The Rules of the House

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B1Grammar in Context

The Rules of the House

I can explain house rules without confusing optional actions with forbidden ones.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Your situation

A friend is staying at a shared house. “You have to lock the door when you leave. You mustn’t smoke inside. You don’t have to cook; we usually take turns, but guests can join in.” The host wants to be clear without making every sentence sound like a ban.

Read the situation transcript

A friend is staying at a shared house. “You have to lock the door when you leave. You mustn’t smoke inside. You don’t have to cook; we usually take turns, but guests can join in.” The host wants to be clear without making every sentence sound like a ban.

Is the guest forbidden to cook?

Compare your idea

No. Cooking is not required, and the host explicitly says guests can join in.

How it works

Adult woman showing a plain key and folded towel to a guest beside a hallway bench.
You have to return this key before you leave.Picture context: the host gives the guest a house rule about the visible key.

Separate what is required, what is forbidden and what is optional. Have to or must gives a requirement; mustn’t gives a ban; don’t have to removes a requirement.

Optional does not automatically mean prohibited or encouraged. Add practical context when it helps: You don’t have to cook, but you’re welcome to. This prevents a grammar choice from changing the house rule.

Required: have to/must. Forbidden: mustn’t. Optional: don’t have to, with permission clarified if needed.

Notice this

You have to lock the door.

This is required.

Compare this

You mustn’t smoke inside.

This is forbidden.

Hear the examples

You have to lock the door.

This is required.

You mustn’t smoke inside.

This is forbidden.

You don’t have to cook.

This is not required.

You’re welcome to help.

This explicitly gives permission or an invitation.

One mistake worth avoiding

Instead of: You mustn’t wash dishes; it’s optional.

Say: You don’t have to wash dishes; it’s optional.

Mustn’t would turn an optional task into a prohibited one.

You say

Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.

Your turn 1

Give a guest one invented house requirement.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

You have to close the gate.

Check yourself: Use a requirement form.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 2

Explain an optional task clearly.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

You don’t have to cook, but you can help.

Check yourself: Separate lack of obligation from permission.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 3

Give one polite but clear ban.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

You mustn’t leave food on the sofa.

Check yourself: Do not soften the meaning into mere optionality.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Adult woman showing a plain key and folded towel to a guest beside a hallway bench.
You don’t have to bring a towel.Picture context: the host supplies the folded towel and says bringing another is optional.

Two guided self-checks

Say or write your answer before opening a model.

Self-check 1

Rewrite as not required: You have to bring towels.

Compare a model and explanation

You don’t have to bring towels.

This removes the requirement.

Self-check 2

Rewrite as forbidden: Smoking inside is not allowed.

Compare a model and explanation

You mustn’t smoke inside.

Mustn’t expresses prohibition.

Check your understanding

Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.

1. Locking the door is required. You ___ lock it.

2. Smoking inside is forbidden. You ___ smoke inside.

3. Cooking is optional. You ___ cook.

4. May the guest cook in the opener?

5. Choose a clear optional-task message.

6. Correct “She have to lock the door.”

7. Which sentence is strongest as a prohibition?

8. Does the guest need to bring towels?

Read the listening transcript

You don’t have to bring towels. There are clean towels in your room.

Opening this transcript makes this a reading-supported attempt.

9. Choose a correct question about a requirement.

10. What is the biggest meaning risk in these rules?

Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.

Answer key with explanations

  1. Locking the door is required. You ___ lock it.

    have to: Have to states the requirement.

  2. Smoking inside is forbidden. You ___ smoke inside.

    mustn’t: Mustn’t expresses a ban.

  3. Cooking is optional. You ___ cook.

    don’t have to: Don’t have to removes the obligation.

  4. May the guest cook in the opener?

    Yes, the host says guests can join in.: Permission is explicitly added after the no-obligation statement.

  5. Choose a clear optional-task message.

    You don’t have to help, but you’re welcome to.: The correct sentence consistently separates optionality and invitation.

  6. Correct “She have to lock the door.”

    She has to lock the door.: Have to becomes has to with she.

  7. Which sentence is strongest as a prohibition?

    You mustn’t leave the gate open.: Mustn’t explicitly prohibits leaving it open.

  8. Does the guest need to bring towels?

    No: The house provides towels, so bringing them is not required.

  9. Choose a correct question about a requirement.

    Do I have to take off my shoes?: Do plus have to forms the question correctly.

  10. What is the biggest meaning risk in these rules?

    Using mustn’t when you mean not required: That substitution changes optionality into a ban.

Take it with you

I can explain house rules without confusing optional actions with forbidden ones.

Try the companion lesson

Grammar Focus: Must, Have To and Don’t Have ToExplore the Grammar catalogue