Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable option:
Lucy is very late. She _______ her train.
(a)Can miss.
(b)Must have missed
(c)Had to miss
(d)Should have missed

Answer 1

Hint: Read the given sentence carefully. Try to make out the core meaning of it. Try to make out the main tense of the given sentences, by seeing the main verb of it.

Complete answer:
 In the given question, we have to fill in the given blank with the most appropriate tense form from. among the four given options. The sentence conveys that “Lucy” is late and her train is missed.
We have to fill in the blank with the correct verb form of the word “miss”. Tense is a category that expresses time reference. Tenses are usually manifested by the use of specific forms of verbs, particularly in their conjugation patterns. The main tenses found in many languages include the past, present, and future.
Now, let us examine all the given options to find out the correct option :
(a)Can miss-‘Can' is a modal verb which is used for showing that it is possible for somebody/something to do something or that somebody/something has the ability to do something.
(b)Must have missed-It means something that is essential or highly desirable. It is in the past perfect tense. But here, in the given question, the context of 'missed' is - something that is no longer available.
(c)Had to miss-It is the past tense of have which means to own or to hold something; to possess.
(d)Should have missed-‘Should’ is the past tense of shall. It is used for saying that is right or appropriate for somebody to do something, or for something to happen.
As we have analyzed all the given options, we can easily figure out the correct option. Here, the correct word is – must have missed.
 Hence, option ‘b' is the correct option.

Note:
 All the other options are plausible distractions. Don’t confuse between ‘had to' and ‘can miss'. The former one is in the past tense and it won’t fit in the given blank.