Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable verb-
You ____ do the washing-up. I’ve got a washing machine.
a- should
b- have to
c- mustn’t
d- don’t have to

Answer 1

Hint: We use modal verbs to indicate various modes, including permission, request, suggestion, order, etc. Modal verbs utilize the infinitive form of another verb.

Complete answer:
As given in the hint, we use different types of modal verbs for different purposes.
Now, let’s look at different modal verbs-
1) Should- We use ‘should’ to indicate advice or suggestions. Example- We should not go this way.
2) Have to- We use ‘have to’ to indicate necessity or certainty. Example- We have to complete the work.
3) Must not- We use ‘must not’ to indicate something that is not permitted or allowed. Example- We must not talk back to elders.
4) Don’t have to- We use ‘don’t have to’ to indicate a situation that doesn’t require necessity or compulsion. Example- We don’t have to sit here.
In the given question- We can conclude that X suggested Y to not do the washing up, because he had a washing machine.
Let’s examine the given options-
Option a- ‘Should’ is an incorrect option, because it is used to express advice or suggestions rather than removing the compulsion to wash up the clothes.
Option b- ‘Have to’ is an incorrect option, because it is used to indicate certainty and compulsions rather than eliminating them.
Option c- ‘Mustn’t’ is an incorrect option, because it is used to indicate things that one needs to keep away from.
Option d- ‘Don’t have to’ is the correct option, because it is used to eliminate the compulsion or certainty to do the washing job.
So, the correct answer is “Option d”.

Note:
Keep in mind, don’t have to’ is used to indicate that one has a choice to do something else, whereas ‘mustn’t’ is used to indicate compulsion to not do something else.