9.
/ You have to be home before 9. obligations, but we only
She had to help him. use have to for past or
They will have to apologise for their mistake. future obligations.

You don’t have to read the book.

Lack of obligation We use not have to to
He didn’t have to pay for the tickets. They were free.
show lack of obligation
We won’t have to wait in the queue for long. It’s moving fast. in the present, past and
future.
We mustn’t touch the art./ We aren’t allowed to touch the art.
Prohibition
I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the paintings.
Will we be allowed to see the new exhibition? We use mustn’t or (not) be allowed
to for something prohibited in
the present. For prohibition in
the past or future, and to form
questions, we only use be allowed
to.
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 Practice Time
Choose the correct option.

1. You don’t have to / mustn’t be good at art to enjoy it.

2. We don’t have to / aren’t allowed to leave until we have finished.

3. You don’t have to / mustn’t be late for class.

4. It was raining, so we must / had to finish our paintings inside.

5. My dad wasn’t allowed to / mustn’t study Art when he was at school.

6. I must / am allowed to remember to buy some postcards in the gallery shop.

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