Select the correct alternative to fill in the blank with the correct preposition in the following sentence.
Tina must apologize _______ Ravi for her misbehaviour.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
to
Explanation
The correct preposition to fill in the blank is "to." In English grammar, the verb "apologize" follows a strict dependent preposition rule based on whether it is directed at a person or an action. The fixed expression is "to apologize to someone (for something)." Because the blank is immediately followed by the person receiving the apology, "Ravi," the preposition "to" is grammatically mandatory.
The alternate choices do not fit the rules of this fixed combination. While the preposition "for" is used with apologize, it marks the reason or offense being addressed, which is already correctly positioned later in the sentence as "for her misbehaviour." Using "with" or "at" directly before a person after the verb apologize breaks standard English syntax rules.
Key Point
Verb-preposition collocations change depending on the target object. When utilizing the verb apologize, always use "to" when referring to the person being addressed, and use "for" when referring to the wrongdoing or mistake being cleared up.