WAEC 2017 English Language · Question 94

My sympathies are … the victims of the flood.

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. My sympathies are _____ the victims of the flood.

A.on
B.to
C.with
D.about

Answer: C. with

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

1. Analyze the question The sentence is "My sympathies are _ the victims of the flood." This tests prepositions that go with particular nouns, in this case the noun sympathy.

2. Explain the concept In standard English, the usual phrase is "sympathies are with someone". It means you share in their sorrow and stand by them.

"Our sympathies are with the bereaved family."
"My thoughts and sympathies are with the victims."

"Sympathy for" and "sympathize with" are also common. But when the sentence is built as "sympathies are ___ the victims," the natural fit is with.

3. Test each option

A. on: "sympathies are on the victims" is not idiomatic.
B. to: "sympathies are to the victims" is wrong. We say "extend sympathy to" someone, but not "sympathies are to."
C. with: "My sympathies are with the victims of the flood" is the standard expression.
D. about: "sympathies are about the victims" does not express sharing in their grief.

4. Answer The correct option is C. with.

5. Exam tip Learn these as fixed phrases:

sympathies are with someone
sympathize with someone
extend sympathy to someone
feel sympathy for someone

If you remember "sympathies are WITH", you will get this question right every time.

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