Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word:
Please listen _____.
A) Careful
B) Carefully
C) Care
D) Carely

Answer 1

Hint: The root word for all the words given in the options is ‘care’. Care is a noun or a verb and by adding different suffixes to nouns, verbs or adjectives we can form other types of words. We add –ment, -tion, etc to verbs to generate nouns. We can add –less, -ful, -ous, etc. to generate adjectives out of nouns. Finally, we add –ly to adjectives to form various adverbs.

Complete answer:
In the sentence given in the question, we have an adverb ‘please’ which indicates the politeness of the speaker, ‘listen’ which is a verb and we have a blank. The blank can only be filled with an adverb as it would describe the verb. We cannot use any other part of speech as there is no subject or object to be addressed.

Now let us look into the given options:
Option A) Careful – This is an adjective. It means to be cautious and to make sure of avoiding potential danger or mishap. For e.g. I was very careful while using the knife. But we need an adverb to fill the blank. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Option B) Carefully – This word is an adverb and is used to describe verbs. For e.g. Use the knife very carefully, otherwise, you will hurt yourself. We can use it to fill the blank, which will describe the verb ‘listen’. This is the correct option.
Option C) Care – This word, ‘care’, can be used as a noun as well as a verb. Its noun form refers to a provision for something necessary for the health, wellbeing or protection of something (or someone). Its verb form refers to the act of looking after someone or something or showing concern and interest. It is not an adverb and hence cannot be used to fill the blank. Thus, this option is wrong.
Option D) Carely – ‘Carely’ is a wrong word in itself. We generally add –ly as a suffix to an adjective to form an adverb. In this case, the suffix –ly has been added to a noun. That is not how this conversion works, and an incorrect word has been generated. Thus, this option is also wrong.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (B) Please listen carefully.

Note: Some synonyms of the word ‘care’ are supervision, safekeeping, protection etc. It can be used as both a noun as well as a verb. For e.g. The kids care a lot about their pets. Here the word ‘care’ is used as a verb, ‘to care’. Another example can be; He needs extensive care after the accident he has been through. Here the word ‘care’ has been used as a noun.