Question

Fill in the blank using most appropriate option:
I’m afraid I can’t come tomorrow. I ___________ work late.
A) Has to
B) Had to
C) have to
D) Has

Answer 1

Hint: Tense of the action plays an important role in understanding the meaning of the sentence. Tenses basically explains or defines the time in which the action is done. There are three types of tenses: Past tense, present tense and future tense.

Complete answer:
The action stated in the sentence is future tense because the action will be happening in future. Future tense is a verb tense that is used for the future activity. For example: I will be doing exercise tomorrow.

Let us look into the given options:
Option A) Has to – is an incorrect answer because ‘has to’ states the compulsion of the action that is to be done with the aspect of third person. For example: He has an ink pen. Thus, using this option in the blank is grammatically incorrect and therefore, this is an incorrect answer.
Option B) Had to – is an incorrect answer because ‘had to’ states or defines the action which was done in the past. For example: She had to disconnect the phone. Had to’ is the past tense and we need our answer to be in the future tense. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option C) have to – is the correct answer because ‘have to’ states the compulsion of the action in the future and the action is done by the narrator of the sentence. Thus, this is the correct answer and fits best in the blank and grammatically correct.
Option D) Has – is an incorrect answer because ‘has’ is used for the present tense or states the compulsion of the actions that are presently done. Thus, to give the correct answer in the blank we need future tense or future action. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’ i.,e I’m afraid I can’t come tomorrow. I have to work late.

Note: The sentence is about future tense which speaks of the necessity or requirement. 'Have to' is the verb used for necessity or requirement. Thus the 'Have to' option is the correct answer.
Future tense is formed by using shall/will + have + Past Participle of the verb. For example: I will have spent all my money by the end of the next week.