Read each sentence comprising of (a), (b), (c) and (d) to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. Find out the incorrect option from amongst the sentences given below.
(a) Regretfully, profits earned by your company
(b) fell by 20 per cent last year
(c) despite higher sales.
(d) No error.
Tripura Public Service Commission - 2019,
Answer: A
The error is in part (a): Regretfully should be Regrettably.
Regretfully means 'with regret' and describes how a person feels or acts: 'She regretfully declined.' Regrettably means 'unfortunately' and comments on a whole situation. Profits cannot feel regret, so the sentence needs: 'Regrettably, profits earned by your company fell by 20 per cent last year despite higher sales.'
Parts (b) and (c) are correct: 'fell by 20 per cent' and 'despite higher sales' are idiomatic.
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