Use the appropriate word from the options to fill up the blank.
"I ________ hardly take his help."
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Could
Complete sentence: I could hardly take his help. "I could hardly take his help" says that the speaker found it nearly impossible to accept his help.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Could (answer) | Could is the modal of ability (past of can) and of what is possible for a person. Hardly means almost not. "Could hardly" therefore means "was almost unable to" or "would find it very difficult to". | I could hardly hear him over the noise. |
| (2) Ought | "Ought" is always followed by to (ought to take). "Ought hardly take" is ungrammatical. | – |
| (3) Might | "Might" expresses a slight possibility. It is not paired with "hardly" to express the speaker's near inability. | – |
| (4) Should | "Should" expresses duty or advice. It does not convey that the speaker was almost unable to take the help. | – |