English modal verbs: must, have to, should and more
Modal verbs add meaning to another verb: whether something is necessary, allowed, a good idea or probably true. They never change form (she must, not she musts) and are followed by the base form.
The lessons cover obligation and advice first, then modal perfects for judging and regretting the past.
The essentials
- Must and have to for what's necessary: I must call my mum. You have to wear a seatbelt.
- Don't have to means it isn't necessary; mustn't means it isn't allowed. You don't have to come. You mustn't smoke here.
- Should for advice: You should see a doctor.
- Must have for a confident guess about the past: She must have left already.
- Should have and could have for criticism and missed chances: You should have told me. We could have won.
Every lesson on this topic
Each lesson has a full explanation, examples, common mistakes and practice questions.
A2 (English at A2)
- must, have to and should: rules, obligations and advice: Say what's necessary, what's not allowed, what isn't necessary, and give advice
B2 (English at B2)
- She must have left: modal perfects: Judge what probably happened, and criticise or regret past actions
Other topics
- Present perfect or past simple?
- Talking about the past: English past tenses
- English conditionals: first, second, third and mixed
- Talking about the future in English
- The passive in English
- Reported speech and reporting verbs
- Relative clauses: who, which, that, whose
- Linking words: although, despite, however, whereas
- -ing or to? Verb patterns in English
- Formal, professional and academic English
- Emphasis in English: inversion and cleft sentences