In this grammar improvement question, choose the best alternative to replace the underlined part: Kim is too impatient with tolerating any delay.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: to tolerate

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question checks two important grammar points: the correct use of too plus adjective plus infinitive and the natural preposition choice after certain adjectives. The sentence aims to show that Kim is so impatient that she cannot accept any delay.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Original sentence: Kim is too impatient with tolerating any delay. - Underlined part: with tolerating. - Options: at tolerating, for tolerating, to tolerate, No improvement. - The intended meaning is that her impatience makes it impossible for her to tolerate delay.


Concept / Approach:
The standard pattern in English for such sentences is too plus adjective plus infinitive, for example too impatient to tolerate any delay. The preposition with does not fit this structure, and the gerund tolerating also breaks the usual pattern. Among the alternatives, to tolerate correctly completes the too plus adjective structure and preserves the intended meaning.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the structure too impatient with tolerating, which sounds awkward. Step 2: Recall the pattern too plus adjective plus to plus base verb, for example too tired to walk. Step 3: Apply this to get too impatient to tolerate any delay. Step 4: Check option C, to tolerate, which exactly fits this pattern. Step 5: Option A, at tolerating, does not follow the too plus adjective structure and is unidiomatic here. Step 6: Option B, for tolerating, again fails to match the pattern and changes the sense. Step 7: No improvement is incorrect because the original phrase is not standard English.


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider similar sentences: She is too shy to speak in public. He is too proud to ask for help. In each case, to plus base verb follows too plus adjective. Rewriting the original sentence as Kim is too impatient to tolerate any delay fits this established pattern and clearly expresses that her impatience prevents her from accepting delays.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
At tolerating in option A would usually follow good or bad at, not impatient. For tolerating in option B suggests a purpose or reason rather than a result of impatience. No improvement in option D would keep the incorrect preposition with and the gerund tolerating.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners often mix up patterns like good at plus gerund, capable of plus gerund, and too plus adjective plus infinitive. They may also insert unnecessary prepositions such as with or for because the phrase sounds similar to patience with. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to memorise common structures separately and practise them in example sentences.


Final Answer:
The correct improvement is Kim is too impatient to tolerate any delay, so the answer is to tolerate.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

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