Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

A good boss does not waste his valuable time finding faults in his subordinates.

  1. finding faults in his subordinates.

  2. to find faults of his subordinates.

  3. to find faults in his subordinates.

  4. finding faults of his subordinates.

  5. finding faults with his subordinates.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): There is error of idiomatic usage: we don't say 'finding fault in'; we say 'finding fault with', which means 'looking for mistakes'.

Explanation for (2): This option fails to rectify the error of phrasal usage and makes unwarranted changes by replacing 'finding' by 'to find'.

Explanation for (3): This option does not rectify the error of phrasal usage and introduces another error by replacing 'finding' by 'to find'.
Explanation for (4): This option does not rectify the error of incorrect phrasal usage. Justification for (5): Corrects the error of idiomatic use 'find fault with' is an idiom meaning 'to look for mistakes'.

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