In the following question, improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the best alternative: Neha (would be looked) beautiful in Indian attire.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: would look

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests your knowledge of correct verb forms and conditional structures in English. The sentence talks about Neha and how she would appear in Indian attire. You need to choose the form that is grammatically correct and natural, replacing the incorrect bracketed phrase "would be looked".


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Original sentence: Neha (would be looked) beautiful in Indian attire.
- Alternatives:
- had looking.
- was looked.
- would look.
- No improvement.
- The intention is to express a hypothetical or general opinion about how Neha would appear if she wore Indian clothes.


Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the correct use of the modal would with the main verb look. When describing appearance, English normally uses the structure "would look + adjective", as in "She would look nice" or "He would look tired". The phrase "would be looked" is a wrong passive form; look in the sense of appear is used intransitively and does not take such a passive construction. Therefore, we need the simple modal + base verb combination "would look".


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine the meaning: We want to say that in Indian attire Neha would appear beautiful.Step 2: Check option "had looking". This is grammatically incorrect and does not form a valid verb phrase.Step 3: Check "was looked". This is a passive form and would require an agent, for example "was looked at", which changes the meaning and remains awkward here.Step 4: Check "would look". This fits the common pattern "subject + would look + adjective" and correctly expresses a hypothetical appearance.Step 5: Consider "No improvement". This would retain "would be looked", which is clearly wrong in standard English.Step 6: Therefore, "would look" is the correct improvement.


Verification / Alternative check:
Compare sentences: "Neha would be looked beautiful in Indian attire" sounds wrong to a native speaker because be looked suggests that someone is doing the looking, but beautiful is an adjective describing Neha, not an action. In contrast, "Neha would look beautiful in Indian attire" is natural and matches hundreds of similar examples like "The room would look bigger with lighter paint". This parallel supports our choice of "would look".


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "had looking" does not form any recognised tense or aspect in English and is ungrammatical.
- "was looked" suggests a passive voice without a logical agent or object and still does not combine properly with beautiful.
- "No improvement" would keep the incorrect phrase and so cannot be correct in an exam that expects standard grammar.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes overuse passive structures because they see many be + past participle patterns. However, not every verb or meaning can be put into passive voice. The verb look in the sense of appear is linking, similar to seem or appear, and it connects the subject to an adjective. These linking verbs stay active and are not made passive. Remember patterns like "She looks tired", "He would look happy", and avoid forms such as "is looked tired".


Final Answer:
The correct improvement is "would look", so the sentence should read: Neha would look beautiful in Indian attire.

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