The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
The teacher was (a)/ taken back by (b)/ the audacity of (c)/ the new student.(d)
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. B.
The phrase "taken aback" is an idiom meaning to be surprised or shocked. The word "aback" means "towards the rear" and in this idiom, it conveys the idea of being startled or moved back in surprise.
On the other hand, "taken back" generally means to return something to its original place, or can also imply revisiting a previous thought or memory. It doesn't fit the context of being surprised or shocked.
Therefore, the correct usage in this context is "taken aback," not "taken back."