Question

Fill in the blanks with the correct word / phrase.
I dread ____ what would have happened if there had been an accident.
A. Thinking
B. Thought of
C. To think
D. The thought

Answer 1

Hint: The sentence suggests that the speaker is talking about the fear of an accident. The word ‘dread’ preceded by the blank means great fear of. The options suggest that the answer is sometimes around the verb ‘think’ which means creating ideas in our minds. We will choose our answer which connects the verb ‘dread’ and the form of the verb ‘think’ appropriately.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually in detail to figure out the correct option with the help of the above stated hint.

Thinking : By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I dread thinking what would have happened if there had been an accident!” This is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Thought of : By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I dread thinking of what would have happened if there had been an accident!” This is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

To think : By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I dread to think what would have happened if there had been an accident!” This is grammatically correct. Therefore, this is the correct option.

The thought: By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I dread the thought of what would have happened if there had been an accident!” This is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: Some words in English language occur in its infinitive form when the preceding verb is already conjugated (dread, in this case). That is why we have concluded our answer to be option C.
Example: I fear the losses. (Correct)
                 I fear losses. (Incorrect)
The verb fear is already conjugated as it means ‘to be scared of’.