In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each blank. All her life Ms Foster had a great fear of missing a train, a plane, a boat, or _____(1)______ a theatre curtain. In other respects, she was not a _____(2)______ nervous woman. But the mere thought of _____(3)______ on occasions like these would throw her _____(4)______ such a nervous state that a tiny muscle in the corner of her left eye would _____(5)_____ twitch. This would disappear once she had boarded the plane etc.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 5.
begin to
Solving the Fill in the Blanks Question - Blank No. 5
Let's carefully analyze the passage and specifically focus on Blank No. 5 to determine the most appropriate word to fill it. The sentence containing Blank No. 5 is:
"...that a tiny muscle in the corner of her left eye would _____(5)_____ twitch."
We need to choose an option that grammatically and logically fits into this sentence. The sentence uses the modal verb "would". Modal verbs like "would", "will", "can", "could", "may", "might", "shall", "should", and "must" are typically followed by the base form of a verb (also known as the infinitive without "to"). However, in this specific structure involving the start of an action, the phrase "begin to" followed by the base form of the main verb is common.
Analyzing the Options for Blank No. 5
Let's examine each provided option:
- Option 1: begun over
- This option uses "begun", which is the past participle form of "begin". After the modal verb "would", we need a base form. Also, "begun over twitch" does not make grammatical sense in this context.
- Option 2: begun to
- Again, this option uses "begun", the past participle. It is not the correct form to follow "would". The base form "begin" is required.
- Option 3: begin to
- This option uses "begin", which is the base form of the verb. Following the modal verb "would", the structure "would begin to" is grammatically correct and is followed by the base form of the action verb, which is "twitch" in this sentence. "Would begin to twitch" means the muscle would start twitching. This fits the context perfectly.
- Option 4: began to
- This option uses "began", which is the simple past tense form of "begin". After the modal verb "would", the base form "begin" is required, not the simple past tense "began".
Based on the grammatical rules regarding modal verbs and the logical meaning required in the sentence (the muscle would start twitching when she got nervous), Option 3, "begin to", is the most appropriate choice for Blank No. 5.
The completed sentence fragment reads: "...a tiny muscle in the corner of her left eye would begin to twitch."
Revision Table: Grammar Analysis for Blank 5
| Option | Word(s) | Verb Form | Follows "would"? | Fits Context? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | begun over | Past Participle + Preposition | Incorrect | No |
| 2 | begun to | Past Participle + Infinitive marker | Incorrect | No |
| 3 | begin to | Base Form + Infinitive marker | Correct | Yes |
| 4 | began to | Simple Past + Infinitive marker | Incorrect | No |
Additional Information: Modal Verbs and Verb Forms
Understanding how to use modal verbs is crucial for sentence construction. Here are some key points:
- Modal verbs express possibility, ability, permission, request, obligation, etc.
- They are always followed by the base form of the main verb (infinitive without "to"), except in specific structures like passive voice or when "have" or "be" follows the modal.
- Examples:
- She can run fast. (Modal "can" + base form "run")
- He should study harder. (Modal "should" + base form "study")
- They might arrive late. (Modal "might" + base form "arrive")
- The construction "begin to + base verb" is used to indicate the start of an action, and when used with a modal verb like "would", the structure remains "would begin to + base verb".
- Example: The rain would begin to fall. (Modal "would" + "begin to" + base form "fall")
Being familiar with verb forms (base form, simple past, past participle) is essential for correctly using verbs after modal verbs and in various sentence structures.
Important Questions from Grammar Based Questions
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 4.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 3.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 2.
