Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
They stopped to laugh as soon as the teacher entered the classroom.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. stopped laughing.
- Stop can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with a change in meaning.
- Stop + to + infinitive (if the meaning is to start something)
- She was cleaning the house and she stopped to get some rest.
- Stop + gerund (if the meaning is discontinue something)
- My grandmother stopped smoking when she felt some pain in her heart.
- The statement shows the discontinuity hence "stop + gerund" will be correct here.
- The chosen option follows this hence, it will improve the statement correctly.
The correct sentence will be-
They stopped laughing as soon as the teacher entered the classroom.