Grammar Starter unit
1
4
Modals and semi-modals
1 Complete the table with the words.
can could don’t have to had to mustn’t
have to should will be able to
Obligation, prohibition and advice
present obligation have to, need to,
must
past obligation (1) ________
no obligation in the present (2) ________
no obligation in the past didn’t have to
prohibition (3) ________
advice (4) ____ and ought to
Ability and permission
in the past (5) ________
in the present (6) ________
in the future (7) ________
2 Choose the correct option.
Hi everyone! Well, today was my first day at my new
school. It was OK, but there are a lot of rules! First, we
have to / mustn’t ask before we can leave the
classroom during a lesson. Also, we (1) are able to /
mustn’t eat or drink in the classroom. Two good
things: at my old school we (2) had / must to wear
school uniform – we (3) weren’t allowed to / needed
to wear our own clothes like I (4) should / can at my
new school. Also at my new school, students
(5) will be able to / ought to choose what sports they
do in PE class next term – that will be cool! Are there
a lot of rules at your school? Leave a comment!
Past simple and present perfect
3 Complete the sentences with the correct past
simple or present perfect form of the verbs in
brackets.
Grace watched (watch) a science fiction film
yesterday.
1 My team ____________ (not win) a match for
months!
2 ____________ (you / be) to the new café on
Diamond Street?
3 ____________ (your sister / visit) your
grandmother last night?
4 I _________ (not sit) an English exam last week.
5 Tyler ____________ (live) in London, England
since 2014.
4 Rewrite the sentences in the affirmative (),
negative () or question (?) form.
Sarah went to the shops at 9 a.m. today.
Sarah didn’t go to the shops at 9 a.m. today.
? Did Sarah go to the shops at 9 a.m. today?
1 Mrs Hollis has worked at this school for years.
_____________________________________
? _____________________________________
2 ? Did you and I meet Joseph three years ago?
____________________________________
_____________________________________
3 ? Have you read the article about education?
____________________________________
_____________________________________
4 I studied every evening last week.
_____________________________________
? _____________________________________
5 We haven’t seen his Spanish cousins since
2013.
____________________________________
? _____________________________________
6 Your friends didn’t play tennis on Saturday.
____________________________________
? _____________________________________
Present simple and present continuous
5 Read the sentences. Then write questions and
short answers.
It is raining today.
? Is it raining today?
Yes, it is.
1 We are learning about modern technology this
week.
? _____________________________________
_____________________________________
2 Our uncle visits us in Spain every year in the
summer.
? _____________________________________
_____________________________________
3 Jack and Brittany are wearing Augmented
Reality glasses at the moment.
? _____________________________________
____________________________________
4 Millie uses the internet for an hour every night.
? _____________________________________
_____________________________________
5 You often buy pizza from that Italian restaurant.
? _____________________________________
____________________________________
