Directions: Improve the underlined phrase in the following sentence with the…
2018
Directions: Improve the underlined phrase in the following sentence with the help of given options:
Raju seemed to be living at some remove from reality.
- A.
at certain remove
- B.
from some remove
- C.
in a remove
- D.
at one remove
Attempted by 58 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct phrase: at one remove
Improved sentence: Raju seemed to be living at one remove from reality.
Meaning: at one remove means somewhat detached or at a slight distance (not directly involved).
Why this is correct: 'Remove' here is a noun meaning a degree of separation, and the idiomatic preposition is 'at' (e.g., 'at one remove from reality').
Why the other choices are wrong: 'at certain remove' is nonstandard and awkward; 'from some remove' uses the wrong word order for the idiom; 'in a remove' is ungrammatical because 'remove' in this sense takes 'at', not 'in'.
Usage tip: You may also see 'at a remove' in similar contexts, but 'at one remove' is the best fit here to express a single degree of separation.