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Question

Direction: Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.

I worked hard so that I might success.

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2023 (Tier-II) Paper 1 Previous Year Paper (26-Oct-2023) (Shift-1)
The correct answer is

that I might succeed

Understanding Verb Forms and Modals

The original sentence is "I worked hard so that I might success." The underlined segment is "that I might success". We need to find the most appropriate substitute for this segment to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Analysing the Grammatical Structure

The phrase "so that" is often used to introduce a clause that indicates purpose or result. When expressing purpose, it is typically followed by a subject and a modal verb (like 'may' or 'might'), followed by the base form of a verb.

The structure for expressing purpose with "so that" is often:

Subject + Verb + so that + Subject + Modal Verb (may/might/can/could/will/would) + Base Form of Verb

In the segment "that I might success", we have "that", the subject "I", the modal verb "might", and then the word "success". According to the grammatical structure, the word following the modal verb "might" should be the base form of a verb. Let's look at the word "success".

Success vs. Succeed

  • Success: This is a noun. It means the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Example: "His success was well deserved."
  • Succeed: This is a verb. It means to achieve the desired aim or result. It is the base form of the verb. Example: "He worked hard to succeed."
  • Successful: This is an adjective. It means achieving success. Example: "He was a successful student."
  • Successor: This is a noun. It means a person or thing that succeeds another. Example: "The king chose his successor."

In the structure "might + ____", we need a base form of a verb. The word "success" is a noun, not a base verb. Therefore, the segment "that I might success" is grammatically incorrect.

Evaluating the Options

Let's examine the given options based on the required grammatical structure:

  1. that I may success: This option uses the modal verb "may" followed by "success". As discussed, "success" is a noun, not a base verb. This is incorrect.
  2. that I might successful: This option uses the modal verb "might" followed by "successful". As discussed, "successful" is an adjective, not a base verb. This is incorrect.
  3. that I might succeed: This option uses the modal verb "might" followed by "succeed". As discussed, "succeed" is the base form of the verb. This fits the structure "modal verb + base verb". This makes the phrase grammatically correct.
  4. that I might successor: This option uses the modal verb "might" followed by "successor". As discussed, "successor" is a noun, not a base verb. This is incorrect.

Comparing the options, "that I might succeed" correctly uses the base form of the verb "succeed" after the modal verb "might". This makes the entire sentence "I worked hard so that I might succeed" grammatically correct and expresses the purpose of working hard.

Therefore, the most appropriate substitute for the underlined segment "that I might success" is "that I might succeed".

Revision Table: Key Grammar Concepts

Word Part of Speech Usage after Modal Verb (may/might)
Success Noun Incorrect (requires a base verb)
Succeed Verb (Base form) Correct (e.g., might succeed)
Successful Adjective Incorrect (requires a base verb)
Successor Noun Incorrect (requires a base verb)

Additional Information on Modal Verbs and Base Verbs

Modal verbs such as 'may', 'might', 'can', 'could', 'will', 'would', 'shall', 'should', and 'must' are auxiliary verbs that add meaning to the main verb. A key rule with modal verbs is that they are almost always followed by the base form of another verb (also called the bare infinitive, which is the infinitive form without "to").

  • Correct: You should study harder. (study is the base verb)
  • Incorrect: You should studies harder.
  • Incorrect: You should to study harder.

In the context of the original sentence, "might" is a modal verb expressing purpose or possibility. It requires the base form of the verb that describes the intended outcome, which is "succeed".

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Important Questions from Phrase Replacement

  1. In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”

    My old teacher gave many poor students money in spite of he was poor.

  2. In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.

    You should to read the newspaper regularly if you want to be well-informed.

  3. In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.

    If he had listening to me he would not have got lost.

  4. In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”

    He asked for a bank loan also he didn't have sufficient resources.

  5. In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.

    I went to the shop to buy some stationeries .

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