Select the correct alternative to fill in the blank with the correct preposition in the following sentence.
The people felt really sorry ______ the flood victims.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
for
Explanation
The question asks for the correct preposition to fill in the blank. The phrase "sorry for" is a fixed prepositional collocation used when expressing sympathy, pity, or compassion toward a person or a group of people. Since the sentence describes feeling sympathy toward the "flood victims," "for" is the grammatically correct choice.
The other options are incorrect because they change or violate standard prepositional usage. While "sorry about" is a valid English phrase, it is used to express regret for an event, a situation, or a mistake (e.g., "I am sorry about the delay"), rather than sympathy for individuals. The prepositions "at" and "in" do not pair with the adjective "sorry" in this context.
Key Points
Fixed prepositions on your exam paper often depend heavily on the target noun that follows the blank. When the object of the feeling is a person or a group of people, remember that "sorry" pairs with "for" to indicate sympathy.