A part of the following sentence is underlined. Choose the option that can replace the underlined part to improve the sentence. If you feel Options A, B, or C do not improve the sentence, then choose Option D: 'No improvement required.'
Despite being one of the leading experts in his field, he was unable to secure position at the prestigious university.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
he was unable to secure a position
Explanation
The original sentence is missing an article before the singular countable noun 'position.' In standard English grammar, a singular countable noun cannot stand alone without a determiner or article. Adding the indefinite article 'a' fixes the sentence, forming the natural phrasing 'secure a position.'
The other options are incorrect because they use inappropriate determiners. Option 2 ('secure some position') and Option 3 ('secure one position') sound awkward and do not fit the formal tone of the sentence. Option 4 is incorrect because the original sentence contains a clear grammatical omission that needs fixing.
Key Points
Always check singular countable nouns (like position, job, or car) to make sure they are preceded by an article or determiner. Catching a bare singular noun like 'secure position' allows you to quickly target the option that restores the missing article 'a'.