In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement".\n\n"We might (have doing) something to help you."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: have done

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of modal verbs combined with perfect aspect in English. The sentence expresses a missed possibility in the past: the speaker believes that some helpful action was possible but did not happen. You need to choose the correct verb phrase to follow the modal might in this context. The pattern might have done is standard for this meaning.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Original sentence: We might (have doing) something to help you.
  • Modal verb: might, indicating possibility in the past.
  • Options: having to do, has done, have done, no improvement.
  • The intended meaning is that there was a possibility in the past that they could do something helpful.


Concept / Approach:
When a modal verb such as might, could, should, or would refers to a past action, it is followed by have plus the past participle of the main verb. For example, might have helped, could have gone, should have studied. In this sentence, the main verb is do, whose past participle is done. Therefore, the correct verb phrase is have done. The structure might have doing is ungrammatical because doing is the present participle, not the past participle, and cannot follow have in this modal perfect construction.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that might refers to a possibility in the past because the speaker is looking back at what they could have done. Step 2: Recall the standard structure for such situations: might have + past participle. Step 3: Identify do as the main verb and its past participle as done. Step 4: Combine them to form might have done, giving the correct phrase: We might have done something to help you.


Verification / Alternative check:
Try substituting each option into the sentence. We might having to do something is incorrect because having to do is not a suitable complement of might in this context. We might has done something is wrong because has does not follow a modal; modals require the base form have. We might have done something is natural and correct. Keeping have doing gives We might have doing something, which is ungrammatical. Thus, have done is the only acceptable option.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, having to do, changes the meaning to obligation and still fails grammatically after might. Option B, has done, cannot follow might because the auxiliary has is not in base form. Option D, no improvement, cannot be correct because have doing is not a recognised pattern in this context. The error in the original bracketed phrase must be corrected to have done.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse present participle and past participle forms, especially with verbs like do, where doing and done both look irregular. Another common mistake is to forget that modals such as might, could, and should are always followed by the base form of have in perfect constructions, never by has or had. Remembering standard patterns like might have gone and should have studied will help you quickly identify the correct form.


Final Answer:
The correct improvement is have done, so the sentence should read: We might have done something to help you.

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