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.
Had rescued
Analyzing Sentence Improvement for Past Actions
The original sentence is: "The man disappeared after he was rescuing a boy from drowning." We need to look at the underlined part "was rescuing" and determine if one of the given options provides a better grammatical structure for the sentence, specifically focusing on the sequence of past events.
Let's break down the sentence and the underlined phrase:
- The sentence talks about two past events: the man disappearing and the man rescuing a boy.
- The conjunction "after" tells us that the rescue happened first, and then the man disappeared.
- The underlined part "was rescuing" is in the past continuous tense. This tense is typically used for an ongoing action in the past.
However, the context "after he... from drowning" implies the action of rescuing the boy was completed before the man disappeared. Using the past continuous "was rescuing" here suggests the rescue was still happening when he disappeared, which doesn't fit the logic of "after". We need a tense that shows an action completed before another past action.
Evaluating the Substitution Options
Let's examine each option provided:
Option (a): Was rescued
- This is the past continuous tense in the passive voice.
- "He was rescued" means someone rescued the man, not that the man did the rescuing.
- This completely changes the meaning of the sentence, implying the man was saved, not that he saved someone else.
- Therefore, this option is incorrect.
Option (b): Has been rescued
- This is the present perfect tense in the passive voice.
- "He has been rescued" also means the man was saved by someone else.
- The present perfect connects a past action to the present, which isn't appropriate for describing two events purely in the past context like "disappeared" and the rescue before it.
- This option is also incorrect.
Option (c): Had rescued
- This is the past perfect tense.
- The past perfect tense (had + past participle) is used to indicate an action that was completed before another action in the past.
- In this sentence, the rescue happened before the disappearance. So, "he had rescued a boy from drowning" correctly indicates the action of rescuing was finished before he disappeared.
- This tense fits the meaning and the sequence of events perfectly.
- Therefore, this option is the best substitution.
Option (d): No improvement
- As discussed earlier, the past continuous "was rescuing" doesn't accurately reflect the completion of the rescue before the disappearance in the context of "after".
- An improvement is needed to show the prior completed action.
- Therefore, this option is incorrect.
Conclusion on Sentence Improvement
Based on the analysis, the past perfect tense "had rescued" is the most appropriate choice to show that the action of rescuing was completed before the man disappeared. It clearly establishes the correct sequence of the two past events mentioned in the sentence.
The corrected sentence would be: "The man disappeared after he had rescued a boy from drowning."
The correct option is (c) Had rescued.
Revision Table: Verb Tenses for Past Actions
| Tense | Form | Usage for Past Events | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | Verb + -ed (or irregular form) | Completed action in the past. Used for a series of past actions or a specific point in time. | He disappeared. |
| Past Continuous | Was/Were + Verb + -ing | Action ongoing at a specific point in the past, or happening when another past action occurred. | He was rescuing the boy (implies action was in progress). |
| Past Perfect | Had + Past Participle | Action completed before another past action or before a specific time in the past. | He had rescued the boy before he disappeared. |
Additional Information: Past Perfect vs. Past Simple
It is important to understand when to use the past perfect tense. It is not always necessary to use the past perfect for an action that happened before another past action. Sometimes, the past simple can be used if the sequence is clear from the context or the use of conjunctions like "after".
For example:
- "After he rescued the boy, the man disappeared." - Using past simple ("rescued") here is also acceptable because "after" clearly establishes that the rescue happened first.
- "He had already rescued the boy when he disappeared." - Here, past perfect is more natural with "already" and "when" to emphasize the completion before the disappearance.
However, in the original sentence "The man disappeared after he was rescuing a boy...", the use of "was rescuing" (past continuous) is grammatically awkward and misleading regarding the completion of the rescue before the disappearance. Substituting with the past perfect "had rescued" or even the past simple "rescued" (though "had rescued" is offered as an option and is suitable here) provides a much clearer and grammatically sound sentence structure to indicate the completed prior action.
Similar Questions
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.
Go north-east across the mountains till you will reach an island.
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.
It is hard these days to cope with the rising prices.
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.
He took a loan of hundred rupees from me.
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.
From the last five days, it has been raining torrentially.
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.
The Prime Minister had wide-ranging discussions on the international situation.
Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence is 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.
The teacher, along with her three children, were taken to hospital.
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.
By 8.00 in the morning he wrote four letters to his friends.
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.
The chairman with the other members of the board are touring Europe these days.
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.
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.
Your services are dispensed for.
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.
