Modals of Obligation (Must, Have to, Should) – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You just watched the best movie of the year at the cinema. You are talking to your friend and you are very excited. You want to strongly recommend the movie to them. Read the conversation carefully and choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete your enthusiastic advice.
1 “I just watched the most amazing movie ever! You absolutely ______ see it this weekend!”
(A) must
(B) have to
(C) should to
(D) must to
2 “The acting and the story are incredible. You ______ buy a ticket right now before they sell out.”
(A) has to
(B) must
(C) must to
(D) having to
3 “Friend: Is it really that good? I don’t usually like sci-fi.”
“You: Trust me, it is a masterpiece. You ______ miss it!”
(A) don’t have to
(B) shouldn’t to
(C) mustn’t
(D) haven’t to
4 “The visual effects are beautiful. You ______ watch it on the biggest cinema screen possible!”
(A) have
(B) must to
(C) are should
(D) must
5 “Friend: Do I ______ watch the first movie to understand this one?”
(A) must
(B) have to
(C) should
(D) has to
6 “No, you ______ watch the first part. The story is completely new and easy to follow.”
(A) mustn’t
(B) don’t have to
(C) shouldn’t to
(D) haven’t to
7 “But you really ______ stay in your seat until the very end. There is a secret scene after the credits!”
(A) must to
(B) have
(C) must
(D) should to
8 “The soundtrack is fantastic. You ______ listen to the songs on your way to work tomorrow.”
(A) must
(B) must to
(C) having to
(D) has to
9 “Friend: I am very tired from work today. ______ go tonight?”
(A) Do I must
(B) Have I to
(C) Must I to
(D) Should I
10 “You ______ go tonight if you are too tired, but please promise me you will go on Saturday!”
(A) mustn’t
(B) don’t have to
(C) shouldn’t
(D) haven’t to
11 “If you go, you ______ buy the caramel popcorn. It is the best snack they have!”
(A) has to
(B) must
(C) should to
(D) having to
12 “You ______ take your little brother, though. The movie has some scary monsters in it.”
(A) shouldn’t
(B) don’t have to
(C) haven’t to
(D) shouldn’t to
13 “I am telling everyone about this film. Everyone ______ experience this in 3D!”
(A) must
(B) must to
(C) have
(D) are must
14 “I promise you won’t regret it. You ______ text me as soon as it finishes so we can talk about it!”
(A) have
(B) must to
(C) should to
(D) must
15 “Friend: ______ invite Sarah to come with me? She loves action movies.”
(A) Must I to
(B) Should I
(C) Do I must
(D) Have I to
16 “Yes! Sarah will love it. She absolutely ______ come with you!”
(A) has to
(B) musts
(C) must
(D) should to
17 “You ______ forget to book the tickets online. The cinema gets very full on Friday nights.”
(A) don’t have to
(B) haven’t to
(C) mustn’t
(D) shouldn’t to
18 “Friend: Okay, okay, I will go tomorrow! I ______ remember to set an alarm so I’m not late.”
(A) have
(B) must
(C) must to
(D) should to
19 “If you love it as much as I did, we ______ go together again next week! I want to watch it a second time.”
(A) must to
(B) have
(C) has to
(D) must
20 “Seriously, it is the movie of the decade. You ______ go see it!”
(A) must
(B) have
(C) should to
(D) must to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Key: (A) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Must” is the perfect word here. Even though you are giving advice, you are so enthusiastic and excited that you use “must” to give a strong recommendation.
- Meaning Trap (B): “Have to” sounds like an external rule. If you say “You have to watch it,” it sounds like the teacher gave them homework to watch the movie.
- Structural Errors (C & D): Never put “to” after “should” or “must”.
2 Key: (B) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A highly enthusiastic piece of advice (“absolutely must”).
- Structural Error (A): “Has to” is wrong for “You”.
- Structural Error (C): “Must to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (D): “Having to” is grammatically incorrect here.
3 Key: (C) mustn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Mustn’t” gives a very strong recommendation not to do something. “You mustn’t miss it!” means “It is highly important that you do not miss it.”
- Meaning Trap (A): “Don’t have to” means it’s not necessary (which implies it’s okay if they miss it).
- Structural Errors (B & D): Invalid grammar.
4 Key: (D) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Strong, excited recommendation.
- Structural Error (A): “Have” lacks “to”.
- Structural Error (B): “Must to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (C): “Are should” is invalid.
5 Key: (B) have to
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The friend is asking if there is a requirement or a necessary condition to understand the story. “Do I have to?” is the correct way to ask about external necessities.
