Extract:
Select the word or phrase that makes the following sentence grammatically correct.
After ___________ for an entire afternoon, the resident felt revitalized.
-
A
having rest
-
B
resting
-
C
rested
-
D
rest
The word "resting" makes the sentence grammatically correct by providing the gerund form required after the preposition "after."
A) having rest
"Having rest" incorrectly combines gerund "having" with noun "rest" rather than gerund "resting." After prepositions, verbs must appear in gerund form—not noun form.
B) resting
Gerund "resting" correctly follows the preposition "after." Prepositions require noun forms, and gerunds (verb + -ing) function as nouns—making "after resting" grammatically standard.
C) rested
Past tense/participle "rested" cannot function as a noun after a preposition. "After rested" creates an ungrammatical sequence lacking proper syntactic connection.
D) rest
Bare noun "rest" could theoretically follow "after," but the context demands the activity of resting—not the abstract concept of rest. Gerund "resting" better captures the intended meaning of taking a break.
Conclusion
Prepositions require noun forms as their objects. Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing functioning as nouns) satisfy this requirement, making "resting" the grammatically appropriate form after "after" to express the completed activity that revitalized the resident.