Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'E' as the answer.
The orator had been left the auditorium before the audience stood up.
Answer: C
It should read had left.
The orator's leaving happened before the audience stood, so the past perfect is right - had left. Had been left is passive and says the orator was abandoned there.
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He dislikes the word dislike, isn't he?
Answer: B
It should read doesn't he.
A question tag reverses the polarity of the statement and repeats its auxiliary. The statement is positive present simple, he dislikes, so the tag is doesn't he.
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We must take it granted that Madhu will not come for today's function.
Answer: A
It should read take it for granted.
Take for granted is the fixed phrase, with for. The it is the anticipatory object standing in for the that-clause that follows.
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The research study is an eye-opener and attempts to acquaint us with the problems of poor nations.
Answer: B
No correction is required.
Attempt takes the infinitive - attempts to acquaint us. Attempts at would need a noun or gerund after it and changes the rhythm of the sentence without improving it, and the two verbs joined by and are already parallel: is and attempts.
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It was unanimously resolved that the parties should unitedly undertook launching of popular programmes.
Answer: D
It should read should unitedly undertake.
Should is a modal and takes the bare infinitive, so undertake, not undertook or undertaken. The adverb unitedly sits between the modal and the verb.
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They continued to work in the field despite of the heavy rains.
Answer: D
It should read even though it rained heavily.
Despite of is a doubling - it is either despite the rains or in spite of the rains. The keyed option replaces the phrase with a clause, which needs a subject and a finite verb: it rained heavily.
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It is always better to make people realise the importance of discipline than to impose them on it.
Answer: D
It should read impose it on them.
What is imposed is the discipline, and the people are those on whom it is imposed. The original reverses them, making the people the thing imposed.
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My doctor knew that I would eventually recover and do the kind of work I would be doing before.
Answer: D
It should read had been doing.
The work was going on before the illness, which is itself in the past, so the past perfect continuous is required. Would be doing points to the future from a past standpoint, which is the wrong direction.
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Later he became unpopular because he tried to lord it on his followers.
Answer: C
It should read to lord it over.
Lord it over is the idiom, and the it is fixed - it cannot be dropped, and no other preposition will do. It means to behave domineeringly towards.
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The crops are dying; it must not had rained.
Answer: C
It should read must not have.
A deduction about the past uses must have plus the past participle - it must not have rained. Must had is impossible, since must is a modal and takes the bare infinitive.
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