Choose the option that best improves the bracketed part of the sentence. If no improvement is needed, select the no improvement option:\n\n"I would love to come to your party! Thank you for (invites) me."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: inviting

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests correct verb form after a preposition. The sentence uses the phrase Thank you for followed by a verb. In English, verbs that follow prepositions like for are usually in the gerund form, which is the ing form of the verb. The question asks you to choose the verb form that makes the sentence grammatically correct and natural.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Sentence: I would love to come to your party! Thank you for (invites) me.
  • The preposition is for.
  • The base verb is invite.
  • Options: invited, invite, inviting, no improvement.


Concept / Approach:
In English grammar, when a verb follows a preposition, it should normally be in the gerund form, which looks like a noun but is formed with ing. The correct pattern is thank you for inviting me, where inviting functions as a gerund. Using invited or invite after for does not follow the standard rule and sounds incorrect in this structure. Therefore, the correct choice is inviting.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the preposition for in the phrase thank you for. Step 2: Recall that a verb coming after a preposition must take the ing form. Step 3: Transform the base verb invite into its gerund form: inviting. Step 4: Insert inviting into the sentence: Thank you for inviting me, which is the standard expression.


Verification / Alternative check:
Test each option in the sentence. Thank you for invited me is ungrammatical because invited is a past participle and requires a different structure, such as thank you for having invited me. Thank you for invite me lacks the required ing form and sounds incorrect. The original Thank you for invites me is clearly wrong. Thank you for inviting me is the only version that sounds natural and conforms to standard grammar.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, invited, does not follow a preposition correctly in this context without additional auxiliary verbs. Option B, invite, is the base form and is not used directly after for in such expressions. Option D, no improvement, is incorrect because the bracketed form invites does not match any correct pattern. Only inviting fits the grammatical rule and produces a natural phrase.


Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to focus on the sense of past action and think that invited must be used because the invitation was given earlier. However, the pattern thank you for inviting me focuses on the act as a noun phrase, not strictly on its tense. Another pitfall is overlooking the rule that verbs after prepositions must be in the ing form. Remembering this rule helps in many similar questions.


Final Answer:
The correct improvement is inviting, so the sentence should read Thank you for inviting me.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion