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).

He boasted about his accomplishments.

  1. for

  2. of

  3. at

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

The verb 'boast' is correctly followed by the preposition 'of' in this context. The structure 'boast of something' means to speak proudly about one's achievements or possessions. While 'boast about' is sometimes used, 'boast of' is considered more formal and grammatically precise.

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

I had scarcely begun to write than he entered the room.

  1. no sooner than

  2. that

  3. when

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

 When is the correct conjunction here as it refers to the time.

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

The roads of Delhi are wider than Kolkata.

  1. in comparison to Kolkata

  2. than those of Kolkata

  3. from those of Kolkata

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

 Here, we are comparing roads of Delhi with the roads of Kolkata. Only to similar things can be compared. 

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).

Nothing but books and music pleases him.

  1. is pleasing

  2. does please

  3. please

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

Since the subject is plural (books and music), "please" will be the correct option.

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).

You must accustom yourself to new ideas.

  1. accustom yourself with

  2. accustom to

  3. get accustomed with

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

'Accustom yourself' means to become familiar. 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).

He behaved coward in the battlefield.

  1. with cowardice

  2. like a coward

  3. cowardly way

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

"Like a coward" or "cowardly" is the correct phrase as it defines the behaviour.

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).

Shakespeare is greater than any poet of the world.

  1. all poets

  2. any other poet

  3. any of the poet

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

Any poet refers to all the poets including Shakespeare. He cannot be greater than himself. So, any other is the correct answer.

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).

At last, he was brought to law for his involvement in the crime.

  1. brought to prison

  2. brought to book

  3. brought to court

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

Bring somebody to book refers to punish 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).

You must explain as to why you were late.

  1. about why

  2. on why

  3. why

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

There is no error in the given sentence. As to means as for, about, according to and by.

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).

I am the secretary of the sports club since its formation five years ago.

  1. was

  2. have been

  3. had been

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

Since the sentence is in present perfect continuous, 'have been' will be used.

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 teacher asked me what is your name.

  1. what your name is

  2. what was my name

  3. what my name was

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

This is a reported speech (indirect question) scenario. In reported speech, the question word order changes to statement word order, and the tense shifts back. The original direct question 'What is your name?' becomes 'what my name was' in reported speech. The word order changes from 'is your' to 'my was' and the tense shifts from present to past.

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).

It appears that what I said was untrue, but I did not knowingly lie to you.

  1. what I said

  2. that I did say

  3. what I used to say

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

The sentence is correct as it is.