Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: We decided not tell to
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:This item checks infinitive word order and the use of prepositions with reporting verbs. Choose the fragment containing the error.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:After “decided,” we use the infinitive “to tell.” The negative marker goes before the “to”-infinitive: “decided not to tell.” We do not say “tell to the patient”; “tell” is ditransitive (“tell someone something”) without “to.”
Step-by-Step Solution:
Part A as written: “not tell to” — incorrect; should be “not to tell.”Part B: “the patient about” — correct after “tell”: “tell the patient about …”.Part C: “the disease he was” — acceptable lead-in to a relative clause.Part D: “suffering from.” — correct collocation “suffer from.”Verification / Alternative check:
Corrected sentence: “We decided not to tell the patient about the disease he was suffering from.”Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B, C, and D follow standard usage; only A breaks infinitive order and misuses “to.”Common Pitfalls:
Placing “not” after the main verb; adding “to” after “tell.”Final Answer:We decided not tell to
Discussion & Comments