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Difficulty: MediumPhrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

Read the sentence below and answer the question that follows:

The senior editor advised the young columnist to evaluate the manuscript constructively rather than carping ________ minor stylistic flaws.

Which of the following prepositions correctly completes the prepositional verb in the sentence above?

  1. atAnswer
  2. B
    on
  3. C
    about
  4. D
    over

Answer

The preposition 'at' correctly completes the prepositional verb 'carp at'.
The prepositional verb 'carp at' is the correct idiom in standard English, meaning to continually find fault or complain about trivial matters. Therefore, 'at' is the appropriate preposition to complete the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main verb and context of the sentence.
The verb is 'carping', used in the context of continually complaining or finding petty fault with minor flaws.
The sentence contrasts constructive evaluation with hypercritical complaining about trivial details.
2
Determine the standard preposition that collocates with 'carp' to express this meaning.
In Standard British English, the verb 'carp' specifically takes the preposition 'at' to form 'carp at'.
Prepositional verbs require specific prepositions fixed by idiom and standard usage.

Key Concept

Prepositional Verbs and Fixed Preposition Selection
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Topics

Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

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