Fill in the blank with a suitable Modal. Choose the correct option from the options given below:
___________ I have another cup of tea? It is very chilly outside.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → can
Complete sentence: Can I have another cup of tea? It is very chilly outside. The speaker asks politely to be allowed another cup of tea because it is chilly.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) will | Will expresses the future or willingness. "Will I have another cup?" asks about a future fact, not for permission. | – |
| (2) can (answer) | Can expresses ability and also permission. In questions with "I", Can I ...? is the common way to ask for permission or make a request. | Can I borrow your pen for a minute? |
| (3) must | Must expresses obligation. "Must I have another cup?" asks whether it is compulsory, which does not suit a request made because of the cold. | – |
| (4) would | Would is used in polite requests to others (Would you ...?) and for imagined situations. "Would I have another cup of tea?" does not ask for permission. | – |