Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. I don’t get on with the new boss, so I have asked to transferring to another branch of the company.
have asked to be transferred
Improving the Underlined Part of a Sentence: Grammatical Correction
The question asks us to select the option that best improves the underlined part of the sentence:
I don’t get on with the new boss, so I have asked to transferring to another branch of the company.
The underlined phrase is "have asked to transferring". Let's analyze this part of the sentence.
Analyzing the Grammatical Error
The verb "ask" followed by "to" usually takes an infinitive form after it. For example, "I asked to leave" or "He asked me to help". In the given sentence, "I have asked" is followed by "to" and then "transferring". The word "transferring" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "transfer". Following "to" in this construction, we expect an infinitive form (like "to transfer") or, if the subject is the recipient of the action, a passive infinitive form (like "to be transferred").
The sentence means that the speaker wants someone else (likely the company or their manager) to move them to a different branch. The action of transferring is being done to the speaker, not by the speaker. This requires the passive voice.
Therefore, the structure needed is a passive infinitive: "to be + past participle". The past participle of "transfer" is "transferred".
The correct phrase should be "to be transferred".
Evaluating the Options for Sentence Improvement
Let's look at the provided options and see which one correctly uses the passive infinitive form and fits the sentence structure.
- Option 1: will have ask to be transfer
This option uses "will have ask", which is not grammatically correct. The future perfect tense requires the past participle after "have" ("will have asked"). Also, "to be transfer" is incorrect; the past participle is "transferred".
- Option 2: have asked to be transferred
This option uses "have asked", which maintains the original tense structure (present perfect). It correctly follows with the passive infinitive "to be transferred". This fits the requirement of the speaker asking to be moved by the company.
- Option 3: having ask to be transferred
This option starts with "having ask", which is grammatically incorrect. The correct form would be "having asked" (a perfect gerund/participle phrase). Even if corrected, it doesn't fit directly into the position of the underlined phrase following "so I".
- Option 4: have been ask to be transferring
This option uses "have been ask", which is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form of "ask" in the present perfect is "have been asked". Also, "to be transferring" is a passive progressive infinitive, which doesn't fit the context of requesting a single action of being moved.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, Option 2, "have asked to be transferred", is the only grammatically correct phrase that appropriately replaces the underlined part and maintains the intended meaning of the sentence using the correct passive infinitive after "asked to".
The corrected sentence would be: I don’t get on with the new boss, so I have asked to be transferred to another branch of the company.
| Original Phrase | Error | Correction Needed |
|---|---|---|
| have asked to transferring | Incorrect verb form after 'to'. Needs passive infinitive. | have asked to be transferred |
Revision Table: Key Grammar Points
| Concept | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive Form | The base form of a verb preceded by "to" (e.g., to run, to eat). Often follows certain verbs. | I want to leave. |
| Passive Voice | Used when the subject is the recipient of the action. Formed with "be" + past participle. | The ball was hit by the player. |
| Passive Infinitive | The passive form of the infinitive: "to be" + past participle. Used when the subject requests or expects to receive the action. | He hopes to be promoted soon. |
| Present Perfect Tense | Formed with "have/has" + past participle. Used for actions that started in the past and continue or have results in the present. | They have finished the work. |
Additional Information on Verb Structures
Understanding which verb form follows another verb or preposition is crucial in English grammar. The verb "ask" can be followed by several structures:
- Ask + for + Noun: I asked for help.
- Ask + infinitive: I asked to speak to the manager.
- Ask + object + infinitive: I asked him to call me back.
In our sentence, "I have asked to..." means "I have made a request to...". The subject of the infinitive phrase is the same as the subject of "asked" (I). However, the *action* of transferring is not something the speaker is doing; it's something they want done *to* them. This is why the passive infinitive "to be transferred" is needed.
Consider the difference:
- I asked to transfer myself (Incorrect meaning in context - implies the speaker has the power to move themselves).
- I asked to be transferred (Correct meaning - implies the speaker requested someone else to move them).
This highlights the importance of choosing between active and passive forms based on who is performing and who is receiving the action.
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