Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence.
The walls of the temple caved out due to weak construction.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. in.
Error concept:The phrasal verb “caved out” is incorrect and not used in standard English. The intended meaning is that the walls collapsed inward due to poor construction.
What is wrong:“Caved out” is not a valid phrasal verb. The correct expression used to describe a structure collapsing inward is “caved in.”
Grammatical concept:Phrasal verbs consist of a verb plus a preposition or adverb, and changing the particle (like “out” or “in”) completely changes or invalidates the meaning.
Incorrectness of the concept in context:The use of “out” incorrectly implies something bursting outward, which is not the natural usage. When walls collapse due to structural weakness, they cave in, not “cave out.”
How to correct:Replace “caved out” with “caved in” to convey the correct sense of inward collapse.
Correct phrase/correction:caved in
Final sentence:The walls of the temple caved in due to weak construction.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.