Choose the best option to fill in the blank:
She advised that I _______ avoid wasting time with the mobile.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → should
Complete sentence: She advised that I should avoid wasting time with the mobile. The advice is to avoid wasting time, so "She advised that I should avoid ..."
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) may | May expresses permission or possibility, not advice. | You may leave when you finish the test. |
| (2) can | Can expresses ability. The advice is about what she ought to do, not what she is able to do. | She can speak three languages. |
| (3) should (answer) | Verbs of advice and suggestion (advise, suggest, recommend, insist) are followed by a that-clause with should + base verb. "Should" carries the idea of what is right or advisable to do. | The doctor advised that he should walk every morning. |
| (4) might | Might expresses a weak possibility. It takes away the sense of advice. | We might go to the beach if the weather clears. |