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Unit 31 · Modals, imperative etc.

must mustn't don't need to

Study

A

must + infinitive (must do / must work etc.):

I / we / you / they do
he / she / it must go etc.
see
eat
›

It's a fantastic film. You must see it.

B

I must (do something) = I need to do it:

›

I'm very hungry. I must eat something.

›

It's a fantastic film. You must see it.

›

The windows are very dirty. We must clean them.

For the past (yesterday / last week etc.), we use had to ... (not must):

›

I was very hungry. I had to eat something. (not I must eat)

›

We had to walk home last night. There were no buses. (not We must walk)

C

mustn't (= must not)

I mustn't (do something) = it is necessary not to do it, it is the wrong thing to do:

›

I must go. I mustn't be late.

›

I mustn't forget to phone Chris. (= I must remember to phone her)

›

Be happy! You mustn't be sad. (= don't be sad)

›

You mustn't touch the pictures. (= don't touch the pictures)

D

don't need to

I don't need (to do something) = it is not necessary:

›

I don't need to go yet. I can stay a little longer.

›

You don't need to shout. I can hear you OK.

You can also say don't have to ... :

›

I don't have to go yet. I can stay a little longer.

Compare don't need to and mustn't:

›

You don't need to go. You can stay here if you want.

›

You mustn't go. You must stay here.

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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31.1

Complete the sentences. Use must + these verbs:

beeatgolearnmeetwashwin
  1. 1
    I'm very hungry. I something.example
  2. 2
    Marilyn is a very interesting person. You her.
  3. 3
    My hands are dirty. I them.
  4. 4
    You to drive. It will be very useful.
  5. 5
    I shopping. I need to buy some food.
  6. 6
    The game tomorrow is very important for us. We .
  7. 7
    You can't always have things immediately. You patient.
31.2

Write I must or I had to.

  1. 1
    walk home last night. There were no buses.example
  2. 2
    It's late. go now.
  3. 3
    I don't usually work on Saturdays, but last Saturday work.
  4. 4
    get up early tomorrow. I have a lot to do.
  5. 5
    I came here by train. The train was full and stand all the way.
  6. 6
    I was nearly late for my appointment this morning. run to get there on time.
  7. 7
    I forgot to phone David yesterday. phone him later today.
31.3

Complete the sentences. Use mustn't or don't need to + these verbs:

forgetgolosephonerushwait
  1. 1
    I home yet. I can stay a little longer.example
  2. 2
    We have a lot of time. We .
  3. 3
    Keep these papers in a safe place. You .
  4. 4
    I'm not ready yet, but you for me. You can go now and I'll come later.
  5. 5
    We to turn off the lights before we leave.
  6. 6
    I must contact David, but I him - I can send him an email.
31.4

Find the sentences with the same meaning.

  1. 1We can leave the meeting early.
  2. 2We must leave the meeting early.
  3. 3We mustn't leave the meeting early.
  4. 4We had to leave the meeting early.
  5. 5We don't need to leave the meeting early.
  1. AWe must stay until the end.
  2. BWe couldn't stay until the end.
  3. CWe can't stay until the end.
  4. DWe can stay until the end.
  5. EWe don't need to stay until the end.
31.5

Write must / mustn't / had to / don't need to.

  1. 1
    You go. You can stay here if you want.example
  2. 2
    It's a fantastic film. You see it.
  3. 3
    The restaurant won't be busy tonight. We reserve a table.
  4. 4
    I was very busy last week. I work every evening.
  5. 5
    I want to know what happened. You tell me.
  6. 6
    I don't want Sue to know what happened. You tell her.
  7. 7
    I go now or I'll be late for my appointment.
  8. 8
    'Why were you so late?' 'I wait half an hour for a bus.'
  9. 9
    We decide now. We can decide later.
  10. 10
    It's Lisa's birthday next week. I forget to buy her a present.