16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardConsistent form in a comparison

Standard English Conventions practice question

Repairing the old organ would cost more than ____ a new one.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. buyingCorrect
  2. B. to buy
  3. C. if we bought
  4. D. a purchase of

Answer: A. buying

'Repairing' pairs with 'buying'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. to buy
An infinitive does not match the gerund.
C. if we bought
A clause breaks the comparison.
D. a purchase of
A noun phrase breaks the parallel.

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