Fill in the blank with the most appropriate modal:
The nurse told the visitors, “You ______ bring flowers into this ward. The pollen can harm the patients.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → mustn’t
Complete sentence: The nurse told the visitors, “You mustn’t bring flowers into this ward. The pollen can harm the patients.” The nurse is giving a rule, and “the pollen can harm the patients” gives the reason.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) mustn’t (answer) | mustn’t + base verb (the simple form, like go or eat): something is not allowed | Students mustn’t use mobile phones in the library. |
| (2) needn’t | something is not necessary, though it is allowed | You needn’t fill the water tank, as it rained all night. |
| (3) would | a past habit or an imagined result | In winter, Nana would light a fire in the courtyard every night. |
| (4) can | ability or permission | You can park your scooter near the gate. |