Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option.
We are very busy at the office. I must __________ my holidays for a while.
A) Put up
B) Put through
C) Put off
D) Put in

Answer 1

Hint: The sentence states that people are very busy at office and due to this reason, they are unable to explore anything. So, this is a negative sentence and we have to find the best fit in the blank in such a way that it makes the compliments the first half of the sentence.

Complete answer:
For answering such questions it is very important to understand the meaning of the sentence. Whether the sentence is in a negative statement or in the positive statement. Here, the given sentence ‘We are very busy at the office. I must __________ my holidays for a while’ the context refers to not going to holiday due to being very busy at the office. This indicates postponing the holiday.

Let us look into the given options:
Option A) Put up – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of ‘put up’ is ‘to build or construct or raise or set up’ and this option will not go with the first half of the sentence ‘We are very busy at the office’. So, this is an incorrect answer.
Option B) Put through – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of ‘put through’ is ‘to carry a successful conclusion or to make someone do or experience difficult or unpleasant or to connect someone with someone while calling on the phone’. This option is an incorrect answer in the blank.
Option C) Put off – is the correct answer because the meaning of ‘put off’ is ‘postpone something or delay or put back’ and this is the most appropriate answer because this option gives the complete sense of the other half of the sentence ‘I must put off my holidays for a while’. So, this is the correct answer because it states that due to hectic schedule in office, the holidays have been postponed.
Option D) Put in – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of ‘put in’ means ‘interrupt in a conversation or discussion’ and this is completely an in appropriate answer.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: There are two types of sentences and they are positive and negative sentences. Positive sentences state that something to be believed and are based on factual basis. For example: Think positive and pray. Negative sentences are also known as the declarative statements and they are formed typically adding not in the statement. For example: We were not sad when she moved away. So, the given statement is the negative sentence,thus, option C is the most appropriate answer.