Fill in the blank with the most appropriate modal:
The lights in Neha’s room are off and her phone is switched off. She ______ be asleep by now.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → must
Complete sentence: The lights in Neha’s room are off and her phone is switched off. She must be asleep by now. These clues make the speaker almost sure that Neha is sleeping.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) can | shows ability or permission. In a positive sentence it is not used to guess what is true at this moment | My sister can swim across the river. |
| (2) need | as a modal, used only in negative sentences and questions (need not, need I?). It cannot come in a positive sentence like this one | You need not bring your lunch tomorrow. |
| (3) ought | always followed by to, so “She ought be” is wrong | You ought to thank your coach after the match. |
| (4) must (answer) | must + verb: we are almost sure that something is true. It is a strong guess based on clues | Rahul has been running for an hour, so he must be tired. |