Question

Pick the correct option given below to replace the underlined words/phrase in the following sentence to make it grammatically correct:
"Do you know that dressing properly for an interview can earns you those brownie points which will help you get that dream job"?

• A. can earn
• B. will earning
• C. will earns
• D. earned

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To correct the sentence grammatically, we need to focus on the verb "earns" used in the clause "can earns you those brownie points." The use of the modal verb "can" should be followed by the base form of the main verb.

1. In English grammar, modal verbs (such as "can," "will," "may," etc.) are followed by the base form of the verb without any additional endings. This is because modal verbs are used to express ability, permission, possibility, and necessity, and the verb following them should remain in its simplest form.
2. The incorrect usage here is "can earns," where "earns" is the third person singular present form. The correct usage after "can" is the base form "earn."

Now, let's evaluate the options given:

• can earn: Correct option. This maintains the correct form for a verb following a modal verb.
• will earning: Incorrect. "Will" should be followed by the base form of the verb, not a present participle ("earning").
• will earns: Incorrect. Similar to the error in the sentence, "will" should be followed by the base form, "earn," not "earns."
• earned: Incorrect. This is in the past tense and does not fit in this context where a future possibility or capability is being discussed.

Therefore, the correct phrase to replace the underlined words is 'can earn', making the complete sentence:

"Do you know that dressing properly for an interview can earn you those brownie points which will help you get that dream job?"