Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them (a), (b) or (c) is better than the underlined part, indicate your response against the corresponding letter. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response. You must accustom yourself with new ideas.
Accustom yourself to
Understanding 'Accustom Yourself' and Prepositions in English Grammar
The sentence provided is "You must accustom yourself with new ideas." We need to examine the underlined part "accustom yourself with" and determine if one of the given options provides a better substitution.
The verb 'accustom' means to make someone or something familiar with something, or to become familiar with something. When used reflexively, meaning the subject is also the object of the action (like "yourself" referring back to "You"), the standard structure is accustom oneself to something. The preposition that follows 'accustom' when referring to the thing one is getting used to is typically 'to', not 'with'.
Let's look at the options:
- Accustomed with: This option uses the past participle 'accustomed'. While 'accustomed' can be used as an adjective meaning 'used to', it is followed by 'to', not 'with'. For example, "I am accustomed to early mornings." Also, the original sentence uses the base form 'accustom' because of the modal verb 'must', so a base form is expected for the substitution. Thus, this option is incorrect.
- Accustom to: This option uses the correct preposition 'to' but omits the reflexive pronoun 'yourself'. When you make yourself used to something, the reflexive pronoun ('myself', 'yourself', 'himself', 'herself', 'itself', 'ourselves', 'themselves') is usually included after 'accustom'. The structure 'accustom oneself to something' is the common and correct form. So, omitting 'yourself' makes this less accurate for the intended meaning in the sentence.
- Accustom yourself to: This option uses the correct base form 'accustom', the correct reflexive pronoun 'yourself', and the correct preposition 'to'. This perfectly matches the standard grammatical structure accustom oneself to something. This means making yourself used to or familiar with something.
- No improvement: Since option (c) provides a grammatically correct and better phrasing compared to the original "accustom yourself with", this option is incorrect.
Comparing the original phrase "accustom yourself with" and the options, "accustom yourself to" is the grammatically correct and most appropriate substitution. The verb 'accustom' is correctly followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the thing or situation one is getting used to.
Here is a summary of the analysis:
| Phrase | Analysis | Correctness |
|---|---|---|
| accustom yourself with (original) | Incorrect preposition 'with'. Should be 'to'. | Incorrect |
| Accustomed with | Incorrect form ('Accustomed' instead of 'Accustom') and incorrect preposition 'with'. | Incorrect |
| Accustom to | Missing the reflexive pronoun 'yourself'. | Less accurate/Incorrect in this common usage context |
| Accustom yourself to | Correct verb form, reflexive pronoun, and preposition 'to'. Follows the structure 'accustom oneself to something'. | Correct |
| No improvement | Option (c) is a definite improvement. | Incorrect |
Therefore, the best substitution for the underlined part is "Accustom yourself to".
Revision Table: Key Grammar Points
| Verb/Adjective | Required Preposition | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accustom (oneself) | to | You must accustom yourself to hard work. | Used to mean getting used to something. |
| Accustomed (adjective) | to | I am accustomed to waking up early. | Means 'used to' or 'familiar with'. |
| Familiar | with / to | Are you familiar with this software? He is familiar to me (meaning I recognize him). |
'Familiar with' a thing/concept; 'Familiar to' a person (meaning known by them). |
Additional Information on Verb-Preposition Combinations
Understanding which preposition follows a specific verb or adjective is crucial for correct English usage. These combinations are often fixed and need to be learned. They are sometimes called phrasal verbs (though 'accustom to' is more a verb followed by a specific preposition than a phrasal verb with a new meaning).
- Many verbs require specific prepositions:
- Depend on
- Rely on
- Listen to
- Talk to / with
- Agree with (a person) / on (a topic) / to (a proposal)
- Getting familiar with these patterns through reading and practice is essential for improving sentence construction and grammar. Pay attention to how verbs and adjectives are used with prepositions in context.
Similar Questions
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Direction: Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence are given three possible substitutions for the bold/underlined part. If one of them (a), (b) or (c) is better than the underlined part, indicate your response against the corresponding letter. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response.
I shall be obliged if youcould grantme an interview.
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
The questions are so simple that a child can understand it .
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
Even children shrink away from food thinking that they should become overweight.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No substitution required.
The weather reports is prepared by the Meteorological Department of the Government.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
He decided to leave very quickly the hotel.
Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’.
I have been worked hard to finish this project.
