Fill in the blank with the correct modal. Choose from the following:
You _____ to be over 18 to drive a car.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → need
Complete sentence: You need to be over 18 to drive a car. Being over 18 is a requirement for driving a car, so "You need to be over 18 to drive a car."
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) has | "Has to" also expresses necessity, but "you" takes have, not "has": "You have to be over 18." | – |
| (2) dare | Dare means to be brave enough to do something. One cannot dare to be a certain age. | Nobody dared to speak against him. |
| (3) need (answer) | Need to + base verb expresses necessity: something that must be so. | You need to show your ticket at the gate. |
| (4) must | Must also expresses necessity, but it is a modal verb that is followed directly by the base verb, never by "to": "You must be over 18", not "You must to be over 18". Since the blank is followed by "to be", "must" does not fit. | You must wear a helmet while riding. |