Question

Find the correct preposition: He apologized ____ his mistake.

• A. For
• B. On
• C. To
• D. By

Hint:

To master prepositions with verbs:
- Learn verb-preposition pairs: "Apologize for" (reason), "apologize to" (recipient).
- Practice with sentences: "I apologized for my error," "She apologized to her teacher."
- Test correctness: Say the sentence aloud—if it sounds unnatural (e.g., "He apologized on his mistake"), the preposition is likely wrong.
- Expand vocabulary: Other verbs with specific prepositions include "depend on," "agree with," "believe in."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the correct preposition to fill in the blank in the sentence "He apologized \underline{\hspace{1cm}} his mistake," we need to understand the grammatical rules governing the verb "apologize" and its preposition usage in English.
This question tests your knowledge of prepositions, which are words that show the relationship between a verb or noun and another word in the sentence. Prepositions often depend on the verb they accompany, and "apologize" has specific preposition patterns.
Step 1: Understand the Verb "Apologize"
The verb "apologize" means to express regret or say sorry for something you have done wrong.
In English, the verb "apologize" is typically followed by a preposition to indicate what the apology is for or to whom it is directed.
We need to identify the correct preposition that fits the sentence structure: "He apologized [preposition] his mistake." Here, "his mistake" is the reason for the apology.
Step 2: Analyze Option A - "For"
Option A suggests the preposition "for," making the sentence: "He apologized for his mistake."
In English, the phrase "apologize for" is a standard and correct construction when referring to the reason or cause of the apology.
For example:
- "She apologized for being late." (The reason for the apology is "being late.")
- "He apologized for breaking the vase." (The reason is "breaking the vase.")
In this case, "his mistake" is the reason for the apology, so "apologize for his mistake" is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning: he is sorry about the mistake he made.
Option A seems promising, so let’s keep it in mind and check the other options to confirm.
Step 3: Analyze Option B - "On"
Option B suggests the preposition "on," making the sentence: "He apologized on his mistake."
The preposition "on" typically indicates a surface, time, or topic (e.g., "on the table," "on Monday," "a lecture on biology").
However, "apologize on" is not a standard or correct construction in English for this context.
You might say "comment on a mistake" or "focus on a mistake," but not "apologize on a mistake." The preposition "on" does not fit the verb "apologize" when referring to the reason for the apology.
For example, saying "He apologized on breaking the vase" sounds unnatural and incorrect to native speakers.
Therefore, option B is incorrect.
Step 4: Analyze Option C - "To"
Option C suggests the preposition "to," making the sentence: "He apologized to his mistake."
The preposition "to" is often used with "apologize," but it indicates the recipient of the apology, not the reason for it.
For example:
- "He apologized to his friend." (The apology is directed to "his friend.")
- "She apologized to her teacher for being rude." (Here, "to her teacher" is the recipient, and "for being rude" is the reason.)
In the sentence "He apologized to his mistake," "his mistake" is not a person who can receive an apology; it is the reason for the apology.
Using "to" in this context is grammatically incorrect because "apologize to" requires a person or entity as the object, not an action or thing like "his mistake."
Therefore, option C is incorrect.
Step 5: Analyze Option D - "By"
Option D suggests the preposition "by," making the sentence: "He apologized by his mistake."
The preposition "by" often indicates the means, agent, or time (e.g., "by car," "by tomorrow," "painted by the artist").
However, "apologize by" is not a standard construction in this context.
You might use "by" in other contexts, such as "He made up for his mistake by working harder," but not directly with "apologize" to indicate the reason for the apology.
Saying "He apologized by his mistake" implies that the mistake is the means of apologizing, which is nonsensical.
For example, "He apologized by breaking the vase" does not make sense in English.
Therefore, option D is incorrect.
Step 6: Confirm the Correct Preposition with Grammar Rules
Let’s confirm the correct usage of "apologize":
- When "apologize" is followed by the reason for the apology (e.g., a mistake, an action), the preposition "for" is used: "apologize for something."
- When "apologize" is directed to a person or entity, the preposition "to" is used: "apologize to someone."
- Optionally, both can be combined: "apologize to someone for something" (e.g., "He apologized to his boss for his mistake.").
In this question, the sentence is "He apologized [preposition] his mistake," and we are focusing on the reason for the apology ("his mistake"), not the recipient.
Thus, the correct preposition is "for," and the sentence becomes: "He apologized for his mistake."
This matches option A, confirming that it is indeed the correct answer.
Step 7: Why the Other Options Are Incorrect - A Broader Perspective
- Option B ("On"): "Apologize on" is not a valid phrase in English for this context. "On" is used with other verbs like "comment" or "focus," but not with "apologize" when indicating the reason.
- Option C ("To"): "Apologize to" is correct when specifying the person receiving the apology, but "his mistake" is not a person, so "to" is inappropriate here.
- Option D ("By"): "Apologize by" does not fit grammatically, as "by" suggests a means or agent, not the reason for an apology.
Step 8: Practical Usage and Examples
Understanding prepositions with "apologize" is important for clear communication:
- "I apologized for my behavior." (Correct: "for" indicates the reason.)
- "I apologized to my friend." (Correct: "to" indicates the recipient.)
- "I apologized to my friend for my behavior." (Correct: Combines both the recipient and reason.)
In this question, since only the reason ("his mistake") is provided without a recipient, "for" is the appropriate preposition.
For beginners, practicing with similar sentences can help solidify this rule: "She apologized for her delay," "They apologized for the confusion."
Step 9: Key Concepts
- Prepositions with Verbs: Some verbs in English require specific prepositions. For "apologize," use "for" when stating the reason and "to" when stating the recipient.
- Common Patterns:
- "Apologize for something" (reason): "He apologized for his mistake."
- "Apologize to someone" (recipient): "He apologized to his friend."
- "Apologize to someone for something": "He apologized to his friend for his mistake."
- Avoid Common Mistakes: Don’t confuse prepositions like "on," "by," or "to" in contexts where they don’t fit. Test the sentence by speaking it aloud to see if it sounds natural.
- Practice with Examples: Create your own sentences using "apologize" to get comfortable with its prepositions.