Spot the error in the following sentence:
Oscar Wilde said that the only way to get rid temptation is to yield to it.
(A) Oscar Wilde said that
(B) the only way
(C) to get rid temptation
(D) to yield to it
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (C) only
The phrase is get rid of (to free oneself from something unwanted). The preposition of cannot be dropped.
Example: We must get rid of these old newspapers.
(A) Oscar Wilde said that — No error.
- A reporting verb followed by "that" correctly introduces the reported statement.
(B) the only way — No error.
- "The" is right before "only way", as just one way is meant.
(C) to get rid temptation — Error.
- "get rid temptation" should be "get rid of temptation".
- Correct form: Oscar Wilde said that the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.
(D) to yield to it — No error.
- Yield to means to give in to.
- "To yield" balances "the only way to get rid".