WAEC 2017 English Language · Question 14

He almost got … with the crime.

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. He almost got _____ with the crime.

A.up
B.off
C.over
D.away

Answer: D. away

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question The sentence is "He almost got _ with the crime." We need the particle that forms a phrasal verb with "got" and fits the preposition "with the crime."

Explain the concept The phrasal verb "get away with" means to commit a wrong act and escape punishment or consequences. It always takes the pattern: get away with + (something wrong).

Check each option

A. got up with: "get up" means to rise from bed. "Get up with" doesn't fit a crime context.
B. got off with: "get off" means to escape punishment (e.g., "He got off lightly"), but the pattern is "get off for a crime" or "get off with a warning/light sentence." It doesn't work with "the crime" itself.
C. got over with: "get over with" means to finish something unpleasant, not to escape punishment for it.
D. got away with: the standard phrase for escaping punishment for a crime.

Solution "He almost got away with the crime" means he nearly escaped without being caught or punished, but in the end he was caught.

Correct answer: D (away)

Exam tip Whenever you see crime, cheating, lying, or a wrong act after "with," think "get away with." In WASSCE and JAMB, phrasal verbs are tested often. Learn them in complete phrases, not as single words.

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