Fill in the blank with the correct modal.
It _____ what you said about his sister, or perhaps he was just nervous.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → might have been
Complete sentence: It might have been what you said about his sister, or perhaps he was just nervous. The speaker gives two possible reasons for his behaviour. The words “or perhaps” show this doubt.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) must have been | a sure guess about the past. The speaker is not sure, since he gives another reason with “or perhaps”. | Rahul did not pick up, so he must have been asleep. |
| (2) should have been | a past duty that was not done. The sentence guesses a reason. It does not talk about duty. | You should have been at the meeting yesterday. |
| (3) might have been (answer) | might have + past participle (V3): a guess about the past when we are not sure | Meena might have been busy when you called her. |
| (4) ought to be | present duty. The sentence is about the past, as “he was just nervous” shows. | Children ought to be kind to animals. |