Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:
The manager asked to the clerk to submit the report.

Correct option is C

The correct substitution of the highlighted words is (c) “asked the clerk to submit the report”.
Explanation:
· The verb “ask” is used as ask + object + to-infinitive (ask someone to do something).
· In the given sentence, “asked to the clerk to submit” is incorrect because “ask” does not take “to” before the object in this structure.
· The correct form is: asked + the clerk + to submit + the report (clear, grammatical, and standard).
· Grammatical rule used:
· ask + object + to + verb (V1)
· ask him to wait, ask her to help, ask the clerk to submit
· Example:
· The teacher asked the students to maintain discipline in class.
· Information booster / exception:
· request + object + to-infinitive is also correct, but in option (b) it becomes weaker because it drops “the” before “report” (not wrong always, but less precise in exam grammar).
· ask + that is usually used in formal patterns like: He asked that the report be submitted (subjunctive), but option (a) is grammatically wrong as written.