WAEC 2011 English Language · Question 37

The referee contemplated … the players off the pitch.

Question

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences: The referee contemplated............the players off the pitch.

A.to send
B.to sending
C.sending
D.to be sending

Answer: C. sending

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question The sentence asks which form correctly follows the verb contemplated: "The referee contemplated __ the players off the pitch."

Explain the concept Some verbs in English must be followed by a gerund (the -ing form), not an infinitive (to + verb). Contemplate is one of them. It means "to think seriously about doing something."

Other verbs in this group include: enjoy, avoid, consider, finish, mind, suggest, admit, deny, postpone, risk, practise.

A handy memory line is "You contemplate, consider, or avoid doing something." You never contemplate to do something.

Step-by-step solution

The main verb is contemplated, which takes a gerund as its object.
Option A, "to send," is an infinitive, so it is wrong.
Option B, "to sending," is ungrammatical. It would only work if to were a preposition, as in "look forward to sending," and contemplate doesn't need a preposition here.
Option D, "to be sending," is an infinitive in the continuous form, so it is also wrong.
Option C, "sending," is the gerund, so it fits.

Correct sentence: The referee contemplated sending the players off the pitch.

Answer: C. sending

Exam tip: Whenever you see contemplate, consider, avoid, enjoy, finish, suggest, or mind in a WASSCE, JAMB, or NECO "fill in the gap" question, go straight for the -ing option. Learn these verbs as a list and you will pick up easy marks.

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