Modal verbs and related phrases help us express permission, obligation, prohibition, advice and ability.
| Meaning | Language | Example from the topic |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | can; be allowed to | I can meet my friends in town. |
| Strong obligation | must; have to | I have to manage my own money. |
| Advice / weak obligation | should; ought to | Adults should take teenagers seriously. |
| Prohibition | mustn’t; not be allowed to | We aren’t allowed to use phones in exams. |
| Lack of obligation | don’t have to; don’t need to | I don’t need to impress anybody. |
| Ability | can; be able to | Older adults can learn new technology. |
| Successful effort | manage to | I managed to survive until the end of the month. |
Important contrasts
You mustn’t do it = It is prohibited.
You don’t have to do it = It is not necessary, but you can do it if you want.
Language focus: Modals and related phrases
Complete the three activities in order. They move from recognising the phrases to using them in context.
Activity 1: Find the modal language
Select the complete phrase that expresses ability, permission, obligation, prohibition, lack of obligation or advice.
Activity 2: Sort the meanings
Drag each sentence into the correct meaning category.
Activity 3: Complete the age forum
Complete each comment with the correct modal verb or related phrase.
Check your understanding
What is the difference between these sentences?
- You mustn’t do it.
- You don’t have to do it.