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).

I am living in this house since 1978.

  1. was living

  2. have been living

  3. lived

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

When an action began in the past and continues up to the present, we use the present perfect continuous tense. 'Have been living' correctly shows this ongoing action from 1978 to now. The simple present 'am living' only shows current action without the duration, which doesn't fit the context of 'since 1978'.

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 important people of the country are having large houses in cities.

  1. have

  2. were having

  3. have been having

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

When talking about possession or ownership, we use the simple present tense 'have', not the present continuous 'are having'. 'Are having' implies a temporary event or experience, which doesn't make sense for possessing houses. 'Have' correctly indicates a permanent state of ownership.

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 should get to the cinema early, not to miss the beginning of the film.

  1. for not missing

  2. in order not to miss

  3. in case not to miss

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

When expressing purpose in a more formal or complete way, 'in order to' is the correct construction. 'Not to miss' as an infinitive of purpose is less formal and can be ambiguous. 'In order not to miss' clearly and grammatically expresses the negative purpose of arriving early. This is the standard formal construction for negative purpose.

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 natural to be enthusiastic about the infinite variety of organic life found in the tropical seas.

  1. enthusiastic with

  2. enthusiastic in

  3. enthusiastic on

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

The adjective 'enthusiastic' is correctly followed by the preposition 'about' when expressing excitement or interest in something. 'Enthusiastic about' is the standard and correct prepositional usage. 'Enthusiastic with', 'in', or 'on' are all incorrect and non-standard. Therefore, 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).

The woman was asked to go to the police station but she denied.

  1. she refused

  2. she denied to go

  3. she agreed

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

The verb 'deny' is transitive and requires a direct object - you must deny something. In this context, 'she denied' is grammatically incomplete. While 'she denied to go' is grammatically possible, 'she refused' is the best improvement because it clearly communicates the rejection of the request without requiring an object and matches the context perfectly.

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).

They insisted to go to Kanyakumari.

  1. insisted for going

  2. insisted going

  3. insisted on going

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

'Insisted on going' is correct because the verb 'insist' takes the preposition 'on' followed by a gerund (-ing form). 'Insisted to go' incorrectly uses the infinitive after 'insist'. 'Insisted going' lacks the necessary preposition 'on'. 'Insisted for going' uses the wrong preposition.

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 couldn't help shed tears at the plight of the earthquake victims.

  1. in shedding

  2. shedding

  3. shed

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

'Shedding' is correct because the phrase 'couldn't help' is always followed by a gerund (-ing form). The structure 'couldn't help + gerund' means 'unable to prevent or avoid'. 'Shed' is the bare infinitive and is grammatically incorrect here. 'In shedding' doesn't fit the idiomatic structure.

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 know he's a cheat and a liar, I studied the behaviour of criminals all my life.

  1. study

  2. am studying

  3. have studied

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

'Have studied' is correct because it links the lifelong experience to the present moment when the speaker says 'I know he's a cheat'. Present perfect tense shows action continuing from past to present. 'Studied' (simple past) would imply the studying is completely finished and disconnected from the present knowledge, which doesn't fit the context.

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 always acts as the martyr when he has to do the housework.

  1. acts the martyr

  2. will act the martyr

  3. acted the martyr

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

'Acts as the martyr' is wordy and less idiomatic than 'acts the martyr.' The phrase 'to act the martyr' is a standard English idiom meaning to behave in a way that suggests one is suffering or making sacrifices (often exaggerated). The improvement removes the unnecessary 'as' while maintaining meaning and tense. Option B ('will act') changes to future tense incorrectly, and Option C ('acted') changes to past tense.

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).

A trip of Mussoorie should benefit you.

  1. be beneficial with you

  2. do you benefit

  3. do you good

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

The phrase 'do you good' is the correct idiomatic expression in this context. 'Do good' means to benefit or help someone. While 'benefit you' is grammatically correct, 'do you good' is the more natural and commonly used expression in English for saying something will be beneficial to someone.

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 substitutions improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

Do you know who Krishna Deva Raya was?

  1. who was Krishna Deva Raya

  2. who is Krishna Deva Raya

  3. who could be Krishna Deva Raya

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

The sentence is correct as it is.

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 substitutions improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

Kashmir is a burning problem between India and Pakistan.

  1. issue

  2. case

  3. question

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

Burning issue is the correct phrase to refer to something that people have strong opinions about and think is very important.

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 substitutions improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

She was dressed with a green and orange sari.

  1. was dressed up

  2. was dressed in

  3. was dressing with

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

Dressed in is the correct phrase to refer to the dress someone is wearing.

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).

Some doctors work hard, others take life easily.

  1. easy

  2. happily

  3. painstakingly

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

The correct idiom is 'take life easy' not 'take life easily'. The adjective 'easy' is used in this idiomatic expression, not the adverb 'easily'. This is a fixed expression that means to live life without excessive stress or worry.

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 congratulated him for his success in the examination.

  1. about

  2. at

  3. on

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

The verb 'congratulate' is always followed by the preposition 'on', not 'for'. The correct structure is 'congratulate someone on something'. This is a fixed prepositional pattern in English grammar.