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Question

Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four options. Select whichever preposition or determiner you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

The room is a bit dark. Could you please turn ______ the light?

This question was previously asked in
CDS II 2021 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (14-Nov-2021)
The correct answer is

on

Understanding the Use of Prepositions: Turning on the Light

This question asks us to select the most appropriate preposition or determiner to complete the sentence: "The room is a bit dark. Could you please turn ______ the light?" We need to consider which word correctly forms a phrasal verb with "turn" that means to activate a light source.

Analyzing the Options for the Blank Space

Let's look at each option provided:

  • on: The phrase "turn on" is a common phrasal verb meaning to start the operation of an electrical device, such as a light. This fits the context of wanting more light because the room is dark.
  • in: "Turn in" is a phrasal verb that can mean to submit something (like homework) or to go to bed. Neither meaning is relevant to operating a light.
  • off: The phrase "turn off" is a phrasal verb meaning to stop the operation of an electrical device. This is the opposite of what is needed when a room is dark and you want more light.
  • away: The phrase "turn away" is a phrasal verb meaning to refuse admittance or to avert one's face or gaze. Neither meaning is related to operating a light.

Determining the Correct Preposition

The sentence states, "The room is a bit dark." This implies that the speaker wants more light. The action of starting a light is expressed using the phrasal verb "turn on". Therefore, "on" is the correct word to complete the sentence.

The completed sentence is: "The room is a bit dark. Could you please turn on the light?"

Revision Table: Common Phrasal Verbs with 'Turn'

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
turn on Start operation (light, TV, etc.) Please turn on the fan, it's hot.
turn off Stop operation (light, TV, etc.) Don't forget to turn off the computer.
turn up Increase volume or intensity; arrive Can you turn up the music? She didn't turn up for the meeting.
turn down Decrease volume or intensity; refuse Please turn down the TV. He turned down the job offer.
turn in Submit; go to bed Did you turn in your essay? I'm tired, I'm going to turn in.

Additional Information on Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence (e.g., on, in, at, by, with, for, from). Determiners are words that introduce a noun and limit or clarify its meaning (e.g., a, an, the, this, that, my, your, some, any).

In this question, "on" is acting as part of a phrasal verb. A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or an adverb or both, resulting in a new meaning. "Turn" is the verb, and "on" is the particle (which looks like a preposition) that changes the meaning of "turn" from rotating to activating something.

Understanding common phrasal verbs is important for mastering English vocabulary and grammar. The meaning of a phrasal verb is often different from the individual meanings of the words that make it up.

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