5.
Modal verbs: can, have to
and must
When do we use can, have to and must?
We use can to talk about rules that other people make for us.
We use have to to say that something is necessary and don’t have to
to say that something isn’t necessary. Must has a similar meaning
to have to but have to is more common.
I can go to bed when I want, but I can’t be out
of the house after 9 p.m.
We have to work hard in class, but we don’t
have to do much homework.
You must wear a school uniform, and you
mustn’t wear make-up at school.
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 2
How many things in the text are:
a) necessary b) not necessary
c) allowed d) not allowed?
My parents are very strict. I have to tidy my room
every evening. I must cook dinner on Fridays, too.
Luckily I don’t have to do that every night – I hate
cooking! I can have friends in my bedroom, but
they can’t go in the living room, and they mustn’t
stay later than 8 p.m.
a) two b) one c) one d) two
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 2
How do we make sentences with can?
can It’s OK./It’s allowed.
Affirmative I/You/He/She/It/We/They can go online at any time of day.
Negative I/You/He/She/It/We/They can’t watch TV after 10 p.m. It isn’t OK./It isn’t allowed.
Can I/you/he/she/it/we/they invite friends to stay?
Questions
I/you/he/she/it/we/they can. Is it OK?/Is it allowed?
and short Yes,
answers I/you/he/she/it/we/they can’t.
No,
We use can to talk about
rules that other people
make for us.
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 2
How do we make sentences with have to?
have to
Affirmative I/You/We/They have to come home straight after school. It’s necessary.
He/She/It has to clean the bathroom.
don’t (do not) have to help. It isn’t necessary.
Negative I/You/We/They
doesn’t (do not) have to do the exam.
He/She/It
Do I/you/we/they have to bring anything?
Questions
and short I/you/we/they do. Is it necessary?
Yes,
answers No, I/you/we/they don’t.
Does he/she/it have to be there?
he/she/it does.
Yes,
No, he/she/it doesn’t.
We use have to to say that something is
necessary and don’t have to to say that
something isn’t necessary.
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 2
How do we make sentences with must?
must
Affirmative I/You/He/She/It/We/They must cook dinner. It’s necessary.
Negative I/You/He/She/It/We/They mustn’t (must not) stay up late.
It isn’t allowed./ Don’t do it!
Must has a similar
meaning to have to, but We use mustn’t to talk
have to is more common. about what we’re not
I must go.= I have to go. allowed to do. Mustn’t and don’t have to have
different meanings.
You don’t have to go there.
(You can but it isn’t necessary.)
You mustn’t go there.
(Don’t go there.)
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 2
Practice Time
Choose the correct verbs.
1. We can / mustn’t borrow books from the school library. I take a new one home every week.
2. You can / mustn’t run in the corridor. It’s dangerous.
3. Pupils at this school have to / don’t have to learn a foreign language, but more than 80% of them
choose to learn one.
4. You can / mustn’t use a mobile phone in class. Put it in your bag right now!
5. You have to / don’t have to stand up when the teacher enters the room. You get in trouble when you forget.
6. I can’t / don’t have to go to the concert. It finishes too late, so I’m not allowed.
Copyright © 2021 by Pearson Education Wider World 2e 2
