Choose the correct preposition:
Consumers are increasingly abstaining _____ single-use plastic bags in retail outlets.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. from
- Step 1: Identify the intransitive verb "abstain": it signifies voluntarily choosing to refrain or hold oneself back from an action or practice.
- Step 2: Determine the required dependent preposition: standard English grammar requires the preposition "from" following "abstain" (e.g., "abstain from voting", "abstain from single-use plastic bags").
Answer
from.
Why not the others: "with" denotes accompaniment and contradicts the notion of separation; "against" is used after verbs of fighting or resisting (e.g., "protest against"); "to" indicates direction or recipient, which is incompatible with abstaining.
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