Question

Read the given situation and choose appropriate modal auxiliary to be used with the verb:

When we got to the restaurant, there were no free tables. We hadn't reserved one.
We ______________

• A. We must have reserved a table.
• B. We will have reserved a table.
• C. We should have reserved a table.
• D. We would have reserved a table.

Answer 1

The correct option is C We should have reserved a table.

Modal Verbs show us the attitude of the speaker to what is being said or done. The term "modal" means expressing mood and mood is a way to express the attitude of the speaker.

The given sentence expects of mood like something which was supposed to be done in the past.

Therefore, option C is the correct answer because it expresses that reserving table was supposed to be done early.

Whereas option A contains "must have" which suggests certainty and therefore it is not applicable in the sentence.

Option B contains "will have' which suggests future perfect, therefore this option is not appropriate for the given sentence.

Option D has "would have" which suggests uncertainty in future action therefore it doesn't fit in the given sentence.