Ege Academy Blog

EXERCISE. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of  can / have to / be able to

A) Aysel has been pregnant for three months now. Her doctor, Mr.Tuna, says she ___________ (1) have a big breakfast from now on as she is very thin and __________ (2) walk at least 25 minutes everyday but she __________(3) attend her aerobics class anymore because that may be dangerous for her baby. Aysel says she goes out a lot with her husband Kemal these days because as soon as she has her baby she __________ (4) go out a lot, she ____________(5) spend a lot of time with her new born baby then.

B) Roberto Carlos has just stopped football so from now on he ____________ (1) do training any more. He ___________(2) travel to other countries and have a chance to visit his relatives in Brazil. He __________(3)be a coach for his team but first he ___________ (4) take coaching classes and degree. What makes him so unhappy is that he __________ (5) play football with his team mates as much as he used to.

C) I made up my mind and finally left my job last week. In my former job I ___________(1) work 40 hours a week so I __________ (2) spend a lot of time for myself and I _________(3) wear a suit and tie but now where I work is really different. I only ___________(4) work 20 hours a week so I ___________(5) have some free time for my friends and at the same time I ___________(6) wear a suit and tie. I __________(7) wear my favorite jeans and t-shirts. In my former job I __________(8) use my Chinese but now I __________(9) since my new company does business with Chinese people.

EXERCISE 1. Fill in the blanks with MUST / MUSTN’T / HAVE TO / NOT HAVE TO

Ronaldo can go to Brazil next week because he ________________ attend the training.

You ______________ buy that CD. We have got so many Cds at home.

Look at my car. It’s really dirty. I ____________ wash it as soon as possible.

I have just ordered some pizza. You ____________ cook anything tonight.

Since Alex de Souza was injured in the middle of the match, he ___________ leave the pitch.

You ___________ remember what I said to you. It’s very important.

You ___________ put the chains on the wheels. It’s going to be snowy.

Tayfun ___________ buy a new CD player. He can use mine.

In Turkey all men _____________ do military service.

You __________ prepare an impressive CV before applying a job.

EXERCISE 2. Fill in the blanks with MUST / MUSTN’T / CAN / CAN’T / HAVE TO / DON’T HAVE TO

My mother has told me to buy some batteries. I ___________ forget to buy some.

The old lady is sleeping. You _____________ turn down the volume.

You ____________ walk on the grass. It’s forbidden.

I’m sorry I couldn’t come yesterday. I _____________ visit a very important client.

We’ve got a lot of time. You ____________ hurry.

KEY

EXERCISE 1. 1) doesn’t have to 2) don’t have to 3) must 4) don’t have to 5) had to 6) must 7) don’t have to 8) doesn’t have to 9) have to 10) must

EXERCISE 2) 1) mustn’t 2) must 3) mustn’t 4) had to 5) don’t have to

MUST / HAVE TO

OBLIGATION / NECESSITY

HAVE TO

We use “have to” when the necessity comes from outside the speaker or when others decide for the speaker.

Check these examples:

• All the primary school students in Turkey have to wear a blue unifrom.
• All the men in Turkey who are 18 years old or older have to do their military service.
• Cenk has to wear a suit at work. ( The company’s board decided )
• Before entering the factory, all the workers have to sign the attendance book.
• As it is an international company Murat has to work on Saturdays to deal with the customers.

All of the necessities in the examples above come from outside the speaker.

Past form of “have to” is “had to”

Check these examples:

• When I was in the army I had to shave everymorning.
• Linda had to fill an application form to be a candidate for the position in the company.
• When I was a child, I had to go to bed at 9p.m.
• In my previous job all the ladies had to wear a tie.

We use “will have to” for future necessities.

• Mrs.Hanks will have to work in summers in her new job.
• If Burak is promoted, he will have to check the reports everyday.

MUST

We use “must” for the necessities that the speaker decides himself. Must is used only in present and future.

• I cough a lot in the evenings. I must stop smoking. ( I decided myself )
• As Meral has a very important exam tomorrow morning she must go to bed early.
• This client is a very serious man so we must prepare everything very carefully.
• I must save money to buy that house.

Past form of “must” is “had to”.

• I had to get a taxi for work yesterday because I was late.
• In order to get to the office, I had to take three buses last year.
• She had to work last Saturday because she couldn’t finish the reports.