Choose the most appropriate option for a Grammatically correct sentence:-
Beside a green meadow, a small stream to flow.
A. Beside a green meadow, a small stream to had flow
B. Beside a green meadow, a small stream used to flow.
C. Beside a green meadow, a small stream dare to flow.
D. Beside a green meadow, a small stream ought to flow.
E. Beside a green meadow, a small stream have to flow.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → B only
"Used to" for a past state:
- Used to + base form of the verb describes a habit or state in the past that no longer exists.
- It has the same form with every subject: I used to, it used to, they used to.
- This sentence: the stream flowed beside the meadow in the past, so "a small stream used to flow".
Example: There used to be a big banyan tree in front of our school.
A. Beside a green meadow, a small stream to had flow — Incorrect.
- "to had flow" is not a verb form.
- "To" must be followed by the base form, and "had" needs a past participle.
B. Beside a green meadow, a small stream used to flow. — Correct.
- Used to flow describes a past state of the stream.
C. Beside a green meadow, a small stream dare to flow. — Incorrect.
- To dare is to have the courage to do something, which a stream cannot have.
- A singular subject would also need "dares".
D. Beside a green meadow, a small stream ought to flow. — Incorrect.
- Ought to expresses duty or what is right.
- It turns a description of the scene into a statement about what the stream should do.
E. Beside a green meadow, a small stream have to flow. — Incorrect.
- Have to expresses obligation, and the singular subject would need "has to".
Contrast: "used to" describes a past habit or state. "Ought to" and "have to" speak of duty or obligation.