Rules, Obligations & Advice
Let's talk about things you MUST do, HAVE TO do, and SHOULD do!
Answer these questions:
These modal verbs have different levels of strength. Click each one to learn!
Very Strong
Strong
Advice
Tell your teacher about:
Click on each example to see the explanation!
Discuss with your teacher:
What's the difference between:
| Feature | Must | Have To | Should |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Very strong | Strong | Weak (advice) |
| Source | Internal (you feel) | External (rule/law) | Opinion/advice |
| Example | "I must finish this!" | "I have to wear a seatbelt." | "You should rest more." |
| Negative | must not = prohibited! | don't have to = not necessary | shouldn't = bad idea |
| Past form | ❌ No past tense | ✅ had to | ✅ should have (regret) |
| Question | "Must I...?" (rare) | "Do I have to...?" | "Should I...?" |
1. "You smoke in hospitals. It's against the law."
2. "You bring anything to the party - we have everything!"
3. "I call my mother - I haven't spoken to her in weeks."
4. "You eat more vegetables. It's healthier."
5. "Students wear uniforms at our school. It's the rule."
6. "I wear glasses because I can't see well."
People have problems. Give them advice using should/shouldn't and must/have to!
Click each problem to give your advice!
"I go to bed at 2am every night and wake up at 6am for work. I drink 6 coffees a day and I'm exhausted. What should I do?"
"My roommate never cleans up. There are dirty dishes everywhere, and I'm always cleaning. I'm frustrated! Help!"
"I've been studying English for 2 years but I still can't speak fluently. What am I doing wrong? How can I improve faster?"
"I get paid on the 1st of the month, but by the 15th I have no money left. I keep buying things I don't need. What should I do?"
"I work 60 hours a week and my boss keeps giving me more projects. I'm stressed and never see my family. What can I do?"
Pick ONE problem above and give detailed advice for 3 minutes:
Click each scenario to talk about the rules!
House rules
Official rules
Traffic laws
Aviation rules
Medical rules
Test rules
Think about your life and discuss:
Person A (Parent): Your teenager wants to go to a party on Friday night.
Person B (Teenager): You want permission to go to the party.
Use: must, have to, should, don't have to, must not
Person A (Doctor): Give health advice and rules to your patient.
Person B (Patient): You have high blood pressure and ask questions.
Use: must, should, have to, must not
Person A (Boss): Explain company rules to a new employee.
Person B (Employee): Ask questions about what you have to do.
Use: have to, must, don't have to, should
Think of a situation where there are rules and obligations.
Ideas:
| Modal | Meaning | Example | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| must | Personal obligation (you feel it) |
"I must call her today." | must not = prohibited |
| have to | External obligation (rule/law) |
"I have to wear a uniform." | don't have to = not necessary |
| should | Advice (good idea) |
"You should rest more." | shouldn't = bad idea |
| should have | Past regret | "I should have studied." | shouldn't have = regret doing |
| had to | Past obligation | "I had to work yesterday." | didn't have to = wasn't necessary |
❌ WRONG: "You don't must do that."
✅ RIGHT: "You must not / don't have to do that." (different meanings!)
❌ WRONG: "I must to go now."
✅ RIGHT: "I must go now." (no 'to' after must!)
❌ WRONG: "You don't have to smoke here." (= it's not necessary)
✅ RIGHT: "You must not smoke here." (= it's prohibited)
Imagine you're giving advice to a younger person. Tell them:
Check your student review document for:
Next lesson: Lesson 13 - May, Might, Could
You'll learn to talk about possibilities and make speculations!