The correct answers are You should eat the pizza with your mouth, not your ears. and You shouldn't stare so intensely at the lunch lady's hairnet.
Modal verbs like "should" take the bare infinitive (the base verb without "to").
Therefore, "should not absorbing" is incorrect because it uses an -ing participle, and "should to chew" is incorrect because it includes the particle "to".
Modal Verb
English has the modal verbs can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, and also (depending on classification adopted) ought (to), dare, need, had (better), used (to). These do not add -s for the third-person singular, and they do not form infinitives or participles; the only inflection they undergo is that to a certain extent could, might, should and would function as preterites (past tenses) of can, may, shall and will respectively.
A modal verb can serve as the finite verb introducing a verb catena, as in "he might have been injured then". These generally express some form of modality (possibility, obligation, etc.), although will and would (and sometimes shall and should) can serve – among their other uses – to express future time reference and conditional mood.
English Grammar Basics
"English Grammar Basics" tag marks quiz and explainers that intend to provide a solid foundation in English language grammar. This includes all the major concepts and topics in English grammar, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, tenses, voice, mood, and sentence structure. The explanations we provide in quiz intro sections are clear and concise, making it easy for learners of all levels to understand. These quizzes are designed to be fun and engaging, helping you to retain the information more effectively. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, look for content marked with the "English Grammar Basics" tag for everything you need to master English language grammar.
Humor
Humor is subjective, but at least the author tried.
B1 | Intermediate
B1 is the intermediate level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It marks the point where you move beyond survival English and start expressing yourself with real independence — describing experiences, explaining opinions, and handling everyday situations without a script.
What a B1 user can do
At this level, you're expected to:
- Understand the main points of clear, standard speech and writing on familiar topics — work, school, travel, hobbies.
- Handle most travel situations in English-speaking environments.
- Produce simple connected text on topics you know or care about.
- Describe experiences, events, hopes, and plans, and give brief reasons and explanations for your opinions.
- Communicate in routine tasks that require a straightforward exchange of information.
What B1 grammar looks like
B1 is where grammar starts to get more layered. You're not just forming basic sentences anymore — you're combining ideas, using different tenses with more precision, and starting to handle structures like the passive voice, modal verbs for necessity and possibility, and gerunds vs. infinitives. You're also expected to build complex sentences with linking words and dependent clauses.
Typical B1 grammar areas include:
- Future tenses — distinguishing will, going to, and the present continuous for future plans
- Passive voice — The report was written yesterday.
- Modal verbs — You should apply early. / She might be late.
- Used to — I used to live in Berlin.
- Verb patterns — knowing whether a verb takes a gerund, an infinitive, or both (I enjoy reading vs. I decided to leave)
What B1 doesn't mean
B1 speakers still hesitate, make grammatical errors, and sometimes struggle with less familiar topics. That's normal. The key difference from A2 is that you can keep a conversation going and get your point across even when things aren't perfect. The step up to B2 involves handling more abstract topics, understanding nuance, and producing more complex, accurate language.
Self-check: Can you tell a friend about a recent trip — what happened, what you liked, and what you'd do differently — without switching to your native language? If yes, you're likely operating at B1 or above.
Ready to find out where you stand? Try Are you B1/Intermediate? Test your English CEFR Level to figure out!, then build your skills with challenges like Basics. Passive Voice, Basics. Modal verbs, and Used to.
Difficulty: Medium
Medium difficulty. Difficulty levels represent author's opinion about how hard a question or challenge is.