Verbal Ability - Spotting Errors - Discussion
Discussion Forum : Spotting Errors - Section 1 (Q.No. 26)
Directions to Solve
Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is 'D'. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
26.
(solve as per the direction given above)
Answer: Option
Explanation:
He couldn't help
Discussion:
26 comments Page 1 of 3.
Pranajit said:
8 years ago
The correct way of using "couldn't help/couldn't but". It means one can't-do without. Please remember "but" here is not a conjunction rather a preposition meaning"except/save". As "help" takes gerund after it so the sentence becomes "couldn't help shedding tears. ". Used with but ("but" is followed by a bare infinitive) the sentence becomes " couldn't but shed".
**** "but" & "help" can't be used together.
@Abhishek.
It means that there was nothing else for him except crying.
**** "but" & "help" can't be used together.
@Abhishek.
It means that there was nothing else for him except crying.
(1)
Emzy said:
4 years ago
Meaning of the sentence:
A cyclone had hit the villagers which resulted in them (The Villagers) getting homeless. The subject in the given sentence might be a visitor at the place. So when he saw the pathetic situation of the villagers, he could not control his tears and started Shedding them.
That is why, "He couldn't help shedding tears at the plight of the villagers, rendered homeless by a devastating cyclone".
A cyclone had hit the villagers which resulted in them (The Villagers) getting homeless. The subject in the given sentence might be a visitor at the place. So when he saw the pathetic situation of the villagers, he could not control his tears and started Shedding them.
That is why, "He couldn't help shedding tears at the plight of the villagers, rendered homeless by a devastating cyclone".
(1)
Ani said:
4 years ago
It looks the meaning is that he could not remain without shedding tears.
So "He couldn't but helped shedding tears".
A similar example in the present tense: The earth can't but revolves around the sun.
So "He couldn't but helped shedding tears".
A similar example in the present tense: The earth can't but revolves around the sun.
(1)
Naveed akhtar said:
8 years ago
Couldn't help means could not live without. If we use couldn't help but it will mean that one couldn't live without but. And in one sentence no need of two negative thoughts so just neglect "but".
Aadhii said:
8 years ago
Option A is correct. He couldn't help. It gives the answer to "what he couldn't". After that (but) the reason or what he could.
Robert Velvet said:
4 months ago
It should be "He couldn't help but shed tears. " instead of "He couldn't help but shedding tears".
Correct me, if I am wrong.
Correct me, if I am wrong.
(1)
Himanshi said:
9 years ago
He couldn't help shedding tears at the plight of the villagers "rendered/rendering/render" homeless by a devastating cyclone.
Suman said:
1 decade ago
Option [B] may also be considered incorrect as the line may be read as " He couldn't but help shed tears ....."
Jaya Pandey said:
1 decade ago
He could not help but shed tears at the plight of the villagers should be the correct way to write the sentence.
Pushpita Deb Roy said:
8 years ago
'He couldn't help but' is the correct answer no doubt but shouldn't it be 'shed' instead of 'shedding'?
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