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: Replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

He killed the enemy by his sword.

  1. with his sword

  2. by sword

  3. by a sword

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

We use preposition 'by' to refer to the persons and preposition 'with' for the associates (both living and non-living). Here, 'sword' is an associate. Thus, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

He told us the story in a nutshell.

  1. in the nutshell

  2. putting in a nut

  3. in nutshell

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

Idiomatic usage. 'In a nutshell' means 'in brief, or using very few words'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

He shouted that he might attract attention.

  1. to attract attention

  2. for attract attention

  3. that he may attract attention

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

Here the verb 'shouted' needs to be followed by infinitive (to) + first form of the verb. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

She is having a lot of money.

  1. has lot of

  2. has a lot of

  3. is having lot of

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

The case is of process vs possession. We use gerund form for process. If somebody possess some money, it is not a process but a possession. And for possession, we use 'has/have'. 'A lot of' means 'much'. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

Hundreds of people were killed by earthquake.

  1. in

  2. from

  3. of

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

We use preposition 'by' to refer to persons. 'Earthquake' here refers to a situation, not to a person. Preposition 'in' is used to refer to situations.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

I don't want to disturb you, please get with your work.

  1. get up with

  2. get over with

  3. get on with

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

Phrasal usage. 'Get on with something' means 'to proceed or to go ahead with something' and this is what conveyed by the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

Ram went to the nearest shop to getting presents for his son.

  1. to get

  2. for to get

  3. for getting

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

We need infinitive 'to' along with the first form of the verb here. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

Would you please tell me when the next train comes?

  1. when does the next train come

  2. when comes the next train

  3. when the next train does come

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

The sentence is perfectly correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

In this deteriorate condition, you should call in a good doctor.

  1. deteriorating

  2. deterioration

  3. to deteriorated

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

Here we need a gerund form, and none other option than 1 provides the same.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

It is important that he should have been arriving here in time.

  1. arriving

  2. arrives

  3. could have arrived

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

It is a general statement of present tense. In such cases we use present indefinite tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

Students are attending spoken English classes since 6th February.

  1. were attending

  2. have been attending

  3. have attended

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

Case of present perfect continuous tense (as shown by usage of preposition 'since'). In such cases, we use 'has/have been + verb+ing'. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

Robert, who studies medicine at present, hopes to go abroad after graduation.

  1. is studying

  2. will study

  3. studied

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

To study something is a process, and for processes we use gerund form. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: The word/phrase, (1), (2), and (3) should replace the word/phrase given in italics in the following sentence so as to make it most effective and meaningfully correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no change, mark (4).

I want to see the film as it is being directed by Satyajit Ray.

  1. had been directed by

  2. directed by

  3. had directed by

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

Case of past perfect tense (in passive voice). In such cases we use 'had been + third form of the verb'.