Select the most appropriate Modal option to fill in the blank:-
I am sure the manager _____ in his cabin.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → must be
Complete sentence: I am sure the manager must be in his cabin. "I am sure" shows certainty, so the matching modal is must: "I am sure the manager must be in his cabin."
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) may be | only possibility ("he may be there or not"), which clashes with "I am sure". | – |
| (2) must be (answer) | Must is used not only for necessity but also for a strong belief that something is true, based on what we know. | The lights are on. They must be at home. |
| (3) might be | an even weaker possibility. It cannot follow "I am sure". | – |
| (4) can be | "Can be" speaks of general possibility ("Delhi can be very hot"), not of a firm conclusion about one moment. | – |