Look at these signs. What do they mean? How can you
explain these signs to foreigners?
No Smoking
Do not smoke
You are not allowed to smoke here
You must not smoke here
Warning / Danger of death
Don't touch / enter
Keep away
Don't speed
Drive slowly
You must reduce your speed
You should drive slower
Wash your hands
You can wash your hands here
You should wash your hands
Here we see that we can give commands / orders in
three ways
1. Using the imperative
For a positive command use the verb in the base form
without subject
Walk! Come! Enter!
For a negative imperative, add Do not or Don't
Don't smoke!
Do not enter!
You can see examples of imperatives you can find
around the home on Page 6, exercise 1 of Insight Into PET.
2. Using modal verbs
must - FOR ME, IT IS NECESSARY - I must call my mother
have to - THE LAW OR THE RULES SAY IT IS NECESSARY -
You have to have a passport to go to the USA
In the negative form these verbs have a different
meaning
must not - IT IS FORBIDDEN- You must not smoke
in public places
don't have to - IT IS NOT NECESSARY - I don't have to
work on Sundays
Try to use these verbs to complete these phrases about
life in Italy
There is more information about modals of obligation
on Page 110 of Insight Into PET.
Try also Exercise 15.
3. Using alternative phrases such as - It is allowed /
forbidden etc
To practice using these alternatives look at exercise
2 on Page 6 of Insight Into PET.
These terms are important in the PET exam because in
the Reading Test you can asked to understand signs and short messages, many of
which include modal verbs.
Try the test on Page 10 of Insight Into PET.
In the FCE, there are no direct tests on modals but they
are important in paraphrasing exercises and using them in the writing or
speaking tests can earn you extra points.
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