Welcome to today’s English lesson! We’re going to learn about something very important: rules and obligations. In everyday life, we all have rules we need to follow and things we are obligated to do. Knowing how to talk about these in English is super useful, whether you’re at school, work, or just chatting with friends.

What are Rules and Obligations?

Let’s start with the basics. Rules are instructions that tell us what we are allowed or not allowed to do. Think of school rules, traffic rules, or even rules in a game! Obligations are things that we must do, they are our responsibilities. For example, you have an obligation to go to work or school, or an obligation to pay your bills.

Understanding how to express rules and obligations in English will help you:

• Understand instructions clearly.
• Explain what you need to do.
• Talk about laws and regulations.
• Give advice and suggestions.

In this lesson, we will focus on some key words and phrases to talk about rules and obligations. These are really useful for everyday spoken English practice and will help you improve your English for beginners level.

How to Talk About Rules and Obligations?

We use special words called modal verbs to talk about rules and obligations. For A1+ level, we will focus on:

• Must
• Have to
• Should

These words help us express different levels of obligation and different types of rules. Let’s look at each one in more detail.

Using “Must” for Strong Obligations

“Must” is used to express a strong obligation or necessity. It often comes from the speaker’s authority or personal feeling. It’s a strong way to say something is necessary. Think of it as an internal obligation or a rule made by someone in charge.

Examples of “Must”:

• I must study for my English test. (Personal feeling of necessity)
• Students must wear a uniform at this school. (School rule)
• You must be quiet in the library. (Library rule)

Notice that “must” often implies that there will be a negative consequence if the rule or obligation is not followed. It’s a firm and direct way to express obligation. This is important for English grammar rules related to modal verbs.

Using “Have to” for External Obligations

“Have to” is also used to express obligation, but it usually comes from an external source like a law, rule, or another person. It’s about things you are obliged to do because of external circumstances. It’s a very common way to talk about obligations in spoken English.

Examples of “Have to”:

• I have to go to work tomorrow. (Work obligation)
• In my country, you have to drive on the right side of the road. (Traffic law)
• We have to pay taxes every year. (Legal obligation)

“Have to” is often used for general rules and laws that apply to everyone. It highlights external pressures and requirements. Understanding the difference between “must” and “have to” is key for mastering English articles usage and modal verbs.

“Must” vs. “Have to”: What’s the Difference?

While both “must” and “have to” express obligation, there’s a subtle difference:

• “Must” often comes from internal obligation or the speaker’s authority. It’s more about personal feelings or rules from someone in charge in a specific situation.
• “Have to” usually comes from external obligation, like general rules, laws, or routines. It’s more about external requirements and necessities.

However, in everyday conversation, especially at the A1+ level, the difference is not always strictly followed, and they can sometimes be used interchangeably, particularly when talking about general obligations. For English speaking learners, it’s important to understand the general idea and practice using both in sentences.

Using “Should” for Recommendations and Advice

“Should” is used to give advice, make recommendations, or talk about what is the right or best thing to do. It’s a weaker obligation than “must” or “have to”. It’s more about what is advisable or expected, rather than strictly required. “Should” is very useful for giving suggestions and participating in conversations.

Examples of “Should”:

• You should eat healthy food. (Advice for good health)
• We should study more English. (Recommendation for improvement)
• They should arrive on time for the meeting. (Expected behavior)

“Should” is a polite and helpful way to guide someone or suggest a course of action. It’s important for expressing opinions and making polite suggestions in spoken English practice.

Negative Forms: “Mustn’t”, “Don’t have to”, “Shouldn’t”

Let’s quickly look at the negative forms:

• Mustn’t (must not): Expresses prohibition – something that is not allowed. Example: You mustn’t smoke here. (It is forbidden)
• Don’t have to: Expresses lack of obligation – something that is not necessary. Example: You don’t have to come if you are busy. (It is not required)
• Shouldn’t (should not): Expresses that something is not a good idea or is not advisable. Example: You shouldn’t eat too much sugar. (It’s not good for you)

Understanding the negative forms is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings and communicating effectively in English. This will also improve your English pronunciation tips as you practice saying these words correctly.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to practice what you’ve learned! Fill in the blanks with must, have to, should, mustn’t, don’t have to, or shouldn’t.

1. Students ______ be quiet in the library.
2. I ______ go to the supermarket today. We have no milk.
3. You ______ eat too much fast food. It’s not healthy.
4. We ______ wear a uniform at the weekend. It’s only during the week.
5. You ______ forget to bring your passport when you travel abroad.
6. If you want to improve your English, you ______ practice speaking every day.
7. Children ______ play with fire. It’s dangerous.
8. I ______ get up early tomorrow. It’s Saturday!
9. People ______ respect the law.
10. You ______ apologize if you make a mistake.

Answers

1. Students must be quiet in the library.
2. I have to go to the supermarket today. We have no milk.
3. You shouldn’t eat too much fast food. It’s not healthy.
4. We don’t have to wear a uniform at the weekend. It’s only during the week.
5. You mustn’t forget to bring your passport when you travel abroad.
6. If you want to improve your English, you should practice speaking every day.
7. Children mustn’t play with fire. It’s dangerous.
8. I don’t have to get up early tomorrow. It’s Saturday!
9. People must respect the law.
10. You should apologize if you make a mistake.

How did you do? Practice makes perfect! Keep practicing these sentences and try to make your own examples. The more you use these words, the more natural they will become in your spoken English.

To further improve your English and practice speaking about rules and obligations, check out Lingofrnd.com! Lingofrnd is an AI spoken English teacher that can help you practice these phrases and improve your speaking confidence. Download App now and start practicing today!

Keep learning and keep practicing! You’re doing great!