Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
The shopkeeper did not have the toys I was looking ___________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → for
Look for means to try to find something; "look" takes for when the meaning is searching. The speaker was searching for particular toys, which the shopkeeper did not have.
Complete sentence: The shopkeeper did not have the toys I was looking for.
Example: I am looking for my keys.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: by — Incorrect. "Look by" is not used in English in the sense of searching.
Option 2: about — Incorrect. "Look about" means to look around a place; it does not mean searching for a particular thing.
Example: The tourists looked about them in wonder.
Option 4: to — Incorrect. "Look to" means to depend on or expect help from someone.
Example: Young players look to the captain for guidance.