DIRECTIONS : In the following question, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is required, choose "No Improvement" option. The sailor opened the knot to hoist the flag.
untied
Improving the Sentence: Untying a Knot
The original sentence is: "The sailor opened the knot to hoist the flag."
We need to evaluate the underlined part, "opened the knot," and see if there's a better way to express this action in English.
When dealing with knots, the standard verb used to undo them is "untie." While "open" can have many meanings, it is not the typical verb used for dissolving a knot. You might open a box, open a door, or open a book, but you untie a knot.
Analyzing the Options for 'opened the knot'
- untie: This is the correct verb to use for undoing a knot. However, the original sentence uses the past tense verb "opened," implying the action already happened. "untie" is the present tense form.
- open: This is the same verb as used in the original sentence's underlined part. As explained, "open a knot" is not standard English usage.
- No improvement: Since "opened the knot" is not standard English, improvement is required.
- untied: This is the correct verb to use for undoing a knot ("untie") and it is in the past tense ("untied"), matching the tense of the original sentence ("opened"). This fits the context of an action completed in the past.
Choosing the Correct Improvement for the Knot Action
The sentence describes an action that took place in the past ("The sailor..."). Therefore, the improved verb should also be in the past tense.
The correct and standard way to express the action of undoing a knot is using the verb "untie". In the past tense, "untie" becomes "untied".
Replacing "opened the knot" with "untied the knot" makes the sentence grammatically correct and uses the appropriate vocabulary for the action described.
The improved sentence would be: "The sailor untied the knot to hoist the flag."
Therefore, the correct alternative is "untied".
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
