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 underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

The police did not, yet, succeed in arresting him.

  1. however

  2. but

  3. though

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

'Yet' is used when it is preceded by the conjunction “though “and in the given sentence no such conjunction has been used “However” is a sentence linker and as such is most suited in the given sentence. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

He lifted the precious treasure gently, reverently and cautious.

  1. cautiously

  2. with cautiously

  3. with cautious

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

Case of parallelism. Before the incorrect word “cautious”, the two words “gently” and “reverently” are adverbs. The adverb form of “cautious” should be used and is ”cautiously”. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

As soon as the minister began to speak, the demonstrators were rushing to the platform.

  1. rushed

  2. had rushed

  3. were being rushed

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

It s a complex sentence. The principle clause is in past indefinite, so the subordinate clause should also be in the same tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

The Arabs, who were being training by British officers, fought against the Germans.

  1. were trained

  2. had trained

  3. has trained

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

The subordinate clause in the given sentence indicates a passive voice sentence. In a passive voice sentence, the third form of the verb is used. The sentence is a passive voice sentence because the subject “The Arabs” have been acted upon. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

What India stands for peace should be known to everybody.

  1. That

  2. Thus

  3. There

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

The given sentence belongs to the Noun clause. “What” is an interrogative pronoun / adjective which is used for writing interrogative sentences or exclamatory sentences when a sudden expression of feelings / ideas is made. However the given sentence requires “that” and not “what” to make it a complete subordinate clause of the main clause and to act as the subject of the verb “should”. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

They waved, they cheered, they were shouting words of welcome.

  1. had shouted

  2. are shouting

  3. shouted

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

Case of parallelism. Here we need, second form of the verb to follow the verbs 'waved' and 'cheered'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

He gasped, he panted and was collapsing on the floor.

  1. collapsed

  2. had collapsed

  3. has collapsed

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

Case of parallelism. Here we need, second form of the verb to follow the verbs 'gasped' and 'panted'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

He was a simple, modest and unassuming person; though we all respected him.

  1. but

  2. and

  3. as

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

“Though” is a conjunction which is used to make contrast. Here there is no contrast involved. Rather there is continuation of the same idea. Hence, (2) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

The sweet, melodious music came to a close; but there was thunderous applause.

  1. and

  2. yet

  3. though

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

The given sentence belongs to the structure of a compound sentence and “though” is a conjunction which is used to make complex sentences falling under the clause of comparison And is the correct word to make the given sentence a compound sentence. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some are greatness thrust upon him.

  1. have

  2. has

  3. had

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

The word “are” has been used wrongly. Besides, “greatness” is a noun which does not suit here as there is no other main verb in the given sentence. The use of “have” satisfies this condition. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

The proposition before the house is this; if we want peace, we must have prepared for war.

  1. must be prepared

  2. must be preparing

  3. must prepared

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

To make the passive voice of this sentence, the auxiliary “be” must be added after 'must' and (1) satisfies this condition. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

There was no harm done to the car except that the windscreen cracked.

  1. was cracked

  2. is cracked

  3. was being cracked

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

Case of passive voive. 'Was/were + third form of the verb' is the usage required. Thus, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

When Mrs. and Mr. Rockefeller came, we hosted dinner on which the mayor was also present.

  1. at which

  2. to which

  3. by which

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

Here 'dinner' shows a specific function or time. The correct preposition to be used is “at”. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

Not only the crops, but also cattle and sheep was destroyed.

  1. were destroyed

  2. was also destroyed

  3. had also destroyed

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

Case of coordinative conjunction. 'Not only' takes 'but also' with it. Cattle and sheep being a plural subject need a plural auxiliary. Thus, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the possible substitutions is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

You must not repeat this, yet you will be dismissed.

  1. otherwise

  2. if

  3. whether

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

In the given sentence, a wrong conjunction has been used as it is mostly preceded by the conjunction 'although'. The given sentence serves a sort of working to the doer, so the conjunction “other wise” is correct. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.