In this vocabulary and usage question, choose the correct word to complete the sentence “Do you __________ own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?” so that it politely asks whether the listener happens, by any chance, to possess such a copy.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of slightly formal or literary English expressions used to ask polite questions. The sentence is “Do you __________ own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?” The speaker is politely enquiring whether the listener happens to have a copy of the famous play. The blank must be filled with a word or expression that naturally fits into this kind of polite, somewhat old fashioned question.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence structure is: “Do you _____ own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?”
• Options are: chance, chances, perchance, and by chances.
• The intended sense is similar to “Do you by any chance own a copy…?”
• The tone is slightly formal or literary, because of the reference to Shakespeare and the style of the question.

Concept / Approach:
The words “chance” and “chances” by themselves do not normally fit between “you” and “own” in this structure. The common modern phrase is “by any chance,” but that exact wording is not among the options. The word “perchance” is an older, somewhat literary adverb meaning “by chance” or “perhaps.” It fits naturally into the sentence: “Do you perchance own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?” This preserves the polite and slightly old fashioned tone. The remaining option “by chances” is grammatically incorrect because “chances” should not be plural in that expression and the word order is wrong.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand that the speaker is gently asking whether the listener has a copy of the play, not demanding or expecting it.Step 2: Recognise that a polite, tentative expression is needed, similar to “by any chance” or “perhaps.”Step 3: Evaluate “perchance,” which is an adverb meaning “perhaps” or “by chance,” and see that it forms a smooth, literary sounding question: “Do you perchance own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?”Step 4: Try “chance” in the sentence: “Do you chance own a copy…” This is not standard English.Step 5: Try “chances” and “by chances,” and observe that both forms sound incorrect and unidiomatic in this position.Step 6: Conclude that “perchance” is the only option that fits both grammatically and stylistically.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare the sentence with a more modern equivalent: “Do you by any chance own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?” The role of “by any chance” here is very similar to the role that “perchance” would play in the exam sentence. Replacing the blank with “perchance” produces a grammatically correct, slightly old fashioned version that matches the literary context implicitly suggested by Shakespeare's name. No other option carries this precise meaning or fits smoothly in the sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Chance” on its own is usually a noun and would not be inserted directly between “you” and “own” without additional words such as “happen to.” “Chances” is a plural noun and is even less suitable in this structure. “By chances” is grammatically wrong because the fixed expression is “by chance,” not “by chances,” and even that expression needs different placement in the sentence. None of these forms yield a natural English question, whereas “perchance” does.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may be unfamiliar with the word “perchance” and therefore hesitate to choose it, even though it is the only one that makes grammatical and stylistic sense. Another pitfall is trying to force the very familiar phrase “by chance” into the sentence, but since the exact words “by chance” are not provided, candidates sometimes choose “by chances” incorrectly, not realising that this is ungrammatical. When facing unfamiliar words in exams, it is important to test how they function in a sentence; if the resulting sentence is grammatical and meaningful, the unfamiliar option may still be the right one.

Final Answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence is perchance, giving “Do you perchance own a copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet?”