Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun form: I cannot conceive of _____________ accepting the post.

Introduction / Context:
In English grammar, questions like this test your understanding of pronoun forms used before a gerund. The sentence I cannot conceive of _____________ accepting the post contains the verb accept in the ing form, accepting, which functions like a noun (a gerund). The choice of pronoun before a gerund is a subtle but important point in standard written English, especially in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence fragment: I cannot conceive of _____________ accepting the post. - Options: he, his, him, he'll. - The phrase conceive of here means imagine or think of. - Accepting is used as a gerund (verbal noun).

Concept / Approach:
When a verb ending in ing (a gerund) functions as a noun, it is common in careful, formal English to place a possessive pronoun before it. Thus, we usually write his accepting, her coming, or their winning. This pattern emphasises the action as a thing or event belonging to someone. Object pronouns like him or her may sometimes appear in casual speech, but exam standards prefer the possessive form before a gerund.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify accepting as a gerund that names the action of taking up the post. Step 2: Recognise that a pronoun directly before a gerund should, in formal written English, usually be possessive: my, your, his, her, our, their. Step 3: Among the options, his is the only possessive pronoun that fits correctly before accepting. Step 4: Test the sentence with each option: I cannot conceive of he accepting the post (ungrammatical); I cannot conceive of him accepting the post (common in speech, less formal for exams); I cannot conceive of he'll accepting the post (incorrect form and meaning). Step 5: The formally correct and exam friendly version is I cannot conceive of his accepting the post.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this rule by looking at similar sentences: I object to his smoking here or They were surprised at her winning the prize. Replacing his with him in such examples makes the sentence sound less formal or even awkward in careful writing. Grammar books and exam patterns consistently recommend the possessive form before gerunds in these contexts.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
He is a subject pronoun and cannot be used directly before a gerund in this structure. Him is an object pronoun. While it is heard in speech, it is not the preferred form in formal exam English here. He'll is a contraction of he will and does not make any grammatical sense before accepting.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to choose him because it sounds familiar in conversation. Another pitfall is to ignore the function of accepting as a noun and treat it like a normal verb. Remember that in exams testing standard grammar, possessive plus gerund (his accepting) is the safest and most correct structure.

Final Answer:
The correct pronoun is his, giving I cannot conceive of his accepting the post.