Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
We can observed from the poll that the award is likely to go to the horror movie director this year.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. can observe from.
Error concept: The verb form in the original sentence is incorrect.
What is wrong: The sentence uses “can observed”, where “observed” is in past tense, but after a modal verb (can), the base form of the verb must be used.
Grammatical concept:
-
Rule: Modal verbs (can, may, must, should, etc.) are always followed by the base form of the verb.
-
Correct: can observe
-
Incorrect: can observed
Incorrectness of the concept in context: “Can observed” is grammatically wrong because “observed” is not the base form.
How to correct: Replace “observed” with “observe.”
Correct phrase/ correction:
“…we can observe from the poll…”
Final sentence:
We can observe from the poll that the award is likely to go to the horror movie director this year.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.