Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition: 'My father did not approve ______ the plan of travelling to Uttarakhand because of bad weather there.'

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: of

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests the correct use of prepositions with specific verbs in English, focusing on the verb approve. Prepositional usage is often fixed and idiomatic, so it must be learned as part of a verb phrase rather than through literal translation. The sentence reads: My father did not approve ______ the plan of travelling to Uttarakhand because of bad weather there. Choosing the right preposition here is essential for natural and grammatically correct English.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Sentence: My father did not approve ______ the plan of travelling to Uttarakhand because of bad weather there.
  • The missing word is a preposition.
  • Options given include of, one, to, and with.
  • The context is giving or withholding approval of a plan.


Concept / Approach:
Certain verbs in English regularly take specific prepositions. The verb approve, when used in the sense of agreeing with or accepting something as good, is normally followed by of. The pattern is approve of something or disapprove of something. Examples include Most parents approve of this decision and She does not approve of his behaviour. The other words to, with, and one either do not function as suitable prepositions with approve in this sense or do not fit the structure of the sentence at all.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the verb plus preposition phrase. The verb is approve and it is followed by a blank before the object the plan of travelling to Uttarakhand.Step 2: Recall the standard pattern: approve of something. Therefore, of is the expected preposition.Step 3: Insert Option A: My father did not approve of the plan of travelling to Uttarakhand because of bad weather there. This sounds natural and grammatically correct.Step 4: Test Option B: My father did not approve one the plan ... The word one does not work as a preposition here and breaks the structure.Step 5: Test Option C: My father did not approve to the plan ... This is incorrect because approve is not followed by to in this meaning.Step 6: Test Option D: My father did not approve with the plan ... This is also wrong because approve with is not the standard collocation.Step 7: Conclude that only of correctly completes the phrase.


Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a similar sentence: The principal does not approve of the students plan. Here, of clearly connects approve and the plan. Dictionaries and grammar books list approve of as the correct phrase when talking about being pleased with or accepting something. If we replace approve with agree, the preposition changes (agree with a person, agree to a proposal), but we cannot transfer that pattern back to approve. This confirms that of is the only acceptable choice in the given sentence.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option B: one is not a preposition and does not create a logical or grammatical phrase after approve.
  • Option C: to does not collocate with approve in this context. Approve to the plan is incorrect in standard English.
  • Option D: with is similarly wrong here. Approve with the plan is not used; the standard form is approve of the plan.


Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse approve with agree and assume the prepositions can be interchanged. However, approve of and agree with or agree to are different patterns that must be memorised separately. Another pitfall is attempting to choose a preposition based only on literal translation from the mother tongue, which often leads to incorrect combinations. To avoid these mistakes, students should learn common verb plus preposition pairs as fixed phrases and practise them in context.


Final Answer:
The correct preposition is of, so the sentence should read: My father did not approve of the plan of travelling to Uttarakhand because of bad weather there.

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