Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
A little girl comes up to her mother and asks if she ____ go to the park with her friend.
(a) couldn’t
(b) can’t
(c) must (d) may (e) has to

Answer 1

Hint: In the given sentence the word ‘if’ is used. The word ‘if’ denotes the possibility of the work, that is, the work may or may not happen depending upon the given condition. So the word which would come in the black should be a modal verb.

Complete answer: A modal word expresses modality. Modality means possible situations, that is, a probability of occurrence of an event, permissible actions, desirable things etc. Modal verbs are auxiliary words (words that add grammatical meaning in the sentences). Auxiliary words are also known as helping words.
To find the correct option we one by one check all the options:
(a)Couldn’t: The word couldn’t, which is a contraction of could not, is used to mean that the subject was not able to do the work in the past. Here the sentence is in present tense and the girl is asking if she can go to the park or not, which means the action is still not completed. So the word couldn’t clearly cannot be used.
(b)Can’t: The word can’t is a contraction of cannot. This word is used to say that the action cannot be done or it is not possible for the subject to do the work. We should not use the word can’t in the given sentence as the girl is not telling but asking. So this is not the correct answer.
(c)Must: The word must denote compulsion. It shows that the action has to be done. In the given sentence it would fit correctly. So this option is also incorrect.
(d)May: May is used to ask for permission and refers to the subject being able to do something. Here we require a word which is used to ask permission.
(e)has to: Haa to denote compulsion again but here we don't want the words which donate compulsion as it is just permission.
Therefore, the correct option is d.
Note: Other modal verbs are shall, will, must, should, would, can, might and could. May is used to tell that something is true or will happen in future. However, it doesn’t prove that the action will definitely happen. Subject: English