Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

Excuse me. Would you mind _____? It makes it impossible for me to enjoy my meal.

• A. my smoking
• B. to have smoked
• C. not smoking
• D. not to smoke

Answer 1

The correct option is C not smoking

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. In this case, since the sentence is in a question form, so a negative word is required.

Option A: Smoking is a gerund as it behaves as a noun in the sentence

Option B: Smoked is in the past tense.

Option C: It is also a gerund, it is the correct option as a negative word is present in this.

Option D: Smoke is in the present tense. It is the wrong option

Option C is correct