Free worksheet
Try the quiz
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Do you have any social obligations? Beth and Neil talk about doing things they don't really want to do and our grammar guru Georgie explains ways to talk about social obligations. Learn to use 'have to', 'be meant to', 'be supposed to' and how to use the second conditional.
_____________
Grammar explanation
have to
We use have to to talk about obligations that come from other people, or from rules.
Examples:
I don't like going to parties where you have to stand around.
At work, I have to check before I book time to go on holiday.
be supposed to
We can say that we are supposed to do something when there's an expectation that we do something. We also use this when we don't do what we are are expected to do.
Examples:
I didn't go but I was supposed to.
You're supposed to come at the time you said.
be meant to
We can also say that we are meant to do something when there's an expectation that we do something. We also use this when we don't do what we are are expected to do.
Examples:
You're meant to talk to people at parties.
I was meant to go but I was too tired.
Second conditional
If + past simple; would + base form
When we talk about the consequences of not meeting social obligations, we are often talking about a hypothetical situation. We can use the second conditional to talk about these.
Examples:
I think if I'm meeting up with one friend, then I wouldfeel really guilty if I had to cancel.
My brother wouldbe really disappointed if I didn't come to his birthday party.
To do
Test yourself using the quiz.
NEXT
Watch Conditionals with Georgie
Try some of our other grammar programmes
Latest Learning English Grammar
Predicting the future
Episode 251007 / 07 Oct 2025
What's the difference between 'will' and 'going to'?
Hobbies we enjoy doing
Episode 250930 / 30 Sep 2025
Do you 'learn to play' or 'learn playing' a musical instrument?
Things we collect
Episode 250923 / 23 Sep 2025
What's the difference between 'loads of' and 'lots of'?
Regrets
Episode 250916 / 16 Sep 2025
Learn to talk about your regrets using wish, the third conditional and more
Reminiscing
Episode 250909 / 01 Aug 2025
Learn how to use would, used to and the past simple to talk about your memories
Preferences
Episode 250902 / 02 Sep 2025
What's the difference between prefer, would prefer and would rather?
To-do lists
Episode 250826 / 26 Aug 2025
What's the difference between 'need to do' and 'needs doing'?
