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: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

All that I wish to tell you is that you better revise this essay.

  1. should better

  2. could better

  3. had better

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Had better' is the correct idiomatic expression used to give strong advice or warnings. The structure is 'had better + base verb' (without to). 'Should better' and 'could better' are not standard English idioms. The sentence is giving advice about revising the essay.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

If it were possible to get near when one of the volcanic eruptions took place, we should see a grand sight.

  1. takes

  2. was taking

  3. is taking

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence uses 'If it were possible' (past subjunctive for hypothetical), so we need the past continuous form 'was taking' to match the hypothetical timeframe. 'Takes' is present simple, 'is taking' is present continuous - both don't match the hypothetical past context of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

We could not help laughing.

  1. could not

  2. could help to

  3. could not help to

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'Could not help laughing' is a standard English idiom meaning 'could not stop myself from laughing.' The structure is 'could not help + -ing form'. Adding 'to' (as in options A and C) changes the meaning and is grammatically incorrect. The original sentence is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

Whenever Suresh gets into trouble he makes a story to get out of it.

  1. makes for

  2. makes out

  3. makes up

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Makes up a story' is the correct phrasal verb meaning to invent or fabricate a story. 'Makes for' means contributes to, 'makes out' means to understand or claim. 'Makes up' is the only option that conveys the meaning of fabricating an excuse, which fits the context of someone in trouble.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

There is absolutely no reason to call his statement in question.

  1. under question

  2. out of question

  3. into question

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Call into question' is the correct idiom meaning to doubt or challenge something. 'In question' (as in 'under review') doesn't fit the context. 'Out of question' means impossible, and 'under question' is not the standard expression. 'Call into question' best expresses challenging the validity of his statement.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

I had given him a lot of money, but he ran up it in a couple of weeks.

  1. ran into

  2. ran down

  3. ran through

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Run through money' is the correct idiom meaning to spend or consume money quickly. 'Run into' means to encounter or collide with, 'ran down' means to decrease or criticize. 'Run through' conveys the rapid consumption of money mentioned in the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

It is time for you start earning your own living.

  1. started

  2. would start

  3. to start

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence uses the construction 'It is time for you + to + infinitive' which is the standard structure. The base form 'start' is grammatically incorrect. 'Started' is past tense, 'would start' adds unnecessary modal. 'To start' completes the idiomatic expression properly.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

He evaded to pay income tax.

  1. from paying

  2. against paying

  3. paying

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The verb 'evade' is followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive with 'to'. Correct usage is 'evade paying'. 'Evade from paying' and 'evade against paying' are incorrect - 'evade' doesn't take these prepositions. The gerund form 'paying' is grammatically correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

The sun set before we reached the village.

  1. would have set

  2. would set

  3. had set

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence has two events in the past: reaching the village and the sun setting. Since the sun set BEFORE they reached the village, we use the past perfect 'had set' to show the earlier action. Simple past 'set' doesn't establish the sequence correctly. The modal forms don't fit.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

The members swore on the Constitution to uphold the integrity of the country.

  1. by

  2. at

  3. upon

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When taking an oath or pledge, we use the phrasal verb 'swear by' something, meaning to pledge or promise by its authority. 'Swear on' is incorrect in this formal context. Therefore, 'swear by the Constitution' is the grammatically correct expression.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

This intricate work demands that Lathigara acquire great dexterity with his hands.

  1. that Lathigara should acquire

  2. that Lathigara does acquire

  3. that Lathigara acquired

  4. No improvement

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

The verb 'demands' is followed by 'that' and requires the subjunctive mood, which uses the base form of the verb without 'should' or 'does'. The original sentence 'demands that Lathigara acquire' correctly uses this subjunctive construction in formal English, so no improvement is needed.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

As the poet ages, he naturally writes more and more of the process of decay in a life and time.

  1. in a life and a time

  2. in life and the time

  3. in life and time

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When using abstract nouns like 'life' and 'time' in a general, philosophical sense, we typically omit articles. 'In a life and time' sounds like a specific instance, while 'in life and time' conveys the universal, abstract meaning the poet intends. This creates a more natural and poetic expression.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

The artist continues to work the medium he understands best.

  1. for the medium

  2. with the medium

  3. by the medium

  4. No improvement

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When describing an artist working with their materials, we use 'with' to indicate the instrument or medium being used. 'Work the medium' sounds like manipulating the medium itself, while 'work with the medium' correctly indicates using the medium as a tool for creation. This is the standard prepositional usage in artistic contexts.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for the italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

The urge for nationhood in certain circumstances cannot always be traced to any one reason.

  1. into any one cause

  2. to any one cause

  3. into one cause

  4. No improvement

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The verb 'trace' is followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the source or origin of something. 'Reason' is more appropriate than 'cause' in this context because we're talking about tracing the origin of the urge for nationhood, not assigning a cause. Therefore, 'to any one reason' is the best improvement.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

His sudden departure demonstrates that how unreliable he is.

  1. how unreliable he is

  2. that unreliable he is

  3. how unreliable he was

  4. No improvement

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

When 'demonstrate' is used to show someone's characteristic or quality, it's followed directly by a noun clause without 'that'. The clause 'how unreliable he is' correctly functions as the noun clause. The 'that' in the original sentence is grammatically redundant and incorrect. Therefore, 'how unreliable he is' is the correct improvement.