Fill in the blank with the correct modal.
Well, if your wallet is empty, you ________ all your money.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → must have spent
Complete sentence: Well, if your wallet is empty, you must have spent all your money. Here the fact is the empty wallet. From it the speaker is sure that the money was spent.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) should have spent | “Should have + past participle (V3)” talks about a past action that was right to do but did not happen. The empty wallet shows that he did spend it. | You should have told me you were ill. |
| (2) must have spent (answer) | must have + V3: we see a fact now, and from it we feel sure about what happened earlier | The road is wet, so it must have rained at night. |
| (3) ought to have spent | “Ought to have + V3” also shows a past duty that was not done. It does not make a guess from a fact. | Ravi ought to have checked the train time before leaving. |
| (4) could spend | “Could + base verb” shows ability or a possibility, not a finished past action. The empty wallet points to something already done. | As a child, Anu could spend hours reading in the garden. |