B2+ - Unit 2 - Class 1 - Modal Verbs (Part 1)

B2+ - Unit 2 - Class 1 - Modal Verbs (Part 1)

by Teacher Mai Thùy

• ​obligation

• ​permission

• ​prohibition

• ​advice

• ​criticism

1a I didn’t need to go to school yesterday.

1b I needn’t have gone to school yesterday.​

Do they have the same meaning?​

1a I didn’t need to go to school yesterday.

​→ There was no necessity to go,

the speaker did not go to school.

1b I needn’t have gone to school yesterday.​

​→ The speaker went to school, then realized it was unnecessary.

Do they have the same meaning?​

2a You don’t have to eat everything on the plate.

2b You mustn’t eat everything on the plate.

Do they have the same meaning?​

2a You don’t have to eat everything on the plate.

​→ There is a lack of obligation or necessity.

​The speaker means to say that you can eat the food or not,

it depends on whether you want to or not.

2b You mustn’t eat everything on the plate.

​→ The speaker prohibits you from eating the food.

Do they have the same meaning?​

3a We ought to leave now if we want be on time.

3b We had better leave now if we want be on time.

Do they have the same meaning?​

3a We ought to leave now if we want be on time.

​→ an advice/a recommendation

​The speaker means the best thing to do in a situation.

3b We had better leave now if we want be on time.

Do they have the same meaning?​

4a With this driving license, I can drive my dad's car.

4b With this driving license, I am allowed to drive my dad's car.

Do they have the same meaning?​

4a With this driving license, I can drive my dad's car.

​→ They express permission to do something.

4b With this driving license, I am allowed to drive my dad's car.

Do they have the same meaning?​

5a Without a driving license, I could not drive

my dad's car when I was young.

5b Without a driving license, I was not allowed to drive my dad's car when I was young.

Do they have the same meaning?​

5a Without a driving license, I could not drive

my dad's car when I was young.

​→ They express a past prohibition on something.

5b Without a driving license, I was not allowed to drive my dad's car when I was young.

Do they have the same meaning?​

You shouldn’t have spoken to your mom

with an aggressive voice like that. It upset her.

What does this sentence express?

You shouldn’t have spoken to your mom

with an aggressive like that. It upset her.

​→ criticise a past action or to say that it was a mistake.

What does this sentence express?

Multiple Select

Choose suitable answers for this sentence: 

You ___ texts while you are driving.

• must not send

• are not allowed to send

• should not send

• cannot send

Multiple Select

Choose suitable answers for this sentence:

As a child, I ___ to school every day because I did not have a bike.

• had to walk

• did not have to walk

• needed to walk

• need not have walked

Multiple Select

Choose a suitable answer for this sentence: 

Most students ___ jeans at school. They ___ their school uniform.

• were not allowed to wear - have to wear

• are not allowed to wear - have to wear

• are allowed to wear - need to wear

• not allowed to wear - need to wear

Multiple Select

Choose suitable answers for this sentence:

If you really want to buy a car, I think you ___ a good job and start saving.

• must get

• should get

• had better get

• ought to get

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentence with a suitable modal verb: 

You (NOT WRITE) with a red pen in the exam yesterday as it is considered a form of cheating on exams.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentence with a suitable modal verb:

She (TAKE) the car as long as she fills it up with petrol on the way home.

Open Ended

Two friends, Alice and Olive, set off on a

six-month road trip together. Now, one month

later, they are having terrible arguments because

they each want to visit different places and do

different things.

Open Ended

Helen wants to travel in the US during the summer

holidays. She’s already bought a plane ticket, but now she cannot persuade any of her friends to go

with her. She doesn’t want to go alone.

Open Ended

Dave and Ben are driving in a remote area when

they run out of petrol. They have not seen a petrol

station for many kilometres and there is no

coverage to make a phone call. They have not told

anyone where they are going.