👩‍🏫 For Teachers (12 minutes)

Guide learners through the four rule cards for four minutes and check answers together as a class. Ask students to say why each pattern fits the flatmate situation.

🎒 For Learners

Read the four simple rules and rental examples first to see the patterns. Complete the twelve quick practice tasks below and check your score.

be supposed to + action word

Use is supposed to to say what the rule or plan is. Use was supposed to when the thing did not happen. Say supposed to wash, not supposed to washing: after it, use the plain action word.

📌 Every tenant is supposed to take out the rubbish on Tuesday nights.

📌 I was supposed to wash the dishes last night, but I forgot.

be expected to + action word

Use is expected to when other people think you will do something. It is polite. It is often used for duties in a paper you sign. Say is expected to pay, not is expected pay.

📌 Everyone in the flat is expected to pay their share by the first of the month.

📌 The new tenant is expected to keep the shared hallway peaceful.

need to / needn't / don't need to

Use need to for things you must do. Use needn't or don't need to when you do not have to do it. Say needn't buy (no to), but don't need to buy.

📌 We need to sign the lease before moving into the apartment.

📌 You needn't buy a bed because the room already has one.

mustn't vs don't need to

Mustn't means you are not allowed to do it. Don't need to means it is your choice: it is fine if you do not do it. Do not mix them up: mustn't is a rule, don't need to is a free choice.

📌 You mustn't smoke in the flat, but you don't need to take your shoes off.

📌 You don't need to do the laundry right now if you are busy.

Mustn't = Not allowed

Don't Need To = Your choice

Practice Arena (12 Tasks)

Solve the challenges below to master flatmate rules.