Question

Select suitable modal auxiliary to complete the sentence:

He ________sometimes force himself to work on till late in the night, only to find himself unable to do anything the next day.

• A. could
• B. used to
• C. ought to
• D. would be
• E. should

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

used to

Option B: 'Used to' refers to a past habit habit that is no longer true.

It agrees to the given sentence, which mentions a past habit 'sometimes force himself to work...'

This modal completes the sentence in meaning, hence option B is correct.

Option A: 'Could' expresses possibility.

Options C and E: 'Ought to' and 'should' express obligation or duty.

Option D: In 'would be', 'would' expresses a past habit, but 'be' refers to a continuous action. The action mentioned here isn't continuous.

These options are not relevant to the sentence in meaning.

Hence options A, C, D and E are wrong.