Sentence Improvement - Verbal Ability
The paper on English language often includes questions that require students to improve the quality of a sentence. Here is a collection of such questions.
Questions
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
The tremors from India's nuclear explosions barely subsided before the finger-pointing in Washington began.
- had barely subsided
- hadn't barely subsided
- was barely subsided
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
Had they been known the reality, they would not have signed the documents.
- If they would have known
- If had they known
- If they had known
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
For centuries we have been trying to cure the ills of the world.
- are trying
- were trying
- had been trying
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
In her way home from work, Alice often stops at her neighbourhood bookstore to buy a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine.
- On her way home
- At her way home
- By her way home
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
His courteous behaviour with others always creates a good impact.
- courteously behaviour with
- courteous behaving with
- behaviour with courtesy
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
The thieves had already been escaped, before the police arrived.
- had already escaped
- had been escaped
- were escaped
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
Although he is aware of the futility of his plans, he insisted on their completion.
- was aware
- has been aware
- had aware
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
Through my work and my personal experiences, I have become convinced that effective decision-making is fundamental to full enjoyment of life.
- am become convinced
- had become convinced
- was convinced
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
My communication with nature rejuvenates me and balances my health.
- communion
- company
- commitment
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
Everything would be fine, if you hadn't decided to change your solicitor.
- would have been fine
- will be fine
- was fine
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
They were sent Lucas to prison for five years.
- sent
- are sent
- send
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
What would you have done if the train had been late?
- would have you done
- will you do
- would you have did
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
A leader who is keen to acquiring a strong will power must begin by exercising his will whenever opportunities present themselves.
- keen on acquiring
- keen at acquiring
- keen for acquiring
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
He can not able to go today.
- were not able to be
- is not able to
- won't be
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
Sometimes I wish I had never born.
- I had never been born
- I have never born
- I was never been born
- No improvement needed
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
She smiled friendly.
- in a friendly way
- friendlily
- a friendly way
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
After two days marching through the foothill, they found themselves at the base of the mountain proper.
- in the bottom of the mountain
- under the mountain
- beneath the mountain
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
That day, for the first time since her husband had died a year ago, she was glad that she was not died as well.
- had not died as well
- has not died as well
- didn't die as well
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
When he kept saying that he was working late in the office, it made her suspicious.
- later in the office, his wife became suspicious
- late in the office, she became suspicious
- till late in the office, it made her suspicious
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
It is extremely difficult to wake my father early morning.
- awake my father
- rouse my father up
- wake my father up
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
I am going to do my exams, and after I am going to study medicine.
- afterwards
- later
- then
- no improvement needed
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
On the stand, there were newspapers and magazines of all kind.
- every
- any
- whole
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
I know you don't like me. I don't like you too.
- I don't like you neither
- I don't like you either
- I too don't like you
- No improvement
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
I like to be alone for short periods, but after a few days, I start feeling alone.
- lonely
- lone
- solitary
- No improvement needed
Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.
Your statement that you were complete unaware of his motive cannot be trusted.
- were completely unaware of
- had complete unaware of
- were completely aware of
- No improvement