Choose the best option that best completes the gap(s) _____a good boy, he was given a prize

Analyze the question The sentence is "_ a good boy, he was given a prize." We need a word or phrase that begins a clause explaining why he was given a prize. The subject of the main clause is "he", so the opening phrase must also relate to "he".

Explain the concept A participial phrase can open a sentence and give a reason. The present participle "being" is used to show cause:

• Being tired, she went to bed. (Because she was tired...)
• Being a good boy, he was given a prize. (Because he was a good boy...)

Now look at the other options:

• "To being" and "To been" are not grammatical here. "To" cannot introduce the phrase this way, and "to been" is never correct.
• "Been" is a past participle. It needs an auxiliary such as "having been" or "has been". On its own it doesn't work here. (Having been a good boy, he was given a prize would be acceptable, but plain "Been" is not.)
• "Being" is the present participle and fits perfectly.

Solution Replace the gap with each option:

• A. To being a good boy, he was given a prize ✗
• B. Been a good boy, he was given a prize ✗
• C. Being a good boy, he was given a prize ✓
• D. To been a good boy, he was given a prize ✗

Only C is grammatically correct and makes sense.

Answer: C. Being

Tip: When a sentence begins with a gap followed by a noun phrase and a comma, and the meaning is "because...", try Being.... Test it by asking: "Can I replace it with 'Because he was...'?" If yes, "Being" is usually correct.