A base form of the verb is required to fill the blank, as an infinitive is the base form often preceded by 'to'. So, options b), c), and e) are incorrect because 'varied' is the past and past participle form of the verb [it is also an adjective], 'mixing' is the present participle form of the verb, and 'together' is an adverb that means 'with or in proximity to another person or people'.
'Chase' (base verb) means to pursue in order to catch or catch up with. For example: Police chasing the thief.
'Gather' (base verb) means to assemble. For example: students gather at the assembly hall.
As per their meanings, 'gather' fits the blank as it gives the meaning that the people of the village assembled at the field.
Filling the blank with 'chase' renders it meaningless.
Hence, option d) is correct.
Note: Infinitive: The infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by to.
Consider the sentences given below:
· To err is human. [like a noun, the infinitive 'to err' is the subject of the verb 'is']
· My father likes to cook. [like a noun, the infinitive 'to cook' is the object of the verb 'likes']
· To vote in elections is our right. [the infinitive 'to vote', like a noun, is the subject of the verb 'is', but, like a verb, it also takes an object (elections)]
· Radha went to the lake to fetch water. [the infinitive 'to fetch', like a noun, is the object of the verb 'went', but, like a verb, it also takes an object (water)]
· The above sentences illustrate various ways in which infinitives are used. It can both act as a noun and a verb.
Participle: A word formed from a verb (e.g. going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective (e.g. working woman, burnt toast) or a noun (e.g. good breeding). In English participles are also used to make compound verb forms (e.g. is going, has been). Consider the sentences given below:
Dancing at the party, the women fell on the ground.
Encouraged by her parents, Rita went on to pursue her passion.
The highlighted word in the first sentence is of the form Verb + ing and is used as a present participle. It is used to denote an action that is going on or incomplete or imperfect.
The highlighted word in the second sentence is of the form verb + ed. It is used as a past participle. It denotes completed action or state of the thing spoken of.
A past participle ends with the following: -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n.
One should take great care and never get confused between a gerund and present participle. They use the same forms but perform different functions: a gerund is a verbal noun, while a present participle is a verbal adjective.
Study Notes
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