Choose the most appropriate option to complete the sentence. The man was accused ______ stealing his employer’s laptop.
of
Understanding Prepositions with 'Accused'
The question asks us to choose the most appropriate preposition to complete the sentence: "The man was accused ______ stealing his employer’s laptop." This is a common grammar point focusing on which preposition correctly follows the verb 'accused'.
Analyzing the Verb 'Accused'
The verb 'accuse' means to charge someone with an offense or crime. When we talk about what someone is accused of, we use the preposition 'of'. This construction is standard in English grammar.
Why 'of' is the Correct Preposition
The structure typically used is:
- Someone is accused of [a crime or wrongdoing].
- Someone is accused of [doing something wrong].
In the given sentence, the man is charged with the action of 'stealing his employer’s laptop'. Therefore, the correct preposition linking 'accused' to the wrongdoing ('stealing his employer’s laptop') is 'of'.
Let's look at the options provided:
- on: We don't typically say someone is "accused on" something. This preposition is used in different contexts (e.g., "on the table," "on Tuesday").
- with: While 'with' is used with other verbs related to charging or presenting (e.g., "charged with," "presented with evidence"), it is not the standard preposition used directly after 'accused' to specify the crime.
- for: 'For' is used to indicate purpose, reason, or duration (e.g., "punished for," "responsible for"). We don't say someone is "accused for" stealing.
- of: As explained, 'of' is the correct and standard preposition to follow 'accused' when specifying the crime or wrongdoing.
Examples using 'Accused of'
Here are a few examples demonstrating the correct usage:
- She was accused of cheating on the exam.
- They were accused of conspiracy.
- He was accused of lying to the police.
These examples show that 'accused' is consistently followed by 'of' when specifying the alleged crime or action.
Completing the Sentence
Based on the standard grammatical rule, the sentence "The man was accused ______ stealing his employer’s laptop" should be completed with 'of'.
The complete sentence is: The man was accused of stealing his employer’s laptop.
Revision Table: Prepositions with Related Verbs
Here is a table summarizing prepositions commonly used with verbs related to crime or responsibility.
| Verb | Typical Preposition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Accused | of | Accused of theft |
| Charged | with | Charged with a crime |
| Convicted | of | Convicted of murder |
| Suspected | of | Suspected of foul play |
| Responsible | for | Responsible for the damage |
Additional Information on 'Accused of'
The phrase 'accused of' is a fixed idiom in English grammar. It's important to learn these fixed prepositional phrases as they don't always follow logical rules and are simply conventions of the language. Understanding which preposition to use with which verb is crucial for both written and spoken English.
While 'accused of' is standard, sometimes you might see variations in less formal contexts or older texts, but 'of' is the form expected in standard English, especially in examinations.
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