Understanding Verb Forms After 'Deny'

The question asks us to complete the sentence "The thieves denied ______" by choosing the grammatically correct option. The sentence uses the verb "denied", which is the past tense of "deny". We need to determine the correct form of the verb or phrase that follows "deny".

Analyzing the Options for Sentence Completion

Let's look at each alternative provided to see which one correctly follows the verb "denied".

• Option 1: having stealing the money.

  This option uses "having stealing". The construction "having + base verb + -ing" is not a standard grammatical form. The correct perfect gerund form would be "having stolen". Therefore, this option is grammatically incorrect.

• Option 2: stealing the money.

  This option uses the gerund form of the verb "steal", which is "stealing". The verb "deny" is typically followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun). This structure is grammatically correct.

• Option 3: had stolen the money.

  This option uses the past perfect tense "had stolen". The verb "deny" is not followed by a past perfect verb phrase directly. This would create an incorrect sentence structure.

• Option 4: having to steal the money.

  This option uses a phrase involving "having to steal". While "deny" can sometimes be followed by a noun phrase or a 'that' clause, it is not typically followed by a construction like "having to + base verb". The infinitive form ('to steal') is generally not used directly after "deny". The common pattern is "deny + gerund".

Grammar Rule: Deny + Gerund

A fundamental rule in English grammar is that the verb "deny" is followed by a gerund (the -ing form of the verb used as a noun) when referring to denying that one did something. It is not typically followed by an infinitive (to + verb).

Examples:

• He denied breaking the window. (Correct: deny + gerund)
• She denied knowing him. (Correct: deny + gerund)
• They denied receiving the email. (Correct: deny + gerund)

Using an infinitive would be incorrect:

• He denied to break the window. (Incorrect)

Based on this rule, the correct form to follow "denied" is the gerund "stealing".

Conclusion

Comparing the options with the grammatical rule that "deny" is followed by a gerund, Option 2, "stealing the money", is the only grammatically correct choice to complete the sentence "The thieves denied ______".

Revision Table: Key Grammar Points

Additional Information: Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Many verbs in English are followed by a gerund rather than an infinitive. Understanding these patterns is crucial for correct sentence construction. Some common verbs followed by gerunds include:

• admit
• avoid
• consider
• enjoy
• finish
• mind
• miss
• postpone
• practice
• quit
• suggest
• understand

Knowing which verbs take a gerund and which take an infinitive (or both) is a key part of mastering English grammar, particularly for sentence completion and error correction exercises.