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. Many biologists suggest that it was time to removed the Yellowstone grizzly bear from the list of threatened species.
it is time to remove
Analyzing the Sentence and the Underlined Segment
The original sentence is: "Many biologists suggest that it was time to removed the Yellowstone grizzly bear from the list of threatened species."
The underlined segment is "it was time to removed". We need to determine if this segment is grammatically correct and, if not, find the correct substitute from the given options.
Identifying the Grammatical Error
The structure "it is time" or "it was time" is often followed by an infinitive verb form, which is "to" plus the base form of the verb (e.g., to go, to eat, to remove). In the underlined segment, we have "to removed". "Removed" is the past tense or past participle form of the verb "remove". This is incorrect when following "to" in this structure.
The correct structure requires the base form of the verb after "to". Therefore, "to removed" should be "to remove".
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the given options and compare them to the original and the correct grammatical structure:
it is time to remove
This option changes "was time" to "is time" and corrects "to removed" to "to remove". The structure "It is time to + infinitive" is a standard grammatical construction used to indicate that the appropriate moment for an action is now.
No substitution required
As identified, the original segment "it was time to removed" contains a grammatical error ("to removed"). Therefore, substitution is required.
it was time to remove
This option keeps "it was time" and corrects "to removed" to "to remove". The structure "It was time to + infinitive" is also grammatically correct and is used to refer to a past point when something should have been done or was the right time to do something.
it was remove
This option incorrectly follows "it was" directly with the base verb "remove". It omits the "time to" part of the structure and is grammatically incorrect.
Determining the Most Appropriate Substitution
Both "it is time to remove" and "it was time to remove" are grammatically correct structures on their own. However, the original sentence states "Many biologists suggest that...", implying a suggestion about the current situation or the present appropriate time. The structure "it is time to..." aligns better with a suggestion about the current time being appropriate for an action.
Furthermore, the provided correct answer is "it is time to remove". This confirms that the intended correction involves both changing "was" to "is" and correcting "removed" to "remove".
Correcting the Sentence
Replacing the underlined segment "it was time to removed" with "it is time to remove" results in the sentence: "Many biologists suggest that it is time to remove the Yellowstone grizzly bear from the list of threatened species." This sentence is grammatically correct and conveys a logical meaning in context.
| Original Segment | Analysis | Corrected Structure |
|---|---|---|
| it was time to removed | Incorrect verb form after 'to' | it is time to remove |
| it was time to remove (also correct structure, but 'is' fits suggestion about present time better) |
Conclusion
The original segment "it was time to removed" contains a grammatical error because "removed" is the wrong verb form after "to". The correct form is the infinitive "to remove". Among the options, "it is time to remove" correctly uses the infinitive and changes "was" to "is", which is appropriate given the suggestion is being made in the present.
Revision Table: Correcting Sentence Structures
Understanding common idiomatic structures helps in sentence correction. The structure "It is time to..." is frequently tested.
Additional Information: The "It is time" Structure
The phrase "It is time" can be used in a few ways:
- It is time + to + base verb: This is used to say that now is the right moment for an action.
Example: It is time to go home. - It is time + for + noun/pronoun + to + base verb: Used to specify who should do the action.
Example: It is time for us to leave. - It is time + past simple (subjunctive): Used to say that something should have happened already.
Example: It is time you went to bed.
In the given question, the structure "It is time + to + base verb" is the relevant form being corrected.
Important Questions from Error Spotting
Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A honest mistake (a) / is no more than that; (b) / just an honest mistake. (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A company of five thousand soldiers , (a) / having marched tirelessly for over five days , (b) / have just moved into their cantonment . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
Every person who believes in principles (a) / must stand up to fight (b) / for their convictions . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The Olympic Games reflects(a) / the highest spirit of (b) / human endeavour and achievement . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The principal of the school (a) / stressed the need for discipline (b) / amongst the students. (c) / No error (d)
