English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Sentence: The customer scarcely had / enough money to pay / to the cashier / at the cash counter.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: to the cashier

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The focus here is verb complementation with “pay.” In English, “pay” takes a double-object pattern: “pay someone something” or “pay something to someone.” When using the infinitive “to pay,” we normally take a direct object “the cashier” (without “to”).



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Main clause: “The customer scarcely had enough money …”.
  • Verb of payment: “pay.”
  • Two possible patterns exist; we must pick the correct one for this context.


Concept / Approach:
With “pay,” the idiomatic forms are: “pay the cashier” (no preposition) or “pay the money to the cashier.” Since the sentence already has “to pay” followed by a person, the preposition “to” should be omitted.



Step-by-Step Solution:

A–B: “scarcely had enough money to pay” is fine.C: Replace “to the cashier” with “the cashier.”D: “at the cash counter” is a correct locative phrase.


Verification / Alternative check:

Alternative pattern: “enough money to pay the amount to the cashier at the cash counter.” Both are grammatical when used correctly.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

They are not wrong; only C violates the verb’s complementation pattern.


Common Pitfalls:

Adding redundant “to” after “pay” when the direct object is a person.


Final Answer:
to the cashier

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