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Difficulty: EasyIdiomatic Word Choice

Unlike his classmates who preferred to study in groups, David insisted to prepare for the final exam alone. Which choice is the most appropriate idiomatic phrasing to replace the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. on preparingAnswer
  3. C
    to preparing
  4. D
    for preparing

Answer

The correct idiomatic choice is 'on preparing' because the verb 'insist' must be paired with the preposition 'on' and a gerund.
The verb 'insisted' idiomatically requires the preposition 'on' followed by a gerund (an -ing verb). Therefore, 'on preparing' is the correct idiomatic phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verb that precedes the underlined portion.
The verb is 'insisted'.
The correct preposition and verb form depend on the specific verb being used.
2
Recall the idiomatic preposition and verb form that follow 'insist'.
The verb 'insist' is idiomatically followed by 'on' and a gerund (-ing form).
Using an infinitive like 'to prepare' or prepositions like 'to' or 'for' is grammatically incorrect in this context.
3
Select the option that matches this idiomatic construction.
The option 'on preparing' correctly pairs 'insisted' with 'on' and the gerund 'preparing'.
This forms the standard idiomatic expression 'insisted on preparing'.

Key Concept

Verbs in English often require specific prepositions and verb forms (gerund vs. infinitive) to form correct idiomatic expressions.
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Topics

Idiomatic Word Choice

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