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.
They should have calmly thought of the advantages that would accrue to them.
Answer: E
No correction is required.
Should have thought is the correct perfect modal for a missed opportunity, and calmly sits properly between the auxiliary and the participle. Each alternative breaks the modal's form.
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The easiest of the thing to do is to ask the address to the postman.
Answer: A
It should read of the things to do.
A superlative selects one from a group, so the group must be plural - the easiest of the things. The easiest of the thing offers no group to choose from.
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We demonstrated to them how we were prepared the artistic patterns.
Answer: D
It should read had prepared.
The preparing happened before the demonstrating, and the demonstrating is past, so the earlier action takes the past perfect. Were prepared is passive and says the patterns prepared us.
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Because of his mastery in this field, his suggestions are wide accepted.
Answer: A
It should read are widely accepted.
Accepted is a participle and needs an adverb to modify it, so widely, not wide. The suggestions are the thing accepted, so the verb stays passive.
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They felt humiliated because they realised that they had cheated.
Answer: B
It should read had been cheated.
They were the victims, so the verb must be passive; as written the sentence says they did the cheating, which would not humiliate them. The cheating preceded the realisation, hence the past perfect.
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Tax evaders should heavily punished as they do it intentionally.
Answer: D
It should read should be heavily fined.
Should takes the bare infinitive, and the evaders are punished rather than punishing, so the passive be fined is required. Heavily is the adverb modifying fined.
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We met him immediately after the session in which he had been given a nice speech.
Answer: D
It should read had given.
He delivered the speech, so the verb is active. Had been given would mean someone presented a speech to him. The past perfect is right, since the speech came before the meeting.
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For some days the new professor lectured above the heads of his pupils.
Answer: B
It should read over the heads of.
To talk over someone's head is the idiom for pitching above their understanding, and with several pupils the plural heads is needed. Above the heads is not the fixed form.
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The accused now flatly denies have admitted his guilt in his first statement.
Answer: A
It should read having admitted.
Deny takes a gerund, and since the admission was earlier than the denial the perfect gerund having admitted is required. Deny cannot be followed by a bare infinitive.
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We were still standing in the queue when the film was beginning.
Answer: B
It should read film had begun.
The film started before the standing, so the past perfect marks the earlier event. Was beginning suggests the start was still in progress, which contradicts still standing in the queue.
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