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Question

Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No Improvement'.

The apple tree was loaded of fruit.

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2020 (Tier-2) Statistics Previous Year Paper 3 (28-Jan-2022)
The correct answer is laden with

Improving Sentences: Understanding Prepositions with 'Loaded' and 'Laden'

The original sentence is "The apple tree was loaded of fruit." We need to examine the underlined part 'of' and determine if it is used correctly in this context or if another word or phrase would be a better fit.

In English grammar, prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. The choice of preposition is often dictated by the verb or adjective it follows. In the phrase "loaded...", we need the correct preposition to indicate what the tree is full of or carrying.

Analyzing the Usage of 'Loaded' and 'Laden'

When something is carrying a large amount of something else, the common and correct prepositions used are 'with' or sometimes 'down with'.

  • Loaded with: This is a very common phrase meaning full of or carrying a large amount of something. For example, "The truck was loaded with sand." or "He was loaded with presents."
  • Laden with: This word means heavily loaded or weighed down with something. It often implies a large or burdensome quantity. For example, "The branches were laden with snow." or "She was laden with shopping bags."

The preposition 'of' is typically not used after 'loaded' in this sense of being full or carrying something.

Evaluating the Options for Sentence Improvement

Let's look at the provided options:

  1. No Improvement: This option suggests the original sentence "The apple tree was loaded of fruit" is correct. As discussed, 'loaded of' is not standard English usage when indicating what something is full of. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
  2. loaded with: This phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe something full of fruit. "The apple tree was loaded with fruit" makes perfect sense.
  3. loaded from: The preposition 'from' indicates origin or source. Using it here ("loaded from fruit") doesn't make grammatical sense in this context. This option is incorrect.
  4. laden with: This phrase means heavily loaded or weighed down with fruit. This is also grammatically correct and fits the context of a tree bearing a lot of fruit, possibly so much that the branches are heavy. "The apple tree was laden with fruit" is a valid and often more descriptive way to express the same idea.

Both 'loaded with' and 'laden with' are valid improvements for the sentence. 'Laden with' perhaps emphasizes the weight or abundance of the fruit more strongly. Based on standard English usage, either 'loaded with' or 'laden with' correctly replaces 'loaded of'. The option that improves the sentence to "The apple tree was laden with fruit" is a correct grammatical construction.

Phrase Grammatical Correctness Meaning in Context
loaded of fruit Incorrect Does not convey the intended meaning of being full of fruit.
loaded with fruit Correct Full of fruit; carrying a large amount of fruit.
loaded from fruit Incorrect Doesn't make sense; 'from' indicates origin.
laden with fruit Correct Heavily loaded or weighed down with fruit.

Revision Table: Correct Prepositions with 'Loaded' and 'Laden'

Word Common Correct Preposition(s) Example Usage
Loaded with The box was loaded with books.
Laden with The ship was laden with cargo.

Additional Information: Understanding Prepositions

Prepositions are crucial for clarity in sentences. They link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words. The choice of preposition can completely change the meaning of a sentence or make it ungrammatical if used incorrectly. Some common prepositions include 'in', 'on', 'at', 'for', 'with', 'by', 'from', 'to', 'of', 'about'. Learning which prepositions are used with specific verbs, adjectives, or nouns is key to mastering English grammar. For example:

  • fond of
  • believe in
  • depend on
  • arrive at (a place) / arrive in (a city/country)
  • agree with (a person) / agree on (a topic)

In the case of expressing that something is full or carrying contents, 'with' is the most frequent and correct preposition to use with words like 'loaded', 'filled', 'packed', 'stuffed', and 'laden'.

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

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