Finding the most natural sentence among five sentences.
Here is an English question that confuses me a little.
It is said that there is one sentence that sounds natural the most among the following five sentences.
However, I can't find the answer becuase it is too difficult for me.
Please help me get the answer and correct the rest so that I get to know where the errors are.

1. Her hope gave way to despair as time went by after she had waited for her husband only to fail for two years.

2. Her hope made shift to despair as time went by after she had waited for her husband only to fail for two years.

3. Her hope turned to despair as time went by after she had failed to wait for her husband during two years.

4. Her hope changed to despair as time went by after she failed to wait for her husband for two years.

5. Her hope slipped away to despair as time went by after she had failed for her husband only to wait during two years.

Question

Finding the most natural sentence among five sentences.
Here is an English question that confuses me a little.
It is said that there is one sentence that sounds natural the most among the following five sentences.
However, I can't find the answer becuase it is too difficult for me.
Please help me get the answer and correct the rest so that I get to know where the errors are.

1. Her hope gave way to despair as time went by after she had waited for her husband only to fail for two years.

2. Her hope made shift to despair as time went by after she had waited for her husband only to fail for two years.

3. Her hope turned to despair as time went by after she had failed to wait for her husband during two years.

4. Her hope changed to despair as time went by after she failed to wait for her husband for two years.

5. Her hope slipped away to despair as time went by after she had failed for her husband only to wait during two years.

Answer

Just focusing on the first phrase,

Her hope gave way to despair 
Her hope turned to despair 
Her hope changed to despair

are all natural expressions. The other two aren't.

NB There are also problems with the rest of the sentence.

Answer

To be honest, all of the sentences are awkward with the phrasing "as time went by after..."  Clearly, a non-native speaker wrote the question.

Also, having the word "fail" in the sentences is wrong. Given the context, the woman certainly doesn't fail here. Perhaps "only to fail" should be replaced with "without fail" in the first two sentences.

The first part is a collocation. These things you just need to learn.

I really think the correct sentence should read, "Her hope eventually gave way to despair after she had waited for her husband without fail for two years."

You've been given a dud question. No wonder you found it difficult.

Answer

I think number 4 is the most grammatically correct, so that sounds better  ^^

Answer

Sorry, I think it is difficult too. But maybe number 3 ?

Answers · 6

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!