In Game Vocab
8 words — what they mean inside the game
OUGHT TO
You should do this — it is the right or expected thing to do. Similar to SHOULD but often feels stronger.
You ought to report that player — using speed hacks ruins the experience for everyone on the server.
HAD BETTER
Strong advice with a warning — if you do not do this, something bad will happen.
You had better log out before the server resets — you will lose all your progress if you stay in.
NEED NOT
Not necessary — you do not have to do this. Important: NEED NOT is not the same as forbidden.
You need not complete every side quest — the main mission is the only requirement for the final reward.
BE SUPPOSED TO
Expected to do something based on a rule, agreement, or what most players do. Often used when the rule is being broken.
You are supposed to stay in the starter zone until level five — it is clearly stated in the server rules.
BE PERMITTED TO
Officially allowed to do something — more formal than CAN. Used in written rules and server terms.
Guild leaders are permitted to set their own server rules within the admin guidelines.
BE REQUIRED TO
Formally needed or obligated to do something — a rule or system makes it necessary.
All players are required to agree to the terms of service before their very first login.
MAY
Formal or official permission. More formal than CAN — used in written rules, policies, and announcements.
Players who reach level sixty may access the moderator tools panel — it is an official unlock.
BE PROHIBITED FROM
Officially and formally forbidden from doing something. Stronger and more formal than MUST NOT.
Players are prohibited from selling in-game items for real money — it violates the terms of service.
IRL Vocab
8 words — what they mean in real life
OUGHT TO
Used to say what the right or expected behavior is — morally or professionally.
You ought to acknowledge your team's contribution in the presentation — it is good professional practice.
HAD BETTER
Strong advice with an implied consequence — if you do not act, something bad will happen.
You had better submit your application before Friday — the portal closes at midnight and there are no extensions.
NEED NOT
Not necessary — optional. Common in formal written English.
You need not attend every session — only the core workshops on Tuesday and Thursday are required.
BE SUPPOSED TO
Expected based on rules, norms, or agreements — often used when the expectation is not being met.
Suppliers are supposed to deliver within 48 hours — we have been waiting five days with no update.
BE PERMITTED TO
Formally or officially allowed — used in professional, legal, or institutional language.
Employees are permitted to work remotely up to three days per week under the new flexible working policy.
BE REQUIRED TO
Formally obligated — used in legal, official, and professional contexts.
All new staff are required to complete a data protection training course within their first four weeks.
MAY
Formal permission — used in rules, policies, and official documents.
Shareholders may submit written questions before the annual general meeting — the deadline is five days prior.
BE PROHIBITED FROM
Formally forbidden — used in legal, official, or professional contexts.
Staff are prohibited from discussing salary details with colleagues — it is a contractual requirement.
Compare
Tap one image from each side to match the same word
Grammar Focus
Understand the grammar rule behind this lesson's topic
Grammar focus
Focus: Modal verbs — they come BEFORE the main verb
Modal verbs are helper verbs. They tell you about permission, obligation, or advice — not facts. The key rule: a modal verb ALWAYS comes before the main verb. The main verb stays in its BASE form (no -s, no -ed, no -ing).
Phrases
6 phrases and their meanings
ABIDE BY
Accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement without breaking it.
If you cannot abide by the no-griefing rule, the admins will remove you permanently.
She agreed to abide by the judge's decision, even though she strongly disagreed with it.
OPT OUT
Choose not to participate in something — remove yourself from an activity or feature.
I opted out of the seasonal event — the time commitment was too much this month.
She opted out of the company data-sharing scheme by unticking the box in her account settings.
CALL OUT
Say directly and openly that someone has done something wrong or broken a rule.
If you see someone cheating, call it out in the chat — the community polices itself.
The journalist called out the company for making misleading claims in its advertising campaign.
STAND UP FOR
Defend a rule, a right, or a person when others try to ignore or challenge it.
Stand up for fair play — if someone in your guild is breaking rules, say something.
He stood up for his colleague when the manager unfairly blamed her for the team's mistake.
BACK DOWN
Stop insisting on something and accept a rule or decision you originally disagreed with.
Know when to back down — some server rules are final, and arguing just makes things worse.
She backed down from her position after the data clearly proved her wrong.
LOCK OUT
Prevent someone from entering or accessing something — usually as a consequence of rule-breaking.
If you share your login details, you risk getting locked out of your own account.
The bank locked her out of her account after three incorrect password attempts in a row.
Videos
Watch these terms used in context
Dialogue
Read the dialogue and hover the blue words for definitions
Leo
MiaMia, the admins just updated the full terms document. It is quite different from the old version.
I saw the notification. It says all players ought to read the full document before their next session — not just the summary.
Exactly. And there are new access levels. Guild leaders are permitted to set custom server rules now — but only within the admin guidelines.
What about real-money trading? That was a huge problem last season.
Players are prohibited from selling in-game items for real money — it is written directly into the new terms, not just a community guideline.
Good. And the server reset happens every Sunday now, right? I almost lost my progress last week.
You had better log out before the countdown or you will lose everything — the system does not save mid-session.
What about the tutorial? I already know the mechanics — I need not redo the whole thing, right?
You need not finish every section — but you are supposed to complete the safety module before the end of the month or your account gets flagged.
Got it. And all new players are required to agree to the terms before their first login — the system blocks them until they do?
Correct. And the best part — senior members may access the full moderator panel once they reach level sixty. That is new this season.
Exercises
Complete all three exercises to see your final score
Complete the Sentence
Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence.
Choose the correct modal structure to complete each sentence. Then read the sentence aloud.
1.Guild leaders set their own server rules within the admin guidelines.
2.You log out before the server resets or you will lose all your progress.
3.Players selling in-game items for real money — it violates the terms of service.
4.All players agree to the terms of service before their very first login.
5.You complete every side quest — only the main mission is needed for the final reward.
6.You report that player — using hacks ruins the server for everyone.
Matching
Click a word, then click its correct definition.
Click a word on the left, then its definition on the right.
Words
Definitions
Fill in the Blank
Drag the correct words from the word bank to complete each sentence.
Sentence 1
Guild leaders— — —set custom server rules within the admin guidelines.
Sentence 2
You— — —log out before the reset or you will lose all your progress.
Sentence 3
Players— — —selling in-game items for real money — it violates the terms.
Sentence 4
You— — —complete every side quest — only the main mission is compulsory.
Sentence 5
All players— — —agree to the terms of service before their first login.
Sentence 6
You— — —stay in the starter zone until level five — it is in the server rules.
Sentence 7
Players who reach level sixty— — —access the moderator tools panel.
Sentence 8
You— — —report that player — it is the right thing to do.
Tip: Think about the meaning of each word and what makes sense in the sentence.
Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer for each question about the dialogue.
1.What is the key difference between NEED NOT and MUST NOT?
2.Which sentence uses HAD BETTER correctly?
3.What is the main difference between CAN and BE PERMITTED TO?
4.In the dialogue, why does Leo use ARE SUPPOSED TO instead of MUST?
5.Which sentence uses MAY correctly in a formal context?
6.What does OUGHT TO communicate that SHOULD does not always convey?