What does the underlined modal show in the sentence below?
“I must return Sahil’s notes today. He needs them for tomorrow’s test,” Kunal told his roommate.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → necessity or duty
Kunal himself decides that returning the notes today is his duty, because Sahil needs them for the test.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) a strong guess (deduction) | a guess about a fact; Kunal is not guessing but talks about a task he has to do | Riya’s scooter is not here, so she must be at college. |
| (2) prohibition | needs must not; this sentence is positive | You must not park in front of the gate. |
| (3) necessity or duty (answer) | must + base verb shows that the speaker feels something is necessary | I must pay the electricity bill before Friday. |
| (4) advice | advises another person; Kunal talks about his own task | You must see a dentist about that tooth. |