Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word-
Please hand me ______ dictionary.
a) That
b) These
c) It
d) They

Answer 1

Hint: Read the given phrase carefully. Try to make out the subject and predicate of it. Try to find out the core meaning of the sentence as well.

Complete answer:
 The given sentence conveys that someone is asking to hand over a dictionary. A dictionary is a book that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning. It is basically a thing. We have to choose a pronoun that will best highlight the word ‘dictionary’ in the given sentence.
Now, let us examine all the given options to find out the correct answer-
Option ‘a’ is That. ‘That' is a very common word in both writing and speaking. We use it as a determiner, a demonstrative pronoun, and a relative pronoun. We also use it as a conjunction to introduce that-clauses.
Option ‘b’ is These. It is used for the plural forms of things. It cannot be used here as there is only ‘one’ dictionary, the sentence is talking about.
Option ‘c' is It. ‘It' is a third-person, singular neuter pronoun (nominative (subjective) case and oblique (objective) case) in Modern English. It cannot be used in the given sentence.
Option ‘d’ is They. It is used for people/living things. We cannot use it here as the ‘dictionary' is not a living thing.
Hence, option ‘a’ is the correct option. The complete sentence would be – Please hand me that dictionary.

Note:
the given options may also be called determiners. A determiner is a word, phrase, or affix that occurs together with a noun or noun phrase and serves to express the reference of that noun or a noun phrase in the context.