Select the most appropriate Modal to be filled in the blank in the sentence given below:
I ________ visit my friend daily when she was in the hospital.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → used to
Complete sentence: I used to visit my friend daily when she was in the hospital. The words "daily" and "when she was in the hospital" show a regular action during a past period: I used to visit my friend daily.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) can | present ability or permission. It does not agree with the past "was". | She can speak three languages. |
| (2) used to (answer) | Used to + base verb expresses a repeated action or habit in the past that no longer happens. | As a child, I used to walk to school. |
| (3) should | duty or advice, mainly about the present or future. "I should visit ... when she was" mixes the times. | You should visit your grandparents more often. |
| (4) shall | Shall refers to the future and cannot describe a past habit. | We shall meet again tomorrow. |