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 on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter (a), (b) or (c). If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a “No improvement” response will be signified by the letter (d). It is an ancient, historical place and it once belongs to the Pandavas.
belonged
Understanding Sentence Improvement and Tense
This question asks us to improve a given sentence by choosing the best substitution for an underlined part. The goal is to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.
The original sentence is: "It is an ancient, historical place and it once belongs to the Pandavas."
We need to examine the underlined word "belongs" in the context of the sentence, particularly the word "once".
Analyzing the Original Sentence
The sentence describes a place that is currently "ancient" and "historical". The second part of the sentence uses the phrase "it once belongs to the Pandavas".
- The word "once" indicates something that happened or was true in the past but is not necessarily true now.
- The verb "belongs" is in the simple present tense.
- Using the present tense "belongs" with the past indicator "once" creates a tense inconsistency. The action of belonging, in this past context ("once"), should be expressed in a past tense.
Therefore, the underlined part needs improvement to correct the tense.
Evaluating the Options for Substitution
Let's look at the given options to find the best fit for the underlined word "belongs":
- belonged: This is the simple past tense form of the verb "to belong". If we substitute "belongs" with "belonged", the sentence becomes: "It is an ancient, historical place and it once belonged to the Pandavas." This sentence correctly uses the past tense "belonged" with the past indicator "once", indicating that the place was possessed by the Pandavas in the past. This fits the context of an ancient, historical place.
- belonging: This is the present participle form. Using "belonging" alone like this ("it once belonging") is not grammatically correct in this sentence structure. It could be used in phrases like "a place belonging to the Pandavas" or in progressive tenses like "it was belonging...", but "belonging" typically describes a state that is continuous, and "was belonging" is rarely used for possession. It doesn't fit the simple statement about past possession indicated by "once".
- belong: This is the base form of the verb. It is used with plural subjects in the simple present tense (e.g., "They belong") or after modal verbs (e.g., "It will belong") or in the infinitive form (e.g., "to belong"). It is not correct to use "it once belong" with a singular subject "it" in the simple past context indicated by "once".
- No improvement: As established earlier, the original sentence "it once belongs" has a tense inconsistency because "belongs" (present tense) is used with "once" (past indicator). Therefore, the sentence does require improvement.
Conclusion on the Best Substitution
Comparing the options, "belonged" is the only form that correctly expresses the idea of possession in the past, which is required by the word "once".
Revision Table: Tense Consistency with 'Once'
| Indicator | Appropriate Tense | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Once (referring to a single past event/state) | Simple Past Tense | He once lived in Paris. |
| Once (referring to something happening one time) | Simple Past Tense | She met him just once. |
| Once (as a conjunction meaning 'as soon as') | Simple Present (for future) or Simple Past | Once you finish, let me know. / Once I arrived, I called you. |
Additional Information: The Verb 'Belong'
The verb 'belong' is generally not used in continuous tenses (like 'is belonging' or 'was belonging') when it means 'to be the property of someone'. It is a stative verb.
- Correct: This house belongs to my uncle. (Simple Present)
- Correct: This house belonged to my grandfather. (Simple Past)
- Incorrect: This house is belonging to my uncle.
- Incorrect: This house was belonging to my grandfather.
Therefore, when talking about past possession, the simple past tense "belonged" is the standard and correct form.
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.
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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.
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It is hard these days to cope with the rising prices.
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From the last five days, it has been raining torrentially.
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, No substitution required.
Not knowing the language and having no acquaintances in the city, he found it hard getting work.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
Gayatri informed one of the directors that she has sent the material for printing.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
We had been almost halfway there when the left rear tyre blew out
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
The man spent a lot because he had so large amount of money.
- Select the word segment that substitutes (replaces) the bracketed word segment correctly and completes the sentence meaningfully. Select the option 'no correction required' if the sentence is correct as given.
In simple words ‘Welfare’ (mean a state of well being and happy.)
