Choose the correct noun form of the word given in brackets to fill in the blank:
A quiet ______ filled the hostel on the last evening before the summer holidays. (sad)
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → sadness
Abstract noun from an adjective:
- Many adjectives make an abstract noun with -ness. Sad → sadness.
- The blank comes after “A quiet”, so it needs a noun. “Sadness” means the feeling of being unhappy.
- Complete sentence: A quiet sadness filled the hostel on the last evening before the summer holidays.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: sadly — Incorrect. “Sadly” is an adverb. It tells that something is done in an unhappy way. Example: The puppy looked sadly at the closed door.
Option 3: sadden — Incorrect. “Sadden” is a verb. It means to make someone unhappy. Example: The news of the flood will sadden everyone in the colony.
Option 4: sadder — Incorrect. “Sadder” is an adjective. It compares two things. Example: The end of the film was sadder than the end of the book.