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: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

The whole country is disappointed over the defeat of the cricket team.

  1. by

  2. over

  3. on

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

The correct preposition with 'disappointed' in this context is 'by', not 'over'. We say 'disappointed by' an event, result, or action because the disappointment is caused by that thing. 'Disappointed over' is less standard and typically used with more abstract situations. 'Disappointed on' is incorrect.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

If he joins the coaching class so late, I am afraid, it will be hard for him to catch up with others.

  1. speed up

  2. get in

  3. nuances

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

The phrase 'catch up with' is correct idiomatic English meaning to reach the same level or position as others. 'Speed up' means to increase speed, 'get in' means to enter, and 'nuances' refers to subtle differences - none of these fit the context.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

When I wanted to see my friend, I found that he was gone out.

  1. had gone

  2. has gone

  3. had been going

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

Past perfect 'had gone' is required because the action of going out occurred before the past action of finding (wanted to see). 'Has gone' is present perfect, 'had been going' is past perfect continuous which doesn't fit this one-time action.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

He was a bachelor and bachelors get very lonely. Isn't it?

  1. Do they

  2. Don't they

  3. Are they not

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

Question tags must agree with the subject and verb. The subject 'bachelors' is plural, so the tag should be 'don't they?' (plural), not 'isn't it?' (singular). 'Do they?' lacks the required negative polarity.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

My friend will gladly fall off with any plans you make.

  1. fall in

  2. fallout

  3. fall upon

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

'Fall in with' is a phrasal verb meaning to agree with or accept plans/suggestions. 'Fall off' means to drop from something, 'fallout' refers to a disagreement or radioactive particles, and 'fall upon' means to attack or discover by chance.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

They were not interested in discussing about your problems.

  1. discussing your problems

  2. discussing on your problems

  3. discussing for your problems

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

'Discuss' is a transitive verb and does not need a preposition. We say 'discuss something' not 'discuss about something'. Both 'on' and 'for' are incorrect prepositions to use with discuss.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

He died with heart disease.

  1. died from

  2. died of

  3. was dead from

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

The correct preposition with 'die' when referring to the cause of death is 'of', not 'from'. We say 'died of heart disease', 'died of cancer', etc. 'Died from' is incorrect in this context.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

The tourist insured their luggage because they assumed it must be stolen.

  1. will be

  2. might be

  3. would be

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

'Must be' expresses certainty about the present, but the context is a future possibility about theft. 'Might be' correctly shows possibility/probability. 'Would be' is too definite for an assumption about future uncertainty.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

They insisted to go to Goa.

  1. insisted on going

  2. insisted with

  3. insisted from

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

'Insist' is followed by 'on' + gerund (-ing form), not infinitive. The correct structure is 'insist on doing something', not 'insist to do something'. Both 'with' and 'from' are incorrect prepositions with insist.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

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

  1. refused

  2. agreed

  3. denied to go

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

'Deny' in this context is intransitive and doesn't take an object. 'Refused' is transitive and works correctly with the implied object (going to the police station). 'Denied to go' is grammatically incorrect. 'Agreed' changes the meaning.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

I know he is a cheat and liar, I studied the behavior of criminals all my life.

  1. study

  2. have studied

  3. am studying

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

Present perfect 'have studied' is required because the speaker is still alive and the action of studying criminal behavior continues to the present. Simple past 'studied' would imply the action is complete, which doesn't fit.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

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

  1. in shedding

  2. shedding

  3. shed

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

The phrase 'can't help' (or 'couldn't help') is followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive. The correct structure is 'couldn't help shedding tears', not 'couldn't help to shed'. 'Shed' without ing is also incorrect.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

When he got off the train, he realized that a large gathering of his admirers was waiting for his arrival for a long time.

  1. had been waiting

  2. is waiting

  3. were waiting

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

Past perfect continuous 'had been waiting' is needed because the waiting action started in the past and continued up to another past moment (when he got off the train). Simple past 'was waiting' doesn't capture this duration before the past event.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

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

  1. in order not to miss

  2. for not missing

  3. in case missing

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

In order not to miss is the correct infinitive phrase structure for expressing purpose. It is more formal and grammatically precise than the original. The phrase for not missing is grammatically incorrect, and in case missing is not appropriate here.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the italic part of the sentence. Three possible substitutions (1), (2) and (3) for the italic part are given. If one of them is better than the italic part, mark it as the answer. If any of the substitution doesn't improve the sentence, mark (4).

I am living in this house since 1985.

  1. have been living

  2. has been living

  3. was been living

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

The action started in 1985 and continues to the present, so present perfect continuous (have been living) is required. Present continuous (am living) is used for current temporary actions only. Has been living would mean someone else is living, and was been living is grammatically incorrect.