Fill in the blank with the suitable option from the list below:
"You ________ stood by your brother."
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → should have
Complete sentence: You should have stood by your brother. Supporting one's brother was the right thing to do, and the speaker blames the listener for not doing it: "You should have stood by your brother."
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) should have (answer) | Should have + past participle: it speaks of a past duty or right action that was not done, and so it often carries a mild reproach. To stand by someone means to support and stay loyal to someone, especially in a difficult time. | You should have told me the truth. |
| (2) may have | May have expresses a possibility about the past (perhaps it happened). It does not say what the right action was. | – |
| (3) shall have | Shall have forms the future perfect with "I" and "we" (I shall have finished by noon). "You shall have stood" is not used. | – |
| (4) might have | Might have usually expresses a weak possibility in the past. It does not state the duty that the sentence is about. | – |