Question

Replace the underlined part of the sentence with a suitable option, if necessary:
This is a matter I'd rather not talk about.

• A. of which I'd rather not talk about
• B. I would prefer not to talk about
• C. than I'd rather not talk about
• D. No improvement

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

No improvement

The word 'I'd' is the abbreviated form of 'I would'.

Option A: The phrase, 'of which I would rather not talk about' has two prepositions i.e 'of' and 'about'. Both mean the same. Hence, using both the prepositions in the same phrase is grammatically incorrect and this option is not correct.

Option B: The given sentence can be restated as: 'This is a matter I would rather not talk about'. It means the same as 'This is a matter I would prefer not to talk about. Hence, option B is an appropriate substitution for the underlined phrase. However, both these phrases are equally correct. i.e Option B does not 'improve' the given phrase. Hence, B is not the correct answer.

Option C: The word, 'than' is a preposition which is used to compare two nouns/ noun phrases. In this sentence, there are no two nouns which need to be compared. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option D is correct as the underlined phrase is grammatically correct and needs no improvement.