Fill in the blank (proverb about actions vs. words) “It is not what you say that ______ but what you do.” Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence.
Verbal Ability
Selecting Words
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
Answer
Correct Answer: matters
Explanation
Given data
- A contrast is drawn between saying and doing.
Concept/ApproachThe standard collocation is “what matters,” meaning “what is important.” The proverb emphasizes deeds over words.
Option analysismatters — correct; idiomatic and precise.counts — close in meaning, but “what matters” is the commoner fixed phrase here.speaks / tells — do not fit semantically or idiomatically in this structure.
Common pitfallsAvoid “speaks,” as in “actions speak,” which is a different idiom.
Final Answermatters