Select the appropriate option that can substitute the underlined word in the following sentence to make it grammatically correct.
Only the beautiful painting is to be displayed in the exhibition.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. the most beautiful
Error Concept: incorrect use of adjective degree
What is wrong: The word “beautiful” is in the positive degree, but the sentence is comparing one painting among many, so it requires superlative degree.
Grammar Concept: When we talk about one item being the best or highest in quality among a group, we use the superlative degree of adjectives (e.g., the tallest, the fastest, the most beautiful).
Incorrectness of the concept in context: “Beautiful” only describes the painting but does not show it is better than all others, which is the intended meaning.
Correction: Replace beautiful with the most beautiful to indicate it is the best among all paintings.
Corrected phrase: the most beautiful
Final sentence: Only the most beautiful painting is to be displayed in the exhibition.
Hence, the chosen option is correct