What does the underlined modal show in the sentence below?
Your cough has not gone away in two weeks, Bhaiya. You should see a doctor instead of buying the same syrup again.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → advice
The clue is the cough that has lasted two weeks. The speaker tells Bhaiya what is best for his health.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) something expected to happen | what is likely to happen; here the speaker tells Bhaiya what to do | The parcel should reach Lucknow by Friday. |
| (2) purpose | after lest; this sentence has no “lest” | Meena wrote the number down lest she should forget it. |
| (3) advice (answer) | should gives advice: it tells someone the right thing to do | You should revise every chapter before the board exams. |
| (4) a condition | only in an if-part or in place of “if”; this sentence has neither | If you should see Arun at the market, ask him to call me. |