Question

Raj was ill in bed with flu, but he _______ a bit when some friends dropped by.

Answer 1

Answer:

Perhaps the answer is 'recovered'?

Isn't there more to the question? There are tons of words that can fit.

Answer 2

Answer:

Raj was ill in bed with flu, but he improved a bit when some friends dropped by.

Explanation:

The given sentence is a compound-complex sentence. Raj was ill but he -a bit is the compound sentence, 'when some friends dropped by' is the complex part of it. The first part of the sentence denotes a negative condition of Raj by the word 'ill'. The word 'but' is a conjunction and it joins two sentences in opposite assertion.

Thus the verb in the second sentence has to be in opposition. Improved is in antithesis to illness hence 'improved' is the most appropriate word.