Fill in the blank with the most appropriate modal:
The warden has relaxed the hostel rules for the festival week. Students ______ stay out till ten o’clock instead of eight.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → may
Complete sentence: The warden has relaxed the hostel rules for the festival week. Students may stay out till ten o’clock instead of eight. The relaxed rules mean that the students are now allowed to stay out later.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) must | necessity or duty | Every player must report to the coach by six. |
| (2) may (answer) | may + base verb (the simple form, like go or eat): gives permission in a formal way | Candidates may leave the hall after the first hour. |
| (3) should | advice, or the right thing to do | You should rest your eyes after an hour on the laptop. |
| (4) would | a past habit | As children, we would collect shells on the beach at Puri every winter. |