Modal verbs: Permission, obligation, prohibition, necessity

This exercise helps you practise how to use modal verbs like must, have to, can, should and need to talk about rules, permissions, duties and things that are or are not necessary.

1. You _____ smoke in this area.

should

mustn't

can’t

2. You _____ come if you’re not feeling well.

mustn’t

ought to

don’t have to

3. Drivers _____ wear seat belts at all times.

have to

could

might

4. _____ say anything until you’ve seen a lawyer.

You must not

You’d better not

You haven’t to

5. _____ leave early today if I finish all my work?

May I

Must I

Ought I

6. _____ wear a helmet on this construction site.

You might

You have to

You ought to

7. _____ brought your own tools—they had everything.

You needn’t have

You shouldn’t have

You mustn’t have

8. _____ use your phone during the exam.

You’d better

You might not

You’re not supposed to

9. _____ enter without a valid ticket.

You mustn’t

You shouldn’t

You don’t have to

10. _____ cancel the event because of the storm.

We had to

We should

We could have

11. _____ tell her the truth as soon as possible.

You can

You ought to

You mustn’t

12. Lunch is already provided at the event, so you _____ bring anything.

mustn’t

should

don’t have to