Improve the bracketed part of the sentence.
Our thoughts make us the person we are, pondering over these thoughts can occupy our soul for (a long periods of time).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. a longer period of time.
Error concept: The error is in the phrase “a longer periods of time”
What is wrong: Here “a” is singular but the word “periods” is plural. Singular article and plural noun together are grammatically wrong.
Grammatical concept: When we use “a” or “an”, the following noun must always be in singular form.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Using “a” with “periods” makes the sentence incorrect because of mismatch between article and noun.
How to correct: Change the plural noun periods into singular period.
Correct phrase/ correction: a longer period of time
Final sentence: Our thoughts make us the person we are, pondering over these thoughts can occupy our soul for a longer period of time.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.