Understanding Idiomatic Usage: "Take Notice Of"

The question asks us to examine the underlined phrase "notice about" in the sentence "The sparrow took no notice about the bread" and determine if one of the provided options is a better substitution.

This sentence tests our knowledge of common English idioms, specifically the correct preposition to use with the verb phrase "take notice".

Analysing the Original Sentence

The original sentence uses the phrase "took no notice about the bread". While the meaning is understandable – the sparrow did not pay attention to the bread – the preposition "about" is not the standard or idiomatic preposition used with "take notice".

Evaluating the Options

Let's look at the proposed substitutions:

• (a) notice of: This option suggests replacing "notice about" with "notice of". The phrase "take notice of" is a very common and correct idiom in English. It means to pay attention to something, to observe it, or to become aware of it.
• (b) notice from: This option suggests replacing "notice about" with "notice from". The phrase "notice from" is typically used when referring to receiving a notification or message *from* a source (e.g., "I received a notice from the bank"). This meaning does not fit the context of the sparrow's interaction with the bread.
• (c) notice to: This option suggests replacing "notice about" with "notice to". The phrase "give notice to" means to inform someone (e.g., "He gave notice to his landlord that he was leaving"). This also does not fit the context of the sparrow's action regarding the bread.
• (d) No improvement: This option suggests that the original sentence is correct as it is. However, as noted, "notice about" is not the standard idiom.

Why "Notice Of" is Correct

The established idiom for paying attention or observing something is "take notice of something". Therefore, replacing "notice about" with "notice of" makes the sentence grammatically correct and uses the standard idiomatic phrase.

The corrected sentence would be: "The sparrow took no notice of the bread." This means the sparrow did not pay attention to the bread.

Conclusion on Sentence Improvement

Comparing the options, "notice of" is the only substitution that forms a correct and idiomatic phrase in the context of the sentence. Therefore, it significantly improves the original sentence.

Revision Table: English Idioms and Prepositions

Understanding fixed phrases and the prepositions they use is crucial for correct English. Here are some common idioms involving "notice":

• Take notice of: to pay attention to or observe something. Example: Please take notice of the safety instructions.
• Give notice: to inform someone officially, often about leaving a job or property. Example: She gave notice that she would be resigning next month.
• Serve notice on someone: to formally deliver a notice to someone. Example: They served notice on him to vacate the premises.

It's important to learn these phrases as fixed units rather than trying to deduce the preposition from individual word meanings.

Additional Information: Prepositions in Verb Phrases

Many verbs in English combine with specific prepositions to form idiomatic phrases or phrasal verbs where the meaning is not always obvious from the individual words. For example:

• Listen to music (not listen at or listen about)
• Depend on someone/something (not depend of)
• Agree with a person (but agree on a plan or agree to a proposal)

Phrases like "take notice of" fall into this category of idiomatic verb + preposition combinations. Learning these combinations through exposure and practice is key to mastering correct English usage. Errors often occur when a non-standard preposition is used, as seen in the original sentence.