Modal Verbs: Obligation & Expectation — The Nudge at Work
Grammar: Modal Verbs
Free ESL grammar exercise on modal verbs: obligation & expectation themed around the nudge at work. Printable worksheet from EnglishPlans.com.
What's on this worksheet
A Business English ESL grammar exercise on business, practising modal verbs. The worksheet has a short reading excerpt, a grammar reference and graded practice items.
From the reading
Organisations that understand this can redesign their behavioural architecture to produce better outcomes at minimal cost. Critics argue that nudges, however well-intentioned, undermine genuine autonomy. Proponents respond that all environments carry implicit defaults — doing nothing is itself a design choice — and that organisations are accountable for outcomes whether or not they acknowledge their role. The debate turns on whether nudging should be conducted in line with transparent ethical standards.
Grammar: Modal Verbs
- must — firm obligation
- All employees must complete the data protection training by Friday. — non-negotiable policy requirement
- should / ought to
- Teams should notify their line manager before opting out of the scheme. — expected but not enforced
Sample items
- All contractors ______ complete a data compliance module within their first week.
- The finance team ______ submit expense claims in line with the updated travel policy.
- Senior managers ______ to disclose any potential conflict of interest before contract negotiations begin.
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