Choose the correct option to fill in the blank:
You ______ not bring a packed lunch for the school picnic. The school will serve lunch, but you may bring one if you like.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → need
Complete sentence: You need not bring a packed lunch for the school picnic. The school will serve lunch, but you may bring one if you like. Students may still bring lunch, so bringing it is not necessary, but it is allowed.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) must | “must not”: something is not allowed | You must not light crackers near the haystack. |
| (2) dare | “dare not”: not having the courage to do something | Rohan dare not tell his coach about the injury. |
| (3) need (answer) | need not + base verb (the simple form, like go or eat): something is not necessary; as a modal, “need” is used in negative sentences and questions | You need not buy a new uniform this year. |
| (4) ought | always takes to, so its negative is “ought not to” | We ought not to throw plastic into the river. |