Question

Miguel doesn’t have much free time these

Answer 1

The error in the sentence is: takes photographs.

What is the error?

The other two verbs, "reading" and "going fishing," are present participles used to describe Miguel's ongoing hobbies. However, "takes photographs" is in the simple present tense, which suggests a single act of taking photographs rather than a habitual activity.

To maintain parallel structure and consistency with the other hobbies, "takes photographs" should also be changed to the present participle form: taking photographs.

Complete Question:

If any of the underlined segments has an error, select the answer option that IDENTIFIES the error. If no segments have an error, select "No error."

Miguel doesn’t have much free time these days, but when he is not working, he enjoys reading, going fishing, and takes photographs.

reading

going fishing

takes photographs

No error

Answer 2

The English term 'these' in the sentence is used as a demonstrative determiner to point out specific days where Miguel is busy, typically indicating a known time frame to both the speaker and the listener.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the question is English, specifically focusing on parts of speech and their functions within a sentence. In the statement '"Miguel doesn’t have much free time these days"', the word 'these' acts as a demonstrative determiner, which is used to specify the particular days that Miguel is busy. The word 'these' indicates a certain time frame that is understood by both the speaker and listener, typically referring to the current period or the recent past.

For instance, if Miguel has been occupied with various activities like soccer practices and school projects, he might express his lack of free time by using the phrase 'these days' to denote the busy period he is currently experiencing. It is a clear way to convey that his schedule is packed during this specific time without mentioning exact dates.