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Question

Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space and four words or groups of words given after the sentence. Select whichever word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

They apologized ______ me for what had happened.

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2018 GAT Previous Year Paper (22-Apr-2018)
The correct answer is

to

Understanding the Blank in the Sentence

The question asks us to fill in the blank in the sentence: "They apologized ______ me for what had happened." We need to choose the most appropriate preposition from the given options to complete the sentence correctly.

The sentence structure involves the verb "apologized" followed by a blank space, then the pronoun "me", and finally the phrase "for what had happened". This structure suggests that the blank needs a preposition that connects the act of apologizing to the person who is receiving the apology.

Analyzing Prepositions with 'Apologized'

When using the verb "apologize", we typically use specific prepositions depending on what follows the verb:

  • We apologize to someone (the person).
  • We apologize for something (the reason).

In the given sentence, "me" is the person receiving the apology, and "for what had happened" is the reason for the apology. The blank comes directly before "me". Therefore, we need a preposition that links "apologized" to the person "me".

Evaluating the Options for the Blank

Let's examine each option provided:

  • Option 1: to - Using "to" creates the phrase "apologized to me". This fits the rule that we apologize to a person. The full sentence would be "They apologized to me for what had happened," which is grammatically correct and common usage.
  • Option 2: at - Using "at" creates the phrase "apologized at me". "Apologize at" is not a standard or correct prepositional phrase in English when referring to the person receiving the apology.
  • Option 3: for - Using "for" creates the phrase "apologized for me". While we do apologize for something (e.g., "apologized for the mistake"), we apologize to a person. "Apologized for me" would imply they were apologizing on my behalf or for something related to me in a different structure, which doesn't fit the context of them apologizing directly to me for their actions ("what had happened"). The reason for the apology is already given as "for what had happened".
  • Option 4: with - Using "with" creates the phrase "apologized with me". "Apologize with" is not a standard or correct prepositional phrase in English in this context.

Determining the Correct Preposition

Based on the rules of English grammar regarding prepositions used with the verb "apologize", the preposition connecting the verb to the person receiving the apology is "to". Option 1, "to", is the only preposition that correctly fits this grammatical requirement in the sentence "They apologized ______ me for what had happened."

Completed Sentence

The completed sentence using the correct preposition is:

They apologized to me for what had happened.

Revision Table: Prepositions with Apologize

Structure Example
apologize to [person] She apologized to her teacher.
apologize for [action/reason] He apologized for being late.
apologize to [person] for [action/reason] They apologized to me for what had happened.

Additional Information on Prepositions

Prepositions are crucial for showing the relationship between words in a sentence. They often indicate direction, time, place, or relationship. The correct use of prepositions like "to" and "for" with verbs such as "apologize" is essential for clear and grammatically correct communication in English. Paying attention to these common verb-preposition combinations is a key part of mastering English grammar and improving sentence completion skills.

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