Modal words in

obligations
Must/Mustn’t, needn’t, have to/don’t
have to

GO!
 General usage
We use must/mustn’t, need/needn’t, have to/don’t have in
obligations and rules or laws.
There is a difference in meaning when we use different modal
words.
Let’s learn more about it!
 01
1
02

03
01
Must/mus
tn’ t
 01 Usage:
1. To express obligation, duty, rules, Learn!
02 laws
This also refers to laws and regulations.
I must memorize all of these rules about modal verbs.
03 People must remain seated until the show is over.
You must wear a seatbelt at all times.
2. To emphasize the necessity of
something
You must study the last two chapters before the test.
Plants must have light and water to grow.
You must drive carefully.
3. To express prohibition (mustn’t)
You mustn't use your smartphone while you are
driving.
You mustn't get on the subway if you haven't paid for
the ride.
You must not open the gift until it is your birthday.
 01
Learn!
02 Structure:
03

The form of must and mustn’t is the same for all persons.
We use must and mustn’t + infinitive without the particle to.

Subject Must Verb without to Rest

I must do my homework.

Tom mustn’t go to school.

Children must listen to their

parents.
 01 Make sentences with correct form of
must or mustn’t Practice
02 1. You __________ cross the roads without looking. It’s dangerous.
2. The exams are next week. I __________ work harder.
3. Students _________ listen to the teacher or they won’t understand.
03 4. You _____ cross the road when the red light is showing.
5. We __________ leave now or we’ll miss the plane.
6. Sorry, I ___________ go now. I don’t want to be late.
7. You ___________ take food in your room.
8. You __________ use the elevators in case of fire.
9. You ___________ read this book. It’s really good.
10. You __________ use a mobile phone in class.
11. We ___________ feed the animals. It’s forbidden.
12. We _________ book the tickets before it’s too late.
13. In Britain you __________ drive on the left.
14. You ___________ forget his birthday again.
15. You __________ smoke on public places.
01
2

02

03

02
v e to
’ t ha
t / do n
n’
Need
01 Usage:
We use needn’t and don’t have to say that
Learn!
something is not necessary, but isn’t against
02 the rules.
So you can do it if you want, but it is not
oblique.
03 - You don’t have to bring a towel. There are towels at
the swimming pool. (But you can bring one if you
want)
- You needn’t take sandwiches as lunch is provided.
(But you can bring them if you want)
- You don’t have to learn these words by heart, they
won’t be in your test tomorrow. (But you can learn
them if you want)
- Kids needn’t bring their toys to the kindergarten.
There are plenty of toys. (But they can bring any if they
want)
01
Structure: Learn!
02 The form of needn’t is the same for all persons. We use needn’t + infinitive
without the particle to.
03 The form of don’t have to is different for the III person singular, it is doesn’t
have to. We use don’t/doesn’t have to + infinitive without particle to.

Subject Needn’t/don’t Verb without Rest

have to to
I needn’t visit my aunt.
We don’t have to wait in line.
She doesn’t have to escort us.
01 Make sentences using the correct form of
needn’t or don’t/doesn’t have to Practice
02
1. We ............................................................ in the office at the same time. Our boss told
us. (be)
03 2. You .............................................................. . I'll get the tickets for you. (worry)
3. Most students in America ............................................................... uniforms. (wear)
4. I have plenty of time. You .............................................................. it now. (do)
5. Sarah ................................................................ glasses, because she wears contact
lenses. (use)
6. Spanish children ..................................................... to school for three months in
summer. (go)
7. I am Ben. You ...................................................... me Mr. Clark. (call)
8. It's a holiday tomorrow. We .......................................................... . (work)
9. You ........................................................... me with the housework. I'll do it on my
own. (help)
10. We ........................................................ dad about it. Do you agree? (tell)
01
3
02

03

03
Must vs Have to/
Mustn’t vs Don’t
have to
01
Learn!
02
Must can be replaced by Have to with
03 little difference in meaning:
You have to study. (= you must study)
He has to finish the report by Friday. (=
He must finish the report by Friday)
They have to resit the test. (=
They must resit the test)
Have to is a more informal while Must is
mostly used in written orders or
instructions.
01
Learn!
02 However, Must expresses the obligation
imposed by the speaker, that is the feeling
03 and wishes of the speaker.
Teacher: You must complete this essay by
Friday
While Have to expresses “external obligation”
Student: We have to complete this essay by
Friday.
When we are mentioning someone else's
obligations, we use Have to
01 Make sentences using Must or Have to
Practice
02 1) My boss told me that I ______________ work overtime this week.
2) I _______________ get my hair cut before the dance.
3) She ________________ pay monthly rent to live in her apartment.
03 4) Ted’s dad said that he ____________ clean his room before he can play.
5) I ______________ buy those pretty red shoes.
6) The runner ______________ win the race to get a gold medal.
7) The police officer said that I ______________ go to jail.
8) I ______________ win this game of cards.
9) I ______________ become a tennis champion.
10) People ______________ eat to live.
11) The bus goes at 10.15. She ______________ leave at 10 if she wants to catch it.
12) The British Library: Coats and bags ______________ be left at the coakroom or in a locker.
13) Jim can't see very well. He ______________ wear glasses.
14) You ______________ see the film. It's fantastic.
15) Johny, you ______________ be nice to your mum.
01
Learn!
02
Mustn’t and Don’t have to have a different
03 meaning. Mustn't is a negative obligation (= it is
important that you do NOT do something) while Don't
have to is an absence of obligation.
You must not drink that. (= it is forbidden to drink that;
it is not allowed)
You don't have to drink that. (= you don't need to drink
that but you can if you want)
You mustn't tell John (= Do not tell John)
You don't have to tell John (= you can tell John if you
want to but it is not necessary)
01 Make sentences using Mustn’t or
Don’t/doesn’t have to Practice
02 1) Sally! You ............................ say rude words like that!
2) Tommy! You ............................ pick your nose in class. It's really disgusting.
3) You ............................ finish the exercise now. You can finish it at home.
03 4) James ............................ go to church if he doesn't want to.
5) You ............................ drive so aggressively. You'll end up killing someone.
6) Helen ............................ make racist comments. It makes her seem really ignorant.
7) David ............................ answer your emails. There's no law about it.
8) It's OK. You ............................ pay now. You can pay me at the end of the month.
9) You ............................ stay out so late without ringing me. I was worried sick.
10) You ............................ let the cats sleep on my clean shirts. Look. They're covered in hairs.
11) You ............................ have lunch with my parents. I'm not forcing you.
12) I ............................ forget to phone Granny. It's her birthday tomorrow.
13) You ............................ drink alcohol if you are underage.
14) We ............................ play football. We can play basketball instead.
15) You ............................ smoke. It kills you.
16) You ............................ be cruel to your brother. It’s very unkind.
01 Make sentences using correct form of
Must and Have to Practice
02 1) Don’t walk on the grass. You ................................... on the grass.
2) Don’t smoke in this building. You ................................... in this building.
03 3) You can go inside without a ticket. You ................................... buy a ticket.
4) The film is very good. See it! You ................................... the film.
5) You can work here without knowing English. You ................................... know
English.
6) It’s OK if you don’t want to help me. You ................................... help me.
7) Don’t touch the paintings. You ................................... the paintings.
8) It’s not compulsory for him to go to school. He ................................... to school.
9) You have to wash the dishes. You ................................... the dishes.
10) This is very good champagne. Drink some. You ........................ some of this
champagne.