Should

We use "should" to give, or ask for, advice or an opinion in the present:

• "I have a terrible stomachache." "You should go to the doctor's."
• "I haven’t heard from my father." "You should call him."
• "She's not happy with the salary offered." "She shouldn't accept the job."

Form

We use "should" / "shouldn't" + the infinitive of the main verb (without "to")

Example

I You He, She, It We They	should	do	more exercise.
		get	a new car.
	shouldn't (should not)	smoke.
		spend	so much money.

Should	I you he / she / it we they	get	more qualifications?
		wear	something different?

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Should have

We use "should have" to give, or ask for, an opinion in the present about something which happened in the past:

• "I had a terrible stomachache." "You should have gone to the doctor’s."
• "I didn’t hear from my father last week." "You should have called him."
• "She isn't happy with the salary she’s getting." "She shouldn't have accepted the job."

Form

We use "should" / "shouldn't have" + the past participle of the main verb

Example

I You He / She / It We They	should have	taken	a taxi.
	shouldn't have	written	that comment.

Should

I you he / she / it we they

have worked

overtime?

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Practice

Give or ask for advice using the verb in brackets:

.

1)

He    the position. (accept)

 

2)

You    mobile phones in the classroom. (not allow)

 

3)

   we    that we cheated? (admit)

 

4)

They    work early yesterday. (not leave)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit

Have to

"Have to" is used to show that a person is obliged to do something, usually by an outside force, have to can also be used to give your opinion:

• You have to show your passport at passport control.
  (It’s the law.)
• Jenny has to do homework every evening.
  (Her parents told her to do her homework.)
• Tom had to work late last night.
  (He hadn't finished his work)
• You have to tell him!
  (That's my (strong) opinion)
• You don’t have to eat that if you don’t like it.
  (I am not obliging you to eat it)

Form

The present simple of "have" + "to" + infinitive (without "to")
or
The past simple of 'have' + to + infinitive (without to)

Example

I You We They	have to	leave the house early to catch the bus. care for the children.
He / She / It	has to
I You We They	don't have to	leave the house early to catch the bus. care for the children.
He / She / It	doesn't have to

Do	I you we they	have to	work on Saturday?
Does	he / she / it		attend the conference?

I You He / She / It We They	had to	leave the house early to catch the bus. care for the children.
I You He / She / It We They	didn't have to	leave the house early to catch the bus. care for the children.

Did

I you he / she / it we they

have to

work on Saturday? attend the conference?

Practice

Give or ask for advice using the verb in brackets:

.

1)

You    to the internet to send an email. (connect)

 

2)

Adrian    every weekend unless he wants to. (not train)

 

3)

   you    your passport at the border? (show)

 

4)

Amy    30 hours a week last year. (teach)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit

Must

"Must" is also used to talk about obligation and is used in written rules and instructions:

• You must submit your proposal by noon on 12th July.
• You must not use a calculator during the exam.

"Must" is also used to give a strong recommendation:

• You must tell him before it's too late.
• You mustn't be late for work on your first day.

Form

"must" or "mustn't" ("must not") + the infinitive of the verb (without "to")

Example

I You He / She / It We They	must mustn't	report	the theft to the police immediately.
		forget	to transfer the money.

Must

I you he / she / it we they

go?

While questions with "must" are grammatically correct, it is more usual nowadays to use "have to" for questions.

There is no past form of must for obligation:

• We had to show our passports at the border.
• We weren’t allowed to use calculators in the exam.
  Or, we couldn’t use calculators in the exam.

Practice

Give or ask for advice using the verb in brackets:

.

1)

You    late for the train. (not be)

 

2)

We    their wedding anniversary. (celebrate)

 

3)

You    the application form in black ink. (complete)

 

4)

He    his dog chew the furniture. (not let)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit

Further practice

Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence: a, b, c or d.
.

1)

You ____ remember to close the windows when you leave the house.
 

don't have to

must

mustn't

shouldn't

 

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2)

You ____ eat fast food every day. It’s very bad for you.
 

have to

shouldn't

don't have to

must

 

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3)

Maria ____ the operation but she was too scared. Now she’s very ill.
 

should have

should have had

must have

must have had

 

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4)

Juan ____ visit Prague once a month for meetings, but he enjoys it.
 

should

should have

has to

have to

 

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5)

You ____ perform that song. It’s offensive.
 

should have

mustn't

don't have to

should

 

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6)

You ____ come with me. I’m happy to go alone.
 

mustn't have

must

don't have to

should have

 

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Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit