Select the most appropriate modal to complete the sentence:
Our school bus broke down near the level crossing last Friday, so the students ______ walk the last two kilometres.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → had to
Complete sentence: Our school bus broke down near the level crossing last Friday, so the students had to walk the last two kilometres. “Last Friday” shows a past time, and the broken bus left no other choice.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) must | a necessity now or in the future; it has no past form | You must wear a helmet on a two-wheeler. |
| (2) may | permission or a possibility | You may leave early on Saturday. |
| (3) had to (answer) | had to + base verb (the simple form, like go or eat): something was necessary in the past | The shops were shut, so we had to buy milk from the next village. |
| (4) should | advice, or the right thing to do | You should say sorry to your sister. |