Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

_____ about his problem, Susan wrote Tom a letter.

• A. Hearing
• B. Heard
• C. To hear
• D. To be heard

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Hearing

Gerunds are words that are formed with verbs but act as nouns. Gerunds also at times are seen to end in 'ing'. In this particular sentence, the word in the blank acts a noun thus becoming the subject of the sentence and also like a verb by taking up the object. This means that in the blank, we would need a gerund.

Option A: Hearing is a gerund as it plays a dual role

Option B and C: Hear is in the present tense. It is the wrong option

Option D: Heard is in the past tense.

Option A is correct