Question

Directions: In the question, a part of the given sentence has been underlined as this part may have an error. The first option is the same as the underlined part in the given sentence. Choose this option if you think that the underlined part has no error. Otherwise, choose the option that rectifies the error in the underlined part of the given sentence
A handful of pebble in the bottoms of a flowerpot will help drainage

• A. handful of pebble in the bottoms
• B. handfuls of pebbles at the bottom
• C. handful with pebbles in the bottom
• D. pebble of handful in the bottom
• E. handful of pebbles in the bottom

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

To solve the given sentence correction problem, let's analyze the underlined part of the sentence and choose the most appropriate option that corrects any grammatical errors:

The given sentence is:

A handful of pebble in the bottoms of a flowerpot will help drainage.

Let's break down the issues in the underlined portion:

1. The noun "pebble" is singular, but the context ('a handful') suggests that multiple pebbles are being referred to. So, it should be "pebbles" instead of "pebble".
2. The phrase "in the bottoms" is incorrect because a flowerpot only has one bottom. Instead, it should be "in the bottom".

Now let's examine the options:

• handful of pebble in the bottoms: This repeats the original error with "pebble" and "bottoms".
• handfuls of pebbles at the bottom: Although the use of "pebbles" is correct, "handfuls" would imply multiple handfuls, which is not necessarily inferred by the problem. The phrase "at the bottom" is acceptable.
• handful with pebbles in the bottom: "handful with pebbles" is incorrect because "handful of" is more appropriate for indicating quantity.
• pebble of handful in the bottom: This reverses "handful of pebbles" and is grammatically incorrect.
• handful of pebbles in the bottom: This option correctly uses the plural "pebbles" and the singular "bottom".

Thus, the correct option that fixes the grammatical errors is "handful of pebbles in the bottom". This option uses the correct plural form "pebbles" and accurately describes the location as "in the bottom".