Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

Betty couldn't help ________ when Oscar fell down.

• A. the laugh
• B. to laugh
• C. at laughing
• D. laughing

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

laughing

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 D: Laughing is a gerund as it plays a dual role

Option A and B: laugh is in the present tense. It is the wrong option

Option C: At laughing is in the continuous present tense and it does not act as a noun. It is the wrong option

Option D is correct