Modal Verbs Dictation: Can, Can't, Must and Have To

Modal verbs dictation helps you hear short English words that change what a sentence means. In this A2 listening exercise, you will transcribe everyday sentences with can, can't, must, mustn't, have to, and don't have to. These forms can be easy to miss because they are often short and unstressed in connected speech, but each one signals ability, permission, a rule, a prohibition, or whether something is necessary.

Listen for the whole situation as well as the modal verb. A heavy box explains why someone can't lift it, a bus space explains why parking is not allowed, and an open cafe explains why bringing lunch is optional. Full stops and question marks are not scored, but apostrophes in contractions still matter. After a serious first attempt, replay the saved British English audio and compare your answer with the model sentence. This will help you recognise small modal forms quickly and understand the practical meaning they add to ordinary spoken English.