In the following question, four spellings of a word are given, out of which only one is correct. Read them carefully and select the correctly spelt word. The word relates to the act of being deprived of a loved one.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: bereaving

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a spelling question, where four different spellings of a similar sounding word are provided. The test taker has to identify the correct spelling. The word is related to the state of being deprived of a loved one, often used in forms like “bereave” and “bereavement.” Good spelling skills support clearer written communication and avoid confusion between similar looking words.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Options are: “bereving,” “bereaving,” “bareaving,” and “bareving.”- The intended root word is “bereave,” meaning to deprive someone of a loved one through death.- The present participle form of “bereave” is “bereaving.”


Concept / Approach:
The verb is “bereave,” and its standard spelling pattern is “be” plus “reave.” When forming the present participle, we add “ing.” There is no extra “a” after the initial “be,” and the consonant “v” replaces “f” in the spelling pattern of related forms like “bereaved.” Therefore, the correct spelling is the one that preserves “bereave” plus “ing,” giving “bereaving.” The others introduce incorrect vowels or omit necessary letters.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the root form: “bereave.” This already includes “bea” followed by “ve,” but the correct spelling is b e r e a v e, pronounced with a long “ee” sound.The present participle is formed regularly as “bereaving,” keeping the core spelling and adding “ing.” This gives b e r e a v i n g.Option B, “bereaving,” matches this pattern exactly and looks consistent with the forms “bereaved” and “bereavement.”Option A, “bereving,” removes the “a” before “v” and disrupts the standard spelling seen in “bereave.” It is incorrect.Option C, “bareaving,” incorrectly begins with “bar” instead of “ber,” which changes both pronunciation and spelling away from the root word.Option D, “bareving,” combines both the wrong “bar” start and the missing “a” before “v,” making it doubly incorrect.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can check a related noun: “bereavement,” spelled b e r e a v e m e n t. The central pattern “bereav” confirms that the correct cluster of letters contains “bereav,” not “berev” or “barev.” This supports the correctness of “bereaving.” Writing a sentence such as “She is still bereaving the loss of her husband” shows how the word is used and confirms the visual correctness of the spelling.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Bereving” omits the essential “a” after “e,” and does not align with recognised forms like “bereavement.”“Bareaving” wrongly substitutes “ba” for “be,” making it unrelated to the known word family.“Bareving” combines both errors and does not match any standard English word.


Common Pitfalls:
Because the pronunciation of “bereave” is similar to “believe,” learners sometimes confuse the internal vowel sequence. However, “believe” and “bereave” belong to different root families and follow different patterns. Paying attention to related words like “bereavement” can anchor the correct spelling pattern in memory.


Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is bereaving.

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