Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined words in the given sentence.
The walls of the marriage hall were covered by beautiful purple curtains.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. covered with.
Error Concept: Incorrect prepositional usage following the verb “covered.”
What is wrong: The original phrase “covered by” is typically used in passive voice when indicating the agent performing the action (e.g., “The floor was covered by the workers”). However, in this sentence, the focus is on the state or condition of the walls, not the agent.
Grammar Concept: When referring to something that lies on or over a surface as a descriptive state (not action), the correct preposition is “with”.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: “Covered by” implies someone did the action, which is irrelevant here. The intended meaning is that the walls had curtains on them, hence 'covered with' is appropriate.
Correction: Replace “covered by” with “covered with” to accurately describe the state of the walls.
Corrected phrase: covered with
Final sentence: The walls of the marriage hall were covered with beautiful purple curtains.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.