The question about anxiliary verbs

Question

Dear all,I am not sure if the answer is correct for the following question. Could you help me check it?  Thank  you for your help.The answer is c.There were a lot of people at the interview, so I _____ get the job.a. shouldn'tb. can'tc. may notd. must notThanks again.

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

I think 'couldn't' suits the place better than anything else.

MalRey · Answer

adonis1013The answer is c.

Correct.

Vsuresh · Answer

Hi MalRey

I have a doubt now. I felt could is correct as context was past.

Can you help?

MalRey · Answer

vsureshI have a doubt now.

There were a lot of people at the interview, so I __ get the job.

"couldn't" is not one of the choices provided with the question.

The original sentence is said by someone reporting his experience after a job interview but before he knows the result. He says "there were a lot of people..." as a result of that "I may not get the job.

After the result is known (Did he or didn't he get the job?):

You could say very informally, "...so I couldn't get the job."

It's better to say, "...so I didn't get the job."

Regards · Answer

Hi,

If there were a lot of people at that time, I might provably have lower possibilities to get the anticipated job.

The modal verb may indicates the likelihood of getting a job, while many other people were attempting to

do their best to get the job. Therefore, I don't know if I certainly get the job at the end of the day.

I think that I might get it, but I can't be sure of it. However, it doesn't necessarily mean I will lose the job;

it just means my possibilities of getting the job have become lower.

Regards

The question about anxiliary verbs

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