Sentence Analysis: Flight to the Mountains | UPSC Mains ENGLISH-COMPULSORY 2014

The terrified people to the mountains.

How to Approach

This question tests basic English grammar, specifically the correct use of prepositions and verb tenses. The sentence is incomplete and requires filling in the blank with the appropriate verb form to convey the intended meaning. The approach should focus on identifying the correct tense (past continuous or past simple) and the appropriate preposition to indicate movement *towards* a location. The answer should provide the corrected sentence and briefly explain the grammatical choices made.

Model Answer

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Introduction

Grammar forms the bedrock of effective communication, and accurate preposition and verb usage are crucial for conveying precise meaning. The given sentence, "The terrified people to the mountains," is grammatically incomplete. It lacks a verb and requires a preposition that accurately describes the direction of movement. Understanding the context – people fleeing in fear – is key to selecting the correct grammatical structure. This response will provide the corrected sentence and a rationale for the grammatical choices made.

Corrected Sentence

The terrified people fled to the mountains.

Grammatical Explanation

Verb Tense: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

The context suggests a completed action – the people have already moved to the mountains. Therefore, the past simple tense ("fled") is more appropriate than the past continuous ("were fleeing"), which would imply an ongoing action. While "were fleeing" isn't *incorrect*, "fled" provides a more concise and definitive statement.

Preposition: "to"

The preposition "to" indicates movement *towards* a specific destination. In this case, the mountains are the destination of the people's flight. Other prepositions like "at" or "in" would suggest the people were already *among* the mountains, which doesn't align with the sense of escape implied by "terrified."

Alternative phrasing (less preferred)

While "fled to" is the most natural phrasing, "ran to" or "escaped to" could also be used, maintaining the past simple tense and the correct preposition. However, "fled" best captures the urgency and fear implied by "terrified."

Importance of Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject "people" is plural, therefore the verb must also be in the plural form. This is why "fled" (the past tense of "flee") is used instead of "fleds".

Illustrative Examples

"The refugees fled to neighboring countries."
"The animals ran to the forest during the fire."
"The villagers escaped to higher ground before the flood."

Conclusion

In conclusion, the corrected sentence, "The terrified people fled to the mountains," accurately conveys the intended meaning through the appropriate use of the past simple tense and the preposition "to." This demonstrates the importance of precise grammatical construction in effective communication. A strong grasp of verb tenses and prepositions is essential for clear and concise writing, particularly in a formal setting like the UPSC Mains examination.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Preposition

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It often indicates location, direction, time, or spatial relationships.

Verb Tense

Verb tense indicates when an action took place – past, present, or future. Correct tense usage is vital for conveying the timing and sequence of events accurately.

Key Statistics

According to a 2023 study by Cambridge Assessment English, errors in preposition usage are among the most common grammatical errors made by non-native English speakers.

Source: Cambridge Assessment English (2023)

A 2022 report by the British Council indicated that approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide are learning English, highlighting the global importance of English language proficiency.

Source: British Council (2022)

Examples

The Great Migration

During the Great Migration (1916-1970), approximately six million African Americans fled the rural South to the urban North and West, seeking better opportunities and escaping racial discrimination. The preposition "to" is crucial in describing their movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

▶Could "were fleeing" be acceptable in this sentence?

While grammatically possible, "were fleeing" implies an ongoing action. "Fled" is more concise and directly conveys the completed action of escaping to the mountains, making it the preferred choice.