Q2
EnglishParts of Speech
Supply the missing word in the sentence by choosing the right one from the following options. There is a book shop close _____.
- a.now
- b.up
- c.in
- d.by
Answer: (D) by
'Close by' is the fixed adverbial phrase meaning 'near, at a short distance', as in 'There is a book shop close by'. 'Close up' means to shut (a shop) or to move nearer together, 'close in' means to surround or approach (night closes in, the enemy closes in), and 'close now' is not a phrase of place at all. Remember the grammar point too: 'close to' must be followed by an object (close to the station), whereas 'close by' can end a sentence. Similar expressions of nearness are 'nearby', 'at hand' and 'round the corner'.