Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the most appropriate option: 'Would it be impolite (to be asked) why they are leaving?'

Introduction / Context:
Sentence improvement questions test your understanding of grammar and idiomatic usage. In this sentence, we are evaluating the phrase inside brackets: 'to be asked'. The speaker wants to know whether it would be impolite if he or she asks someone why they are leaving. The structure should clearly express the action of the speaker asking a question, not the passive idea of someone being asked.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Sentence: 'Would it be impolite (to be asked) why they are leaving?'
Bracketed part to improve: 'to be asked'.
Options: to ask, for asking, for being asked, no improvement.
We assume the speaker is considering their own act of asking about the reason for leaving.
We must choose the phrase that is grammatically correct and natural in standard English.

Concept / Approach:
The construction 'Would it be impolite to ask…?' is a very common and natural English pattern when politely considering if a question might be rude. The original phrase 'to be asked' wrongly changes the subject, as if the issue is about someone else being asked rather than about the speaker doing the asking. The prepositional constructions 'for asking' or 'for being asked' also do not fit this polite-question structure. Therefore, 'to ask' is the correct infinitive form that aligns with the intended meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the intended meaning: the speaker is wondering if asking the question 'Why are they leaving?' would be considered impolite. Step 2: Recall common usage: English speakers typically say, 'Would it be impolite to ask why they are leaving?' Step 3: Examine 'to ask': it correctly uses the infinitive to refer to the action under consideration. Step 4: Examine 'for asking': this would usually follow an expression like 'punished for asking', not 'Would it be impolite for asking…', which is incorrect. Step 5: Examine 'for being asked': this shifts focus to the person who is asked and also uses an awkward passive structure. Step 6: Examine 'no improvement': this would keep 'to be asked', which does not convey the speaker's action properly and sounds unnatural. Step 7: Conclude that 'to ask' is the best and grammatically correct improvement.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the improved sentence: 'Would it be impolite to ask why they are leaving?' This is a standard polite question used in everyday conversation and formal situations. Compare it with 'Would it be impolite to be asked why they are leaving?', which is confusing and suggests that the speaker is being asked, not doing the asking. Similarly, 'Would it be impolite for asking why they are leaving?' and 'for being asked' sound ungrammatical or unnatural. This confirms that option 'to ask' matches native-like usage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'For asking' would require a different structure, such as 'He was criticised for asking too many questions', which is not what the original sentence intends. 'For being asked' wrongly emphasises the passive experience of being asked, not the action of asking. 'No improvement' would preserve 'to be asked', which is incorrect because it mixes passive voice with the wrong subject and does not match common English phrasing for polite hesitations.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes struggle with infinitive versus gerund constructions, especially around abstract verbs like 'ask', 'tell', or 'request'. A helpful guideline is that after expressions like 'Would it be possible/impolite/right/wrong', the infinitive ('to ask', 'to tell') is usually used. Another pitfall is overusing passive forms, thinking they sound more formal. In reality, unnecessary passives often make sentences awkward and unclear, as seen with 'to be asked' in this question.

Final Answer:
The bracketed part should be improved to 'to ask', giving 'Would it be impolite to ask why they are leaving?'