Expression: carried out an exhaustive search

[wander]

Common Errors in English, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #13 "Infinitive vs. Gerund", question 10

They were very thorough in their investigation and carried out an exhausting search.

(a) thorough
(b) investigation
(c) carried out
(d) exhausting

Common Errors in English, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #13 "Infinitive vs. Gerund", answer 10

They were very thorough in their investigation and carried out an exhaustive search.

Correct entry: exhaustive
The error was: (d) exhausting

You have not found the error.
They were very thorough in their investigation and carried out an exhausting search.
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I didn't understand what this sentence meant

wander

[Yankee]

Hi wander

The first half of the sentence is basically very similar in meaning to the second half.

A search for someone or something was either the whole investigation or a major part of an investigation and the search was very thorough (exhaustive), i.e., they left nothing out, they searched everywhere and in every way possible.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English