Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The office excused her _______ coming to work.
from
Understanding Prepositions in English Grammar
The question asks us to select the most appropriate preposition to complete the sentence: "The office excused her _______ coming to work." This requires understanding which preposition is used with the verb "excuse" in the context of granting permission not to do something or exempting someone from a duty or obligation.
Analyzing the Verb 'Excuse' and Prepositions
The verb 'excuse' can be used in several ways, often involving different prepositions. In this sentence, 'excuse' means to release someone from an obligation or duty. When 'excuse' is used in this sense, it is typically followed by the preposition 'from', indicating the thing or action that the person is being released from.
- Excuse from: To release someone from a duty, obligation, or requirement. This is the most common usage when someone is permitted not to do something they were expected to do.
- Excuse for: To give a reason or justification for something that has happened, often something wrong or undesirable.
- Excuse me: A polite phrase used to attract attention, interrupt, or apologize.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the provided options and see how they fit with the verb 'excused' in the given context:
1. with: Using "excused with coming to work" does not form a grammatically correct or meaningful phrase in this context. "Excused with" is not a standard idiomatic expression.
2. from: Using "excused from coming to work" means that the office gave her permission not to come to work. This aligns perfectly with the meaning of releasing someone from the obligation of coming to work. This is a common and correct usage.
3. in: Using "excused in coming to work" does not make sense. "Excused in" is not a recognized phrase related to exemption from a duty.
4. to: Using "excused to coming to work" is grammatically incorrect. "Excused to" does not convey the meaning of being exempted from an action or duty.
Determining the Correct Preposition
Based on the analysis, the phrase "excused from" is the correct idiom to use when someone is released or exempted from a duty or obligation. The sentence means that the office gave her permission not to attend work.
Therefore, the most appropriate option is 'from'.
The completed sentence is: "The office excused her from coming to work."
Revision Table: Key Prepositions with 'Excuse'
| Preposition | Usage with 'Excuse' | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| from | excused from [duty/action] | Released or exempted from an obligation | She was excused from attending the meeting. |
| for | excuse for [reason/action] | Reason or justification for something | He had a good excuse for being late. |
Additional Information on Using Prepositions
Prepositions are crucial for showing the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They indicate location, direction, time, or other relationships. The choice of preposition is often determined by the verb or noun it follows, forming idiomatic expressions that must be learned.
- Many verbs combine with specific prepositions to create phrasal verbs or fixed expressions (e.g., 'rely on', 'depend on', 'listen to', 'agree with').
- Understanding these fixed combinations is key to using English accurately.
- Context is vital in choosing the correct preposition, as some verbs or nouns can take different prepositions depending on the intended meaning.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Direction : Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
There was a time when West Germany was a distinct ______.
Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
My son is very _____, he trusts everyone.Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
I wish I _____ her before we met.Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
I accepted the offer _______ certain conditions.
Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
He visits the needy to relieve them ______ their sufferings and poverty.