- Structural Error (A): We do not use “Do” with “must”.
- Structural Error (C): “Do I should” is invalid; it would just be “Should I”.
- Structural Error (D): “Has to” is wrong for “I”.
6 Key: (B) don’t have to
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: It is not necessary to watch the first part. You have a choice.
- Meaning Trap (A): “Mustn’t” means it is forbidden to watch the first part.
- Structural Errors (C & D): Invalid grammar.
7 Key: (C) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: You are practically begging them to stay because the secret scene is so good. “Must” shows your strong personal feeling.
- Structural Error (A): “Must to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (B): “Have” lacks “to”.
- Structural Error (D): “Should to” is invalid.
8 Key: (A) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: An enthusiastic recommendation for the soundtrack.
- Structural Error (B): “Must to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (C): “Having to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (D): “Has to” is wrong for “you”.
9 Key: (D) Should I
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The friend is asking for your opinion/advice because they are tired.
- Structural Errors (A, B, C): All are grammatically incorrect ways to ask a question with modals.
10 Key: (B) don’t have to
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: You are removing the pressure. “It is not necessary for you to go tonight.”
- Meaning Trap (A): “Mustn’t” means “You are forbidden from going tonight.”
- Meaning Trap (C): “Shouldn’t” means it’s a bad idea to go tonight, which works, but (B) fits the context of “if you are too tired, you are not forced to go right now.”
- Structural Error (D): “Haven’t to”.
11 Key: (B) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A strong recommendation for the food (“It is the best!”).
- Structural Error (A): “Has to” is wrong for “you”.
- Structural Error (C): “Should to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (D): “Having to”.
12 Key: (A) shouldn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Strong advice against taking a child to a scary movie.
- Meaning Trap (B): “Don’t have to” implies it’s okay if he brings the brother.
- Structural Errors (C & D): Invalid grammar.
13 Key: (A) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Everyone” is the subject. The speaker feels a strong personal desire for the whole world to see this movie.
- Structural Error (B): “Must to” is invalid.
- Structural Error (C): “Have” lacks “to”, and “Everyone” takes singular verbs anyway.
- Structural Error (D): “Are must”.
14 Key: (D) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A strong demand to a friend out of excitement.
- Structural Error (A): “Have” lacks “to”.
- Structural Error (B): “Must to”.
- Structural Error (C): “Should to”.
15 Key: (B) Should I
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Asking for an opinion (“Is it a good idea to invite Sarah?”).
- Structural Errors (A, C, D): All are grammatically incorrect question forms.
16 Key: (C) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: High enthusiasm! “She absolutely must come!”
- Meaning Trap (A): “Has to” sounds like Sarah is being forced against her will by a rule.
- Structural Error (B): “Musts” is invalid (modals never take ‘s’).
- Structural Error (D): “Should to”.
17 Key: (C) mustn’t
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A strong warning/recommendation not to forget.
- Meaning Trap (A): “Don’t have to” means it’s okay to forget.
- Structural Errors (B & D): Invalid grammar.
18 Key: (B) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: A strong internal reminder to oneself.
- Structural Error (A): “Have” lacks “to”.
- Structural Error (C): “Must to”.
- Structural Error (D): “Should to”.
19 Key: (D) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: An enthusiastic suggestion for a future plan together.
- Structural Error (A): “Must to”.
- Structural Error (B): “Have” lacks “to”.
- Structural Error (C): “Has to” is wrong for “we”.
20 Key: (A) must
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The ultimate strong recommendation to close the conversation.
- Structural Error (B): “Have” lacks “to”.
- Structural Error (C): “Should to”.
- Structural Error (D): “Must to”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Must for Strong Recommendations:
- Usually, we use should to give advice (“You should watch this”).
- However, when we want to express extreme enthusiasm, excitement, or a very strong opinion about something wonderful, we use Must.
- Example: “This is the best cake ever! You must try it!” (It tells the listener: “I am not forcing you, but I want you to have this amazing experience!”).
- Must vs. Have to (The “Vibe” Check):
- If you say: “You have to watch this movie,” it sounds a bit like an external obligation (like a teacher assigned it for homework).
- If you say: “You must watch this movie,” it sounds like it comes directly from your heart. It is much more natural for passionate recommendations between friends.
- Mustn’t for Strong Warnings:
- Just like positive recommendations, we use mustn’t to give a strong, passionate warning.
- Example: “You mustn’t miss the ending!” = “It is extremely important that you stay for the ending!”
- The Grammar Golden Rules:
- NEVER put “to” after must or should.
- NEVER add an “s” to must or should, even for he/she/it.