Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. He was born ________ humble parents in Nasik.
to
The fixed pattern: when we name the parents a person was born of, English uses born to — ‘born to poor parents’, ‘a son was born to them’.
So the sentence reads ‘He was born to humble parents in Nasik.’
Why the others fail — each is a real pattern with born, but for a different purpose:
Born with — used for a quality or condition possessed from birth: ‘born with a defect’, ‘born with a gift for music’. It cannot introduce the parents.
Born in — used for a place or circumstance of birth: ‘born in Nasik’, ‘born in poverty’. Note that the place is already covered later in this very sentence, which is a further sign it is not wanted in the blank.
Born by — would mark the agent of the verb, suggesting the parents performed the act of birth upon him. Not how the idiom works.
Takeaway: a single verb often takes several prepositions, each with its own meaning. Ask what the following words are — a person, a place, a quality — and the preposition follows.
Similar Questions
Directions: Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
He seems to have no ______ of keeping his promise.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word which will suit the context of the sentence.
Many employers like to visit college campuses and ______ college seniors to work for their companies.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word which will suit the context of the sentence.
As the pressure of her business became overwhelming, Mridula chose to ______ her role as the President.
- Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word which will suit the context of the sentence.
Normally, Maya would not have made so many spelling mistakes in her essay; she is usually ______ about her spelling. - Fill in the blank with most appropriate word which will suit the context of the sentence.
Although Sumithra was afraid of heights, she seemed to have no ______ about driving over bridges. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word which will suit the context of the sentence.
The meeting is ______; everyone must attend.
Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the sentence given below :
Indian weddings are an opportunity for a few to ______ their wealth.
Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the sentence given below.
My friend is very stylish, with _______ for expensive silk sarees.
Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the sentence given below.
If you _____ through his cupboards, you would find a strange assortment of garments.
Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the sentence given below.
We were ____ when we heard that the Ahujas were emigrating to Canada. We always thought that they liked to live here.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the word that best completes the sentence.
With a less rapid expansion of the economy, we should make________ progress toward stable price levels.
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the word that best completes the sentence.
At times he gets very angry, and then no one can_______ him.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly.
Many people today have fallen into utter confusion of values with the result that they cannot______ the good from the bad.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly
If Mohan________ at 5 a.m., he would not have missed the train.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly.
His property was divided ______ his daughters and sons.
