Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumModal Auxiliaries and Expressing Modality

Which modal verb phrase correctly completes the sentence to express a past obligation that was not fulfilled?

Answer:Following the sudden drop in hydraulic pressure, the flight safety inspector concluded that the crew 【should have】 initiated emergency landing procedures immediately.

Answer

should have
The context indicates a past recommendation or obligation that was not carried out by the crew. The modal auxiliary construction 'should have' (or 'ought to have') combined with the past participle 'initiated' correctly conveys past unfulfilled obligation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the temporal and modal context of the sentence.
The inspector is evaluating an event that already occurred in the past where a recommended action was not taken at the right time.
The sentence describes a past situation where an action was desirable or mandatory but failed to happen.
2
Determine the correct modal auxiliary structure for past unfulfilled obligation.
The construction requires a modal verb followed by 'have' and the past participle ('should have initiated' or 'ought to have initiated').
Modal perfect structures ('should have + past participle') are specifically used to express past unfulfilled duty, advisability, or obligation.

Key Concept

Modal Perfect for Past Unfulfilled Obligation
Rate this question

Topics

Modal Auxiliaries and Expressing Modality

More questions from this topic