Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blanks in the following sentence:-
Sudha__watches the cookery shows on TV,___cooks delicious food.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → not only, but also
Correlative conjunctions:
- Correlative conjunctions work in pairs: not only ... but also, either ... or, neither ... nor, both ... and, whether ... or.
- Not only ... but also adds a second fact to the first, usually the more striking one.
- This sentence: Sudha does two things, watching cookery shows and cooking delicious food, so the pair "not only ... but also" joins them.
- Complete sentence: Sudha not only watches the cookery shows on TV, but also cooks delicious food.
Example: He is not only a good singer but also a fine dancer.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: and, as — Incorrect.
- Blank 1 "and": "and" joins two words or clauses; it cannot stand between the subject "Sudha" and its verb.
Example: Ravi and Sita went to the market. - Blank 2 "as": "as" gives a reason or a time; it does not pair with "and", and "as cooks delicious food" has no subject.
Example: As it was raining, we stayed indoors.
Option 3: neither, but — Incorrect.
- Blank 1 "neither": "neither" pairs with "nor", not "but", and it would make the action negative.
Example: He neither called nor wrote to us. - Blank 2 "but": "but" alone shows contrast; there is no contrast between watching cookery shows and cooking.
Example: She is poor but honest.
Option 4: whether, or — Incorrect.
- Blank 1 "whether": "whether" introduces a doubt or a choice; "Sudha whether watches ..." is not a statement of fact.
Example: I do not know whether he will come. - Blank 2 "or": "or" offers alternatives (one or the other), but Sudha does both things.
Example: Would you like tea or coffee?