Question

He ______________ drink beer, now he drinks wine.
Fill in the blank with a suitable modal from the given options:

• A. could
• B. had to
• C. used to
• D. ought to

Hint:

When selecting modals for sentences involving past habits, use "used to" to indicate actions that were true in the past but have since change(D)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the Sentence Structure.
The sentence is: \[ \text{He ______________ drink beer, now he drinks wine.} \] This indicates a change in habit over time. The speaker wants to convey that the person previously drank beer but now drinks wine. Step 2: Analyze Each Option.
(A) (A) could: - "Could" refers to ability or possibility in the past. It does not indicate a habitual action or a change in habit. - Example: "He could drink beer." (This means he was able to drink beer, but it does not fit the context of a habitual action.)
(B) (B) had to: - "Had to" implies obligation or necessity. It suggests that the person was forced to drink beer, which does not align with the context of the sentence. - Example: "He had to drink beer." (This implies compulsion, not a habitual action.)
(C) (C) used to: - "Used to" is used to describe actions or habits that were true in the past but are no longer true. This fits perfectly with the sentence because it conveys that the person previously drank beer habitually but now drinks wine. - Example: "He used to drink beer." (This clearly shows a past habit that has change(D))
(D) (D) ought to: - "Ought to" expresses advice, recommendation, or moral obligation. It does not fit the context of describing a past habit. - Example: "He ought to drink beer." (This suggests advice, not a past habit.)
Step 3: Select the Best Option.
The correct choice is (C) used to, as it best describes a past habit that is no longer true.