In the following sentence, 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 needed, choose the alternative that indicates 'No improvement'.
must ascertain whether this is
Sentence Improvement: Understanding Modal Verb Usage
This question tests the correct usage of modal verbs in English, specifically the structure following the modal verb 'must'. The goal is to select the option that best improves the underlined portion of the sentence:
"The Ministry of Finance must be ascertaining whether this is the best use of public money collected from PM CARES fund."
Modal Verbs and Verb Forms
Modal verbs like 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'shall', 'should', 'will', 'would', and 'must' are followed by the base form (infinitive without 'to') of a main verb. For example, we say 'I can go', not 'I can going' or 'I can went'.
Sometimes, modals can be followed by 'be' + present participle (-ing form) to indicate an ongoing action or a strong assumption about something happening now. For example, 'He must be sleeping'.
Analyzing the Options
Let's examine the given options in relation to the original sentence:
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Option 1:
must ascertain whether this isThis option replaces 'must be ascertaining' with 'must ascertain'. The verb 'ascertain' is in its base form, which is the standard and most direct way to follow 'must' when expressing necessity or duty. The phrase 'whether this is' correctly refers to the singular concept 'the best use'. This is a grammatically sound and stylistically preferred correction.
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Option 2:
must ascertaining whether this isThis option uses 'must ascertaining'. This is incorrect because the modal verb 'must' should be followed by the base form of the verb ('ascertain'), not the -ing form ('ascertaining').
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Option 3:
must ascertain whether these areThis option uses the correct base form 'ascertain' after 'must'. However, it changes 'this is' to 'these are'. The original sentence refers to 'the best use', which is singular. Therefore, 'this is' is correct, and 'these are' is incorrect for agreement.
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Option 4:
must be ascertaining whether these areThis option retains the 'must be ascertaining' structure, which, while sometimes acceptable for ongoing actions, is less direct for stating a duty compared to 'must ascertain'. More importantly, it incorrectly changes 'this is' to 'these are', failing the subject-verb agreement rule.
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Option 5:
No improvementThis option suggests the original sentence is already correct. However, the structure 'must be ascertaining' is less standard for expressing a duty than 'must ascertain'. Therefore, an improvement is needed.
Conclusion
The original sentence uses 'must be ascertaining'. While modal + be + V-ing can indicate an ongoing action, the context here implies a duty or necessity for the Ministry of Finance to perform the action of ascertaining. The most appropriate and standard grammatical structure for expressing this obligation is 'must' followed by the base form of the verb. Option 1, 'must ascertain whether this is', correctly applies this rule and maintains proper agreement ('this is' referring to 'the best use').
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 .
