You will be none ....... for it if you take the examinations in November.

Analyze the question The sentence is: "You will be none ....... for it if you take the examinations in November." We need the correct form to fill the gap after "none".

Explain the concept The idiom is "none the + comparative", as in "none the wiser," "none the better," or "none the worse for it." It means "not at all more/less affected" or "not harmed by it."

• "None the" is followed by a comparative adjective (worse, better, wiser), not a superlative.
• "Worst" is a superlative, so it does not fit the idiom.
• "The worse" is the comparative with "the," which the idiom requires.

Show the solution

1. The sentence needs the pattern none the + comparative.
2. Option A, "the worst", is a superlative, so it is wrong.
3. Option B, "Worst", is a superlative with no "the", so it is wrong.
4. Option C, "worse", is comparative but lacks "the". "None worse" doesn't fit the idiom, so it is wrong.
5. Option D, "the worse", gives "none the worse for it". This is correct.

Full sentence: You will be none the worse for it if you take the examinations in November. In other words, you won't be harmed by taking them then.

Answer The correct option is D. the worse.

Tip Whenever you see "none" in a gap, think of the fixed phrases "none the wiser," "none the better," "none the worse." The word "the" always comes right after "none," and a comparative (ending in -er or starting with "more/less") follows. Remember: none + the + comparative.