Choose the appropriate word in the blank from the given alternatives. On entering the home, he found all jewels ___________.
Stolen
Finding Stolen Jewels: Understanding Verb Forms
The question asks to correctly complete the sentence: "On entering the home, he found all jewels __________." We need to choose the right form of the verb 'steal' to describe the state of the jewels.
Grammar Focus: Past Participles
The sentence structure "he found all jewels __________" requires a word that describes the condition or state of the jewels. Since the jewels cannot perform the action of stealing themselves, they must be the object of the action. This typically calls for the past participle form of the verb, used in a passive sense or as an adjective describing the state.
Verb 'Steal' Forms
Let's look at the different forms of the verb 'steal' and why they fit or don't fit:
| Verb Form | Example Usage | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Steal (Base Form) | He might steal the jewels. | Incorrect. Doesn't fit the passive context. |
| Steals (Present Tense) | He steals jewels often. | Incorrect. Used for present habitual actions by a singular subject. |
| Stealing (Present Participle) | The jewels were stealing. (Incorrect meaning) | Incorrect. Implies the jewels were actively stealing, which is illogical. |
| Stolen (Past Participle) | He found all jewels stolen. | Correct. Describes the state of the jewels (they had been stolen). |
Analyzing the Options
- Option 1: Steal - This is the base form. It doesn't fit grammatically in this context, as we need a past participle to describe the state of the jewels.
- Option 2: Steals - This is the third-person singular present tense. It doesn't fit because the sentence implies a past event or a state found upon entering, and 'jewels' is plural.
- Option 3: Stealing - This is the present participle. While participles can be used, 'stealing' implies an ongoing action. The sentence implies the jewels were already taken, not in the process of being taken at that exact moment. The structure "found the jewels stealing" would be grammatically awkward and semantically incorrect here.
- Option 4: Stolen - This is the past participle of 'steal'. It correctly functions as an adjective describing the state of the jewels – they were in a condition of having been stolen. The sentence means: "On entering the home, he found that all the jewels had been stolen."
Conclusion
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'Stolen', as it accurately describes the condition of the jewels using the past participle form.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Direction : Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
There was a time when West Germany was a distinct ______.
Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
My son is very _____, he trusts everyone.Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
I wish I _____ her before we met.Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
I accepted the offer _______ certain conditions.
Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
He visits the needy to relieve them ______ their sufferings and poverty.
