Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

I like _____ people happy.

• A. to have made
• B. made
• C. making
• D. having made
• E. being made

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

making

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: to have made is a verb phrase which does not behave as a noun.

Option B: Made is the past tense again. It is the wrong option

Option C: Making is a gerund as it behaves as a noun in the sentence

Option D: Having made in the past perfect tense

Option E: Being made is in the continuous present tense and it does not act as a noun. It is the wrong option

Option C is correct