Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:
The man died by a heart attack.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. died of.
Grammatical Rule: Prepositions with 'Die'
The verb 'die' takes different prepositions depending on the cause of death.
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Die of: Used for internal causes such as diseases, hunger, thirst, or specific medical conditions (like a heart attack, cancer, or pneumonia).
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Example: He died of malaria.
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Die from: Used for external causes or indirect results such as injuries, wounds, overwork, or food poisoning.
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Example: The soldier died from his wounds.
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Die by: Used for means or instruments, often associated with violence, accidents, or suicide.
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Example: He died by the sword. / He died by his own hand.
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Die in: Used for circumstances or events.
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Example: Many people died in the earthquake.
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Analysis of the Sentence
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Subject: The man.
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Cause: A heart attack (a medical condition/internal cause).
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Correction: Since a heart attack is a biological cause, the preposition 'of' must be used.
Original: The man died by a heart attack. (Incorrect)
Corrected: The man died of a heart attack. (Correct)
Hence, the chosen option is correct.