English Language

Sentence Improvement

821 Questions
All Tense and Time Sequence 181 Verb-Governed Prepositions 145 Lexical Confusables 75 Subject-Verb Agreement 59 Modifiers 48 Determiners and Quantifiers 47 Infinitive vs. Gerund 47 Correlative and Paired Conjunctions 35 Conditional Sentences 30 Pronoun Case and Agreement 24 Redundancy 24 Parallel Structure 20 Question Tags 10 Reported Speech 8

Sentence Improvement Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence, three possible substitutions are given for the underlined part. Choose the one that is better than the underlined part. If none of the substitutions improve the sentence then choose the last option.

He took apart the car brakes to find the problem.

  1. took off

  2. took out

  3. took up

  4. No improvement

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

To take something apart is to disassemble it. This is the correct answer in this context, so this sentence needs no improvement.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence, three possible substitutions are given for the underlined part. Choose the one that is better than the underlined part. If none of the substitutions improve the sentence then choose the last option.

I always lock the doors since I go to sleep.

  1. before

  2. although

  3. because

  4. No improvement

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as the conjunction 'before' indicates that the action in one clause done prior to the action is the other clause. In this context, 'I always lock the doors' is used prior to 'going to sleep'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence, three possible substitutions are given for the underlined part. Choose the one that is better than the underlined part. If none of the substitutions improve the sentence then choose the last option.

I had difficulty in holding back my tears at my grandfather’s funeral.

  1. holding on

  2. holding up

  3. holding onto

  4. No improvement

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

To hold back is to hide an emotion or control something. This is the correct answer in this context. Thus, this option is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence, three possible substitutions are given for the underlined part. Choose the one that is better than the underlined part. If none of the substitutions improve the sentence then choose the last option.

My father was going after the chain snatcher as soon as he robbed my mother.

  1. went after

  2. had been going after

  3. would go after

  4. No improvement

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as 'went after' is in tense agreement with the rest of the sentence. The sentnece is in simple past tense and 'went after' is the correct past participle of 'going after'. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and 'No correction is required', mark (5) as the answer.

It was difficult to decide who out of the two brothers is the most deserving.

  1. was the most deserving

  2. is the more deserving

  3. was most deserving

  4. was more deserving

  5. no correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Corrects the error in comparative degree of comparison and tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and 'No correction is required', mark (5) as the answer.

Implementing it wisely, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.

  1. If implementing is wise

  2. If it is implemented wisely

  3. Having implemented it wisely

  4. Because of its implementation

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The clause preceding the comma ought to be complete in itself, even if it is conditional. Only (2) does it.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and 'No correction is required', mark (5) as the answer.

This necessitated regular keep-up and maintenance of the aircraft.

  1. regular maintenance in keeping-up of

  2. regular keep-up and maintenance in

  3. regular up-keep and maintenance of

  4. regular keeping up and maintaining of

  5. no correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Corrects the error in diction. Up-keep means 'the cost of keeping' something in good condition.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

Illness we can put in with, but justice makes us want to pull things down.

  1. Illness that we can put with

  2. Illness we can put through

  3. Illness we can put up with

  4. Illness we can put with

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

‘Put up with’ means to ‘tolerate or to endure, to bear’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

Now play being recognized as a goodwill gesture, which helps in improving relations.

  1. Now having recognised play as

  2. Now by recognising play as

  3. Now recognition of play being

  4. Now play is recognised as

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option (4) is the correct answer. The clause preceding the comma ought to be complete in itself. Only (4) does it.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

Everyone of them know that he is more gifted than any other man in the party.

  1. Everyone of them had known that

  2. Everyone of them knew that

  3. Everyone of them knows that

  4. Everyone of them knows

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (3) corrects the error of the subject verb agreement.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

Before presenting the budget proposals, the minister duly sought permission of the chair to lay them before the House.

  1. permission of the chairman to lay them

  2. permission of the chair to lay it

  3. permission of the chairman for laying them

  4. permission of the chair to lay them off

  5. no correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is correct as given.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

Had the party dispensed of the contentious issues, it would have got the majority at its own.

  1. Had the party dispensed off the contentious issues

  2. If the party had dispensed of the contentious issues

  3. If the party would have dispensed of the contentious issues

  4. Had the party dispensed with the contentious issues

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

‘To dispense with’ means ‘to get rid off’ or 'do away with'. The word 'dispense' takes the preposition 'with'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and 'No correction is required', mark (5) as the answer.

The differences in the two groups of the party had reached a flashpoint.

  1. The differences of two groups in the party had

  2. The differences within the two groups of the party had

  3. The differences between the two groups of the party had

  4. The differences between two groups for the party had

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Corrects the error of preposition.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

The rate of inflation has dropped sharply this week even although the drop may be only provisionally.

  1. if the drop may be only provisionally

  2. though the drop might have been only provisional

  3. though the drop may be only provisional

  4. although the drop might be only provisional

  5. no correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'drop' is used as a noun. So, an adjective is needed to describe it. With 'even' we use 'though'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.

I can not lay any credence to your cock and bull story.

  1. lend any credence to

  2. lend any credence for

  3. lay any credence for

  4. lay credence to

  5. No correction required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

‘Lend credence' means to place belief or trust.