Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable option:
We decided to stay out all night _____ that we could watch the stars.
A) And
B) Because
C) So
D) After

Answer 1

Hint: The given sentence has two clauses which have to be connected by a word called ‘conjunction’. For a phrase to qualify as a clause, it must have a complete meaning in itself. When clauses are related to each other, we use certain conjunctions and when these clauses are independent we use different conjunctions.

Complete answer:
To solve this question, we must first analyze the two clauses given in the statement. The first clause is ‘we decided to stay out all night’ and the second clause is ‘we could watch the star’. The clauses are related or dependent on each other. The first clause is taking place in order to facilitate the second clause. We must use a conjunction to suffice this relation.

Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) And – The conjunction ‘and’ is used to connect to different clauses with different meanings. These clauses may not be related. When we use it in the statement given, it would mean that the speaker decided to stay out all night, and he also decided to watch the stars. It treats the two clauses as different clauses and not as relative to each other. Hence this option is incorrect.

Option B) Because – ‘Because’ is a conjunction which is used to connect clauses when they are related to each other. For e.g. I took the medicine, because I was sick. It shows that the second clause is the reason why the first clause is taking place. We can use it in the given question, but we will have to edit the sentence. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Option C) So – ‘So’ is a conjunction which is generally used with ‘that’ and is used in a reverse manner to ‘because’. It shows that the first clause is happening in order to make the second clause happen. The sentence thus formed will be; “We decided to stay out all night so that we could watch the stars.” Thus, this option is correct.

Option D) After – The conjunction ‘after’ is used to indicate the occurrence of something once a prior activity has finished. For e.g. I will go to play after I complete my homework. In such cases one activity has to come to an end to begin the next one. We cannot use it to fill the blank as the statement in the question would become meaningless in doing so. One cannot watch stars after the night is over. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (C) i.e, We decided to stay out all night so that we could watch the stars.

Note: From the given options we can also use the word ‘because’ to create a different sentence with the same meaning. The correct usage will be “We decided to stay out all night, because we wanted to see the stars.” Some other conjunctions which can replace ‘because’ to generate the same sentence are; as, since, etc.