Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. Natwar was a fraudster who always tried to fooling others.
deceive
Analyzing the Sentence Correction Question
The question asks us to find the most appropriate option to replace the underlined segment "fooling" in the sentence: "Natwar was a fraudster who always tried to fooling others."
Let's break down the original sentence and identify the grammatical error.
- The sentence describes Natwar, a fraudster.
- It states that he "always tried to fooling others".
- The phrase "tried to" is followed by a verb. In standard English grammar, when "try" is followed by "to", it should be followed by the base form of the verb (the infinitive without 'to'). For example, "tried to understand", "tried to run", "tried to help".
- The word "fooling" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "to fool". Following "tried to" with the "-ing" form ("fooling") is grammatically incorrect in this context.
We need to find an option that is grammatically correct when placed after "tried to" and also makes sense in the context of a "fraudster" trying to do something to "others". The options are "betraying", "deceive", "cheating", and "revealing".
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option:
- betraying: If we substitute this, the sentence becomes "tried to betraying others". This is grammatically incorrect because "tried to" must be followed by the base form of the verb ("betray"), not the "-ing" form ("betraying"). While a fraudster might betray trust, this option is incorrect grammatically.
- deceive: If we substitute this, the sentence becomes "tried to deceive others". This is grammatically correct because "deceive" is the base form of the verb, correctly following "tried to". "To deceive" means to make someone believe something that is not true, often to gain an advantage. This action aligns perfectly with the nature of a "fraudster".
- cheating: If we substitute this, the sentence becomes "tried to cheating others". This is grammatically incorrect because "tried to" must be followed by the base form of the verb ("cheat"), not the "-ing" form ("cheating"). While a fraudster often cheats others, this option is incorrect grammatically.
- revealing: If we substitute this, the sentence becomes "tried to revealing others". This is grammatically incorrect because "tried to" must be followed by the base form of the verb ("reveal"), not the "-ing" form ("revealing"). To reveal means to make something known, which is generally the opposite of what a fraudster tries to do (they try to hide the truth or mislead). So, this option is incorrect both grammatically and contextually.
Identifying the Correct Substitution
Based on the grammatical requirement that "tried to" must be followed by the base form of the verb, only the option "deceive" is grammatically correct ("tried to deceive").
Let's confirm the context. The original sentence uses "fooling", which means tricking or deceiving. The term "fraudster" describes someone who commits fraud, which involves deception or cheating for personal gain. The verb "to deceive" is a direct synonym for "to fool" in this context and is highly appropriate for describing the actions of a fraudster.
Therefore, "deceive" is the most appropriate option that is both grammatically correct and fits the meaning of the sentence.
The corrected sentence reads: "Natwar was a fraudster who always tried to deceive others."
Summary of Analysis
| Original Segment | Grammar Issue | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| fooling | Incorrect form after "tried to" (needs base form) | Tricking, deceiving |
| Option | Grammar after "tried to" | Meaning | Appropriateness |
|---|---|---|---|
| betraying | Incorrect (needs base form 'betray') | Being disloyal | Grammatically incorrect |
| deceive | Correct (base form) | Trick, mislead, fool | Grammatically correct and contextually appropriate |
| cheating | Incorrect (needs base form 'cheat') | Act dishonestly to gain advantage | Grammatically incorrect |
| revealing | Incorrect (needs base form 'reveal') | Making known | Grammatically incorrect and contextually inappropriate |
The only option that is grammatically correct and maintains the intended meaning is "deceive".
Revision Table - Correcting Sentence Structure
| Incorrect Structure | Correct Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tried to + -ing form | tried to + base form (infinitive) | tried to fooling → tried to fool |
| tried to + -ing form | tried to + base form (infinitive) | tried to cheating → tried to cheat |
| tried to + -ing form | tried to + base form (infinitive) | tried to betraying → tried to betray |
| tried to + -ing form | tried to + base form (infinitive) | tried to revealing → tried to reveal |
Additional Information - Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Certain verbs are typically followed by the infinitive form (to + base verb). "Try" is one of these verbs when it means making an effort to do something. Here are a few other common verbs followed by the infinitive:
- Want to
- Need to
- Plan to
- Decide to
- Hope to
- Learn to
- Agree to
- Promise to
Example: She decided to study harder for the exam. (Not decided studying)
Note that the verb "try" can also be followed by the gerund (-ing form), but the meaning changes. "Try + -ing" means to do something as an experiment or a test. For example, "Try calling him" means 'Call him to see what happens' or 'See if calling him works'. This meaning does not fit the context of a fraudster's intent described in the original sentence.
Important Questions from Synonyms or Antonyms
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He had the audacity to blame him.
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There is exponential growth in the development of the scientific researches in the recent few decades.
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