Question

Fill in the blank with an appropriate modal that denotes necessity:

You _____ not hurry, there is plenty of time.

• A. may
• B. need
• C. dare
• D. should

Answer 1

The correct option is B need

In the given sentence, we need a modal verb.
Verbs like 'need, dare, ought and used' when functioning as modals, are called semi-modals, because they can be used as a main verb as well as a modal verb. Usually, as semi-modals, they are written as infinitives, with the preposition 'to':
'ought to, dare to, need to, used to'
Option B: The verb 'need' also has two uses.
As a verb, it means 'want', 'require'. As a modal verb, it means 'be obliged', 'be necessary'.
As a modal, 'need' is commonly used in negatives and interrogatives. Negative and interrogative sentences are followed by the infinitives without 'to', in the form 'need not'.
So, in this sentence, 'need' does not required 'to'.
Also, 'need' means 'necessity'. In this sentence it means 'It is not necessary for you to hurry'. Hence option B is correct.
Option A: 'May' means permission, but it does not agree to the rest of the sentence 'there is plenty of time'. So, 'permission' isn't the preferred mood here.
Option C: 'Dare' refers to a warning or threat; the meaning isn't most suitable here.
Option D: 'Should' means an advice; this word too isn't very relevant here.
Hence options A, C and D are incorrect.