English grammar
Rules and regulations: be required to / be not allowed / be not permitted to / there must be
Understand and explain rules and regulations using the modal passive.
From the scene Staff are required to…
In short
Rules use passive and impersonal forms: staff are required to, animals are not allowed, there must be, has to be.
Your turn
Which one goes with an obligation: be required to + verb?
Options: there must be hot water in the kitchen · animals are not allowed in the kitchen · all staff are required to wear their hair tied back
Show answer
an obligation: be required to + verb → all staff are required to wear their hair tied back
How it works
Regulations are about the rule, not about who enforces it, so English uses passive and impersonal forms.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Not even those. And without a licence, you (blank) not permitted to open.
Options: are · is · be
Show answer
Not even those. And without a licence, you are not permitted to open.
Ni siquiera esos. Y sin licencia, está prohibido que abráis.
Good to know
Staff are required to…, animals are not allowed…, you are not permitted to… (more formal than allowed).
Good to know
There must be + noun and has to be state what has to exist or happen.
what must exist: there must be + noun there must be hot water in the kitchen
Nuria
There must be hot water in the kitchen.
Es obligatorio que haya agua caliente en la cocina.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: All staff are required to wear their hair tied back · Animals are not allowed in the kitchen · There must be hot water in the kitchen
Show answer
Nuria
There must be hot water in the kitchen.
Es obligatorio que haya agua caliente en la cocina.
an obligation: be required to + verb all staff are required to wear their hair tied back
Nuria
All staff are required to wear their hair tied back.
Se exige que todos los empleados lleven el pelo recogido.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: There must be hot water in the kitchen · Animals are not allowed in the kitchen · All staff are required to wear their hair tied back
Show answer
Nuria
All staff are required to wear their hair tied back.
Se exige que todos los empleados lleven el pelo recogido.
a ban (everyday): be not allowed animals are not allowed in the kitchen
Nuria
And animals are not allowed in the kitchen.
Y está prohibido que haya animales en la cocina.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank).
Options: animals are not allowed in the kitchen · there must be hot water in the kitchen · all staff are required to wear their hair tied back
Show answer
Nuria
And animals are not allowed in the kitchen.
Y está prohibido que haya animales en la cocina.
a ban (formal): be not permitted to + verb you are not permitted to open without a licence
Your turn
What goes with you are not permitted to open without a licence?
Options: a ban (formal): be not permitted to + verb · what must exist: there must be + noun · an obligation: be required to + verb
Show answer
you are not permitted to open without a licence → a ban (formal): be not permitted to + verb
a requirement for a thing: has to be the licence has to be on display
Tomás
The licence has to be on display. Javi, have you got it?
Es obligatorio que la licencia esté a la vista. Javi, ¿la tienes tú?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Javi, have you got it?
Options: All staff are required to wear their hair tied back · The licence has to be on display · There must be hot water in the kitchen
Show answer
Tomás
The licence has to be on display. Javi, have you got it?
Es obligatorio que la licencia esté a la vista. Javi, ¿la tienes tú?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| what must exist: there must be + noun | there must be hot water in the kitchen |
|---|---|
| an obligation: be required to + verb | all staff are required to wear their hair tied back |
| a ban (everyday): be not allowed | animals are not allowed in the kitchen |
| a ban (formal): be not permitted to + verb | you are not permitted to open without a licence |
| a requirement for a thing: has to be | the licence has to be on display |
More lines from the story
- NuriaNot even those. And without a licence, you are not permitted to open.Ni siquiera esos. Y sin licencia, está prohibido que abráis.
- TomásTomorrow the health inspector is coming. I'm shaking!Mañana viene el inspector de Sanidad. ¡Estoy temblando!