Choose the correct option to fill in the blank:
The empty mill at the edge of our village looked so spooky that we ______ not go inside it after dark.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → dared
Complete sentence: The empty mill at the edge of our village looked so spooky that we dared not go inside it after dark. “Looked so spooky” shows fear, and “looked” shows past time.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) need | “need not”: something is not necessary | You need not print the ticket, as the SMS is enough. |
| (2) dared (answer) | dare not + base verb (the simple form, like go or eat): someone does not have the courage to do something; its past form is dared not | The children dared not make a noise in the headmaster’s room. |
| (3) must | “must not”: something is not allowed | You must not cross the railway line here. |
| (4) ought | a moral duty; always takes “to” | We ought not to tease the new boy in class. |