Fill in the blanks with the correct modal.
You ________ an ENT specialist as soon as you ________ this pain in your ear. Now it has turned into an infection.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → should have visited/felt
Complete sentence: You should have visited an ENT specialist as soon as you felt this pain in your ear. Now it has turned into an infection. “Now it has turned into an infection” shows that the person did not see the doctor in time.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) could visit/feel | “Could visit” with “feel” gives a suggestion for now or later. Here the chance is already lost. | You could ask your brother for help with the project. |
| (2) might visit/feel | “Might” shows a small chance in the present or future. The sentence speaks of a past event that has already gone wrong. | Neha might come to the party if she finishes her work. |
| (3) had to visit/feel | “Had to” is a past form, but “feel” is in the present. The two parts do not match in time. | We had to walk home because the bus did not come. |
| (4) should have visited/felt (answer) | should have + past participle (V3): a right action in the past that was not done. The pain came in the past, so the second blank takes felt. | Ravi should have taken an umbrella, as it rained all evening. |