B1 · Lesson 20 · 25 min
Checkpoint: connected English
In this lesson
- I can choose modal verbs for rules, permission and deductions.
- I can connect ideas using habits, relative clauses, verb patterns, passives and reporting.
Grammar in context
At the community centre, Maya is organising a repair café. Volunteers must arrive at 9. People who bring broken lamps can ask for help. The manager said that the hall would be opened early, so Maya told everyone to bring their name badges.
Which words show a rule, give essential information, and report what someone said?
Rules, permission and deductions
Use must, have to and need to for obligation. Use mustn't for prohibition, but use don't have to when something is optional. Be allowed to describes permission. For a logical deduction, use must when you are very sure, might, may or could when you are less sure, and can't when something seems impossible.
- Visitors must wear a wristband in the workshop.
- Leo might be in the café because his bike is outside.
Past habits and relative clauses
Use used to for past states and repeated actions that are no longer true. Use would for repeated past actions, but not usually for past states. Use be used to + a noun or -ing for something familiar. Defining relative clauses identify the person, place or thing you mean. Non-defining clauses add extra information and use commas; do not use that or omit the relative pronoun.
- I used to live near the station, but I moved last year.
- The tool that Hana borrowed belongs to my uncle.
Verb patterns, passives and reporting
Some verbs are followed by -ing, such as avoid, suggest and consider. Others are followed by to + infinitive, such as plan, hope and promise. Make passives with be + a past participle when the action is more important than the person doing it. In reported statements, use statement word order; after a past reporting verb, will often changes to would. When naming the listener, use tell + person or say + to + person.
- We decided to repair the chair before lunch.
- The keys were found under the reception desk.
Common mistakes
Compare the incorrect and corrected forms.
Avoid
When touching the machine is forbidden: You don’t have to touch that machine.
Use
When touching the machine is forbidden: You mustn’t touch that machine.
Don't have to means something is optional; mustn't means it is prohibited.
Avoid
The organiser told that the event was cancelled.
Use
The organiser said that the event was cancelled.
Use say (that) without naming a listener, or tell someone that something happened.
Put it into practice
Try the exercises, write your own examples and check your understanding.