Ask the AI Tutor
Need help with You Mustn’t Miss This! - Warning & Forbidding? Ask our AI Tutor!
AI Tutor - Lucy
Connecting with Tutor...
Please wait while we establish connection
It looks to me as though we're not supposed to park here.
You Mustn’t Miss This! - Warning & Forbidding
Build ESL Medium confidence with English for rules, warnings, and strong advice, using natural language to explain what people must or must not do.
1 .
A well-meaning English host (or hostess) is about to put milk or sugar ~ which you do not want ~ into your tea; what do you say?
'Not for me, thanks all the same.'
'Please do not put any of that into my cup.'
'Sorry, but I'd rather not have any of that, thank you.'
'No, thank you, I prefer it without.'
Answer 4 is probably the clearest way of doing this; Answer 1 is a possible alternative. Answers 2 and 3 are not particularly good.
2 .
Someone is disturbing you, without realising it, by making a small but repeated noise (e.g. tapping a teaspoon on the other side of a table, where you are trying to read or study). What do you say, to encourage them to stop doing this?
'Must you?'
'Do you have to keep doing that?'
'Do you think you might stop doing that now?'
'Excuse me, but would you mind stopping?'
Answer 4 is the softest, yet clearest way of drawing attention to the problem. Most of the others somehow sound a bit irritable (as well they might, in the situation; but it is better to calm things down!).
3 .
In a tense, criminal situation ~ real, or in fiction ~ such as an armed robbery, the last words that someone under threat might say could be :
'I don't want you to kill me.'
'I'd rather you didn't pull that trigger, thank you.'
'Don't you think it might be a good idea to put that gun down?'
'Please don't shoot!'
This would hardly be a time for extra words and fine expressions!
4 .
Pick the answer which best completes the gap/s in good, clear, accurate English.
'In my country, women ... ... drive cars, drink alcohol or vote in elections.'
'In my country, women ... ... drive cars, drink alcohol or vote in elections.'
... are not allowed to ...
... can't ..
... mustn't ...
... don't ...
Each of these clearly conveys a similar meaning, but No.1 is the best way of expressing the plain fact; 'not allowed' presumably means 'forbidden by the authorities (government and/or religious custom, etc.)'.
5 .
In a social situation, you are embarrassed by someone 'making a great fuss' over thanking you for something (e.g. a small ornament that you have given them, from your home country, as a 'thank you' for their own help or hospitality). How do you best tell them that you have had enough of their thanks?
'You're more than welcome.'
'Please don't mention it.'
'Oh, honestly, it's only a small gesture.'
'There's really no need to thank me; you're the ones who have already been so kind.'
Most of these Answers are quite good, but No.4 is the most specific (if you can manage it), and deflects the thanks back onto these other people, where you feel this truly belongs.
6 .
Travelling with your English hosts into the city, you spot a road-sign that forbids parking ~ just where they are about to park the car. You may not be confident about the rights and wrongs of this, in what (for you) is a foreign country; but you feel you should say something, rather than letting them get into trouble over the parking. What can you say?
'You're not supposed to park here, according to the notice.'
'Are we supposed to park here, do you think?'
'It looks to me as though we're not supposed to park here.'
'Can't you see the NO PARKING sign?'
If you use No.3, it suggests that you may be mistaken. (There could, for instance, be another sign which you didn't see, or couldn't understand, giving details about parking only being forbidden at certain times, e.g. during weekdays and business hours.)
The other suggestions are potentially rather rude, as they call your host's judgement (and even vision, in No.4!) into question.
The other suggestions are potentially rather rude, as they call your host's judgement (and even vision, in No.4!) into question.
7 .
If the parking sign is outside someone's private house, rather than an 'official notice', what would it probably say?
No parking.
Please do not park here.
You mustn't park cars here.
Car parking is prohibited by order.
This is polite and clear. Most people would prefer to keep such a sign simple: not too many words, so it needn't be too big (and so that it does not make the front of their property look ugly and official!).
8 .
You are trying really hard to persuade an English friend, or business associate, to come and visit your home country. Which of these is the 'toughest' expression that you feel you could use?
'My family and I will feel personally insulted unless you make your booking immediately.'
'How could you ever forgive yourself for not taking your one chance of seeing our golden beaches for yourself?'
'We'd be so disappointed if you found that you couldn't.'
'We do hope you won't have to say No to this; we'd really like to have you over.'
Answers 1 and 2 may happen to 'feel true' but they come over as much too strong in English. Answer 4 is probably marginally better than No.3, because it comes out on a positive note.
9 .
When one English person quite casually asks another, 'How's life?' (etc.) and the answer comes, '[I] can't complain / mustn't grumble', what do you think the second speaker really means?
It is illegal, in Britain, to moan about 'the ups and downs of life'.
The other speaker has previously told them not to make negative remarks.
It is socially disappointing if someone spends a lot of their time being gloomy.
They do not have time to complain, and/or are not sure where to go to do it, or whether it would make any real difference.
'Mustn't grumble' is a short way of saying that we all have good and bad days, but it is unhelpful to bother someone else with one's problems. This is an example of the famous 'stiff upper lip' of the unemotional Brits, who supposedly prefer to 'keep clam and carry on'.
10 .
Sadly, in many town and city centres at the weekend, large numbers of young people seem to go and drink a lot of alcohol, and then 'disgrace themselves in public' (by being sick all over the street, getting into trouble with the police, etc.). A more traditional British attitude to such behaviour might typically be:
'It's not The Done Thing.'
'You can't just go round the place getting roaring drunk, surely?'
'Aren't there laws in this country about not being drunk in a public place?'
'Why must people do all this? It's just plain silly, as well as disgusting.'
Of course the behaviour is unhelpful (and unhygienic), but the strongest way to suggest that it be stopped is probably by reference to the Law (i.e. 'it isn't allowed; you mustn't do it').
**Unlimited Quizzes Await You! 🚀**
Hey there, quiz champ! 🌟 You've already tackled today's free questions.
Ready for more?
Ready for more?
🔓 Unlock UNLIMITED Quizzes and challenge yourself every day. But that's
not all...
not all...
🔥 As a Subscriber you can join our thrilling "Daily Streak" against other
quizzers. Try to win a coveted spot on our Hall of Fame Page.
quizzers. Try to win a coveted spot on our Hall of Fame Page.
Don't miss out! Join us now and keep the fun rolling. 🎉
**Unlimited Quizzes Await You! 🚀**
Hey there, quiz champ! 🌟 You've already tackled today's free questions. Ready for more?
🔓 Unlock UNLIMITED Quizzes and challenge yourself every day. But that's not all...
🔥 As a Subscriber you can join our thrilling "Daily Streak" against other quizzers. Try to win a coveted spot on our Hall of Fame Page.
Don't miss out! Join us now and keep the fun rolling. 🎉
© Copyright 2016-2026 - Education Quizzes
Work Innovate Ltd - Design | Development |
Marketing
