Fill in the blank with the correct preposition from the given options:
On the passing _________ of his cousin, I sent him a message of condolence.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → away
Complete sentence: On the passing away of his cousin, I sent him a message of condolence. A message of condolence is sent on someone's death, so "On the passing away of his cousin" is right.
| Option | Used to show | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) away (answer) | Pass away is a phrasal verb meaning to die. It is the polite, gentle way of speaking of a death. | Her grandmother passed away peacefully last night. |
| (2) over | To pass over is to ignore someone, or not choose him for a post. It has nothing to do with death. | He was passed over for promotion again this year. |
| (3) out | To pass out is to faint, or to complete a course of training. One does not send condolences for it. | She passed out in the heat during the parade. |
| (4) off | To pass off is to happen or take place (as an event), or to pretend that something is what it is not. | The festival passed off peacefully. |