Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word. As the sun was setting, the clouds were looking beautiful with myriad ______ colours.
different
Analyzing the Question: Sunset Colours
The question asks us to fill in the blank in the sentence: "As the sun was setting, the clouds were looking beautiful with myriad ______ colours." We need to choose the word that best describes the 'colours' of the clouds at sunset.
The word 'myriad' means a countless or extremely great number of things. So, 'myriad colours' means a great number of colours. We need a word to go before 'colours' (a noun) that describes the nature of these many colours.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the given options and determine which one fits grammatically and contextually before the noun 'colours'.
- differently: This is an adverb. Adverbs typically modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating how something is done. For example, "They sang differently." It does not fit here to modify the noun 'colours'. You wouldn't say "myriad differently colours."
- differential: This is an adjective, but it typically relates to a difference between amounts or rates, often in a technical context (e.g., "differential growth," "differential calculus"). It doesn't mean simply 'various' or 'unlike' in the sense needed to describe a collection of colours.
- difference: This is a noun. Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas. While 'difference' relates to being unlike, it cannot be used as an adjective directly preceding another noun like 'colours' in this structure to describe those colours. You might say "the difference in colours," but not "myriad difference colours."
- different: This is an adjective. Adjectives describe nouns. 'Different' means not the same as another or each other; unlike. When we say 'myriad different colours', we mean a great many colours that are unlike each other, which perfectly describes the varied and beautiful colours seen at sunset.
Determining the Correct Word
Based on the analysis, we need an adjective to modify the noun 'colours' and describe them as being varied or unlike each other. The word 'different' serves this purpose correctly. The phrase 'myriad different colours' means a great many colours, each distinct from the others.
Therefore, the most appropriate word to fill in the blank is 'different'.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning Relevant Here | Fits 'myriad ______ colours'? |
|---|---|---|---|
| differently | Adverb | In a way that is not the same | No (modifies verbs/adjectives) |
| differential | Adjective | Relating to a difference (often rates/amounts) | No (meaning not suitable) |
| difference | Noun | A point or way of being unlike | No (is a noun itself) |
| different | Adjective | Not the same; unlike | Yes (modifies noun 'colours') |
Revision Table: English Grammar Terms
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. | Beautiful clouds, different colours |
| Adverb | A word that describes or modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. Often ends in -ly. | The sun was setting slowly, looking very beautiful, painted differently |
| Noun | A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. | Sun, clouds, colours, difference |
Additional Information: Adjectives Modifying Nouns
Adjectives play a crucial role in making sentences more descriptive. They provide more information about the nouns they modify. In English grammar, adjectives typically come before the noun they are describing (attributive position). For instance, in the phrase "beautiful colours," 'beautiful' is an adjective describing the noun 'colours'. Similarly, in "different colours," 'different' is the adjective describing 'colours'. Understanding the function of different parts of speech, like adjectives and adverbs, is key to choosing the correct word in sentence completion questions.
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Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the word that best completes the sentence.
At times he gets very angry, and then no one can_______ him.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly.
Many people today have fallen into utter confusion of values with the result that they cannot______ the good from the bad.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly
If Mohan________ at 5 a.m., he would not have missed the train.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly.
His property was divided ______ his daughters and sons.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly
His persistence in his misdemeanours has lowered him in the________ of everyone who knows him.
