Which of the following can replace the underlined part to make the sentence correct?
Walking along the beach at Puri, a big wave soaked my new canvas shoes.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → While I was walking along the beach at Puri, a big wave soaked
An opening -ing phrase must match the subject:
- An opening phrase like “Walking along the beach” describes the subject that comes right after the comma.
- The given sentence says “Walking along the beach at Puri, a big wave soaked”. This is wrong: it makes the wave do the walking.
- “While I was walking” shows that the speaker was the one walking.
- Complete sentence: While I was walking along the beach at Puri, a big wave soaked my new canvas shoes.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Walking along the beach at Puri, a big wave was soaking — Incorrect. The wave is still the subject after the comma, so the wave still seems to be walking.
Option 2: While walking along the beach at Puri, a big wave soaked — Incorrect. Adding “While” does not help. The subject after the comma is still the wave.
Option 3: Walked along the beach at Puri, a big wave soaked — Incorrect. “Walked” cannot open the sentence like this. The first part has no subject of its own.