Fill in the blank with the right form of the word. One day a thirsty lamb went ______ water from a stream?

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

The sentence requires a verb form that explains the purpose or reason for the action 'went'.
Verbs of motion (like go/went, come/came, run/ran) are often followed by an 'infinitive of purpose' to explain why the action was taken.
The infinitive form is constructed with 'to + base form of the verb'.
In this case, the base verb is 'drink', making 'to drink' the only grammatically correct choice to express purpose.

Option B: This is a duplicate of the correct answer. While the form is correct, it is presented as a separate option.
Option C: The word 'drunk' is the past participle of the verb 'drink' (e.g., 'I have drunk the water'). The infinitive requires the base form ('drink'), not the past participle.
Option D: The word 'drank' is the simple past tense of 'drink'. It cannot follow another past tense verb ('went') to show purpose. This creates a grammatically incorrect structure known as a 'run-on verb phrase'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Verb Forms and Infinitives of Purpose as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, mastering grammar is crucial for clear and unambiguous communication in any professional setting, including healthcare.
Accurate documentation in patient records, clear instructions to colleagues, and effective patient education all rely on correct grammar.
Miscommunication due to grammatical errors can lead to misunderstandings and potential errors in care.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the sentence and identify the verb that comes before the blank. Here, the verb is 'went'.
Recognize that 'went' is a verb of motion, indicating movement from one place to another.
Determine the function of the word needed in the blank. The sentence is trying to explain why the lamb went to the stream. This is the 'purpose' of the action.
Recall the grammatical rule for expressing purpose after a verb of motion: use the infinitive form, which is 'to + base verb'.
Examine the options provided and find the one that matches the 'to + base verb' structure.
Eliminate options that use incorrect verb forms like the past tense ('drank') or the past participle ('drunk') in the infinitive structure.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QEEpmYR2ndFz9BD9vIHKv3

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.