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Question

Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution’.

Her coach allowedshe swimmingin deep water.

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2020-21 Previous Year Paper (15-Nov-2021) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

her to swim

Understanding Verb Patterns: Allow + Object + Infinitive

The question asks us to select the most appropriate substitution for the underlined segment “allowedshe swimming” in the sentence “Her coach allowedshe swimmingin deep water.”

Let's analyze the original sentence and the underlined part:

Original Sentence: Her coach allowedshe swimmingin deep water.

The verb used is “allowed,” which is the past tense of “allow.” The verb “allow” typically follows a specific pattern when it is followed by a person (the object) and then an action that the person is allowed to do. The standard structure is:

allow + object (pronoun in objective case) + to + base form of the verb (infinitive)

In the underlined segment “allowedshe swimming,” we see two issues:

  1. The pronoun “she” is in the subjective case. After the verb “allowed,” we need an object pronoun, which is “her” (objective case).
  2. The word “swimming” is a gerund or present participle. According to the standard pattern for “allow,” it should be followed by the infinitive form “to swim.”

Therefore, the underlined segment “allowedshe swimming” is grammatically incorrect.

Analyzing the Substitution Options

Let's examine each option provided:

Option Substitution Analysis Correctness
1 her swimming Uses the correct object pronoun “her” but the incorrect verb form “swimming” (should be infinitive “to swim”). Incorrect
2 No substitution States that the original segment is correct. As analyzed above, the original segment “allowedshe swimming” is grammatically incorrect. Incorrect
3 her to swim Uses the correct object pronoun “her” and the correct infinitive form “to swim.” This follows the standard pattern “allow + object + to + verb.” Correct
4 she to swim Uses the incorrect subject pronoun “she” instead of the object pronoun “her.” Although it uses the infinitive “to swim,” the pronoun is wrong. Incorrect

Based on the analysis, the only option that correctly follows the grammatical rule for using “allow” with an object and an action is “her to swim.”

The corrected sentence would be: “Her coach allowed her to swim in deep water.”

Revision Table: Verb Patterns with Allow

Pattern Structure Example
Allow + Object Allow + Noun/Pronoun (Objective) The guard allowed them in.
Allow + Action (General) Allow + Gerund (-ing form) They don't allow parking here.
Allow + Object + Action Allow + Noun/Pronoun (Objective) + To + Base Verb (Infinitive) They allowed us to leave early.

In our sentence, we have “Her coach allowed her (object) to swim (action)”, which matches the third pattern.

Additional Information on Verb Complements

Many verbs in English are followed by different structures. The verb “allow” can be followed by a gerund when there is no specific object mentioned, focusing on the action itself (e.g., “No smoking is allowed.”). However, when you specify who is allowed to do something, the structure “allow + object + to + infinitive” is typically used (e.g., “They allowed me to enter.”).

Understanding these verb patterns is crucial for correct sentence construction and is a common topic in English grammar exercises. Paying attention to whether a verb should be followed by an infinitive (to + verb) or a gerund (-ing form), especially after an object, is key.

Examples of other verbs often followed by object + infinitive include: advise, ask, cause, enable, encourage, force, invite, order, permit, persuade, remind, teach, tell, want, warn.

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