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 question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Choose the correct alternative which will improve the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

Hold on for the bears when you go for camping in the forest.

  1. Get up

  2. Look out

  3. Take off

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

Here, phrasal verb ‘look out’ is the correct option as it implies to remain alert for something dangerous. ‘Hold on’ implies to hold something tightly to protect, ‘get up’ implies leaving or moving on from the current place and ‘take off’ points to the planes leaving the ground.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Below are given alternatives to the bold part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternatives. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

You are advised to walk carefully on the thin layer of ice.

  1. thinner

  2. thinnest

  3. more thinner

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

The correct degree of adjective in this context is ‘thin’. Therefore, no improvement is required. ‘Thin’ is the positive comparison. The others are increasingly thin and are incorrect in the given context.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Choose the correct alternative which will improve the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

The stolen goods were found to the tree.

  1. at

  2. by

  3. of

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

Here, ‘by’ is the correct option as it is used to indicate the location of a physical object beside a place or object. ‘To’ is used to express the motion in the direction of a particular location, ‘at’ is used in expressing the time when an event takes place and 'of’ is used for expressing the relationship between a direction and a point of reference.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Choose the correct alternative which will improve the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

He will be finishing his work tomorrow by this time.

  1. would have finished his work

  2. would have been finishing his work

  3. is working and finishing

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

The sentence is in future continuous tense. This tense can be used when an action starts before the time mentioned and will probably continue after it. Thus, the correct answer is, ‘He will be finishing his work tomorrow by this time’.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Choose the correct alternative which will improve the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

May you open this door please?

  1. Could

  2. Must

  3. Might

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

Here, ‘could’ is the correct option as it is used in making suggestions or polite requests. ‘May’ is used when expressing possibility, ‘must’ is used when someone is obliged to do something and ‘might’ is used to tentatively ask permission or express a polite request.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Choose the correct alternative which will improve the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

This is the hotter chilly in the entire world.

  1. hottest

  2. hot

  3. heated

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

Here, ‘hottest’ is the correct option as in this context, the sentence refers to “of all”, which indicates all the chillies of the world. Thus, the degree required is superlative, i.e. “hottest”.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is printed in bold. Choose the correct alternative which will improve the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, your answer is ‘4’.

He went to the behind entrance.

  1. back

  2. after

  3. later

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

The correct adjective is ‘back’. It indicates the rear of a structure. ‘Behind’ indicates following; ‘after’ indicates subsequent to something and ‘later’ indicates a later time.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions labelled (1), (2) and (3) for the underlined part. If one of them is better than the underlined part, indicate that as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

She is enough old to understand the consequences of her action.

  1. old enough

  2. too old

  3. so old

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

Error of sentence formation. 'Enough old' is an incorrect usage. The sentence implies that she is 'sufficient enough'. For this the correct usage is 'old enough'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions labelled (1), (2) and (3) for the underlined part. If one of them is better than the underlined part, indicate that as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

I am sure you may secure good marks, if you had not wasted your time foolishly.

  1. would have secured

  2. must secure

  3. might secure

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

Error of sentence formation. Case of past perfect tense. Auxilary 'had' takes 'would have', rather than taking 'may'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions labelled (1), (2) and (3) for the underlined part. If one of them is better than the underlined part, indicate that as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

Please don't hesitate to avail of this opportunity to go abroad for higher education.

  1. avail yourself of

  2. avail yourself by

  3. avail by

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

Some words like 'avail' take reflexive pronoun. 'Avail of' as a prepositional usage is correct as it means 'to take advantage of (an opportunity, etc.); utilize'.  

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions labelled (1), (2) and (3) for the underlined part. If one of them is better than the underlined part, indicate that as your answer. If none of the substitutions improve the sentence indicate (4) as your answer.

We have received no calls from him since he had gone to London.

  1. he went to London

  2. he has gone to London

  3. he had been gone to London

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

Error of sentence formation in present perfect tense. In such cases, we use second form of the verb (if required) without any auxilary or modal.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions labelled (1), (2) and (3) for the underlined part. If one of them is better than the underlined part, indicate that as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

The four-wheeler sector in the automobile industry comprises of cars, jeeps and commercial vehicles.

  1. comprises

  2. combines of

  3. compose

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

Error of prepositional usage and redundancy. 'Comprise of' is an incorrect usage. 'Comprise' means 'to include; contain; to consist of; be composed of'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) 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 (E) as the answer.

Finding himself in financial difficulty, he came forward me for help and advice.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master used to happily recall, "One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found this baby under a pipal tree." He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she was his own daughter and he taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.

The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the music master's heart quake with fear, "You will choose one of them as your husband. What is to become of me?" The girl replied, "I shall not be apart from you." But on a full moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet reverently and said, "Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to marry me." The master's tears flowed freely, "She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together." The two began to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger. "Your daughter is very fortunate - the king has sent for her," the messenger said. At the palace, the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, "I place upon you the honour of making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home." There wasn't a single tear in the girl's eyes, but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.

That very night the princess began her journey to Kambhoj. The princess's royal chariot led the procession and the girl's palanquin followed close behind carrying trunks of silks, jewellry and precious stones. It was covered with a velvet sheet and had soldiers on both sides. As the procession passed, the master and his disciple Kumarsen stood still by the wayside. A collective sigh escaped the crowd gathered there wishing that the princess wouldn't feel homesick in her faraway home.

  1. came across

  2. is come upto

  3. came to

  4. comes with

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

The correct idiom is 'came to me' for help. 'Came forward me' is grammatically incorrect.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) 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 (E) as the answer.

Among of his many good qualities, that I remember is his honesty.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master used to happily recall, "One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found this baby under a pipal tree." He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she was his own daughter and he taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.

The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the music master's heart quake with fear, "You will choose one of them as your husband. What is to become of me?" The girl replied, "I shall not be apart from you." But on a full moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet reverently and said, "Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to marry me." The master's tears flowed freely, "She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together." The two began to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger. "Your daughter is very fortunate - the king has sent for her," the messenger said. At the palace, the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, "I place upon you the honour of making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home." There wasn't a single tear in the girl's eyes, but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.

That very night the princess began her journey to Kambhoj. The princess's royal chariot led the procession and the girl's palanquin followed close behind carrying trunks of silks, jewellry and precious stones. It was covered with a velvet sheet and had soldiers on both sides. As the procession passed, the master and his disciple Kumarsen stood still by the wayside. A collective sigh escaped the crowd gathered there wishing that the princess wouldn't feel homesick in her faraway home.

  1. All of his

  2. Some of the

  3. Only of his

  4. One of his

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

One of his mentions one out of many qualities. So option 4 is correct. Among is not followed by any other preposition.