Question

Complete the sentence using the most appropriate option:
I don't mind you ________ the phone as long as you pay for all your calls.

a) being
b) working
c) using
d) making

Answer 1

Hint: Verb is the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence. It is a content word that denotes an action, occurrence, or state of existence.
For example- ‘say’, ‘walk’, ‘talk’.

Complete answer:

In the given question, the speaker intends to say to the other person that he/she does not have a problem if the person utilizes the phone provided that the person pays for all their calls. Therefore, we have to find a verb synonymous to ‘utilize’.
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'being', refers to the state or fact of existing.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as it is not synonymous to ‘utilize’ and is not relevant to the context of the sentence, since one cannot ‘be’ a phone.

Option (b.), ‘working', refers to performing or capable of performing.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as it is not synonymous to ‘utilize’ and is not relevant to the context of the sentence, since one cannot ‘work’ a phone.

Option (c.), ‘using', refers to the utilization or exercise of something for a purpose.
Therefore, option (c.) is correct as it is synonymous to ‘utilize’.

Option (d.), ‘making', refers to the act that results in something coming to be.
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as the speaker does not intend to say that he/she wouldn’t mind if the person would create/make the phone.

Note: In this question, do not be confused between ‘working’ and ‘using’. Working cannot be the right answer as it refers to getting something done (performing) on the phone, for example, making it better or repairing it; which is not what the speaker intends to say.