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Sentence Improvement - Verbal Ability

Description: The paper on English language often includes questions that require students to improve the quality of a sentence. Here is a collection of such questions.
Number of Questions: 25
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Tags: English grammar vocabulary learn English MBA Bank PO Tenses Structural Errors Prepositions and Conjunctions Parts of Speech Sentence Construction Adjectives and Adverbs (Word Usage) Others Error Identification
Attempted 0/25 Correct 0 Score 0

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

The tremors from India's nuclear explosions barely subsided before the finger-pointing in Washington began.

  1. had barely subsided

  2. hadn't barely subsided

  3. was barely subsided

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of past perfect tense. Whenever two incidents occur in the past (one after the other), we use had with the former one in time. Word 'before' is the clue here. Thus, option 1.

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

Had they been known the reality, they would not have signed the documents.

  1. If they would have known

  2. If had they known

  3. If they had known

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Case of past perfect tense. Usage of 'been' is redundant, and it should be either - 'Had they known' or 'If they had known'. Thus, option 3.

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

For centuries we have been trying to cure the ills of the world.

  1. are trying

  2. were trying

  3. had been trying

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Case of present perfect continuous tense. To show the continuity of an event of the past in the present, we use 'has/have been' along with the ' verb+ing'. Thus, option 4.

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

In her way home from work, Alice often stops at her neighbourhood bookstore to buy a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine.

  1. On her way home

  2. At her way home

  3. By her way home

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of prepositional usage. 'On her way home' here means 'while moving towards her home'.

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

His courteous behaviour with others always creates a good impact.

  1. courteously behaviour with

  2. courteous behaving with

  3. behaviour with courtesy

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Adjective 'courteous' means 'polite and gracious; considerate toward others; well-mannered'. So, 'courteous behaviour' seems to be correct. Thus, option 4.

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

The thieves had already been escaped, before the police arrived.

  1. had already escaped

  2. had been escaped

  3. were escaped

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of past perfect tense. In such cases where two incidents happen in a sequence, we use 'had and third form of the verb' for the former incident. Usage of 'been' is redundant here.

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

Although he is aware of the futility of his plans, he insisted on their completion.

  1. was aware

  2. has been aware

  3. had aware

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of sentence formation. Rule says that both the principal and the subsidiary clauses of the sentence need to be in the same tense. Here, use of word 'insisted' (in past tense) needs to be preceded with 'was' in place of 'is'.

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

Through my work and my personal experiences, I have become convinced that effective decision-making is fundamental to full enjoyment of life.

  1. am become convinced

  2. had become convinced

  3. was convinced

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct.

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

My communication with nature rejuvenates me and balances my health.

  1. communion

  2. company

  3. commitment

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Communion is the act of sharing one's thoughts and emotions with another or others; intimate converse. While communication is an act of giving or exchanging of information, signals, or messages as by talk, gestures, or writing the information, signals, or message. As our contact with nature is indirect, thus option 1 seems more relevant.

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

Everything would be fine, if you hadn't decided to change your solicitor.

  1. would have been fine

  2. will be fine

  3. was fine

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of improper sentence formation. Here, it is a wish that 'if nothing had gone wrong, so every thing would have been fine'. Thus, option 1.

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

They were sent Lucas to prison for five years.

  1. sent

  2. are sent

  3. send

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of past indefinite tense. In such cases, we use second form of the verb (without any auxilary verb). Thus, option 1.

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

What would you have done if the train had been late?

  1. would have you done

  2. will you do

  3. would you have did

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Case of sentence formation. In interrogative sentences like this, auxilary always precedes the subject. Thus, option 1.

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

A leader who is keen to acquiring a strong will power must begin by exercising his will whenever opportunities present themselves.

  1. keen on acquiring

  2. keen at acquiring

  3. keen for acquiring

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of sentence formation. We can use either 'keen on' or 'keen to'. The difference is that 'keen on' is followed by 'gerund, while 'keen to' takes 'infinitive'. As all the options have gerunds, so 'keen on acquiring' is better usage.

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

He can not able to go today.

  1. were not able to be

  2. is not able to

  3. won't be

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The use of word 'today' makes the tense of the sentence to be present.

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

Sometimes I wish I had never born.

  1. I had never been born

  2. I have never born

  3. I was never been born

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of passive voice. 'Bear' (i.e., to give birth) is the active voice, while 'born' (i.e., have taken birth) is the passive voice. And in passive voice we need to show the continuity. Thus, option 1. 

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

She smiled friendly.

  1. in a friendly way

  2. friendlily

  3. a friendly way

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of adverb-adjective usage. Here, adverb 'friendly' needs to be replaced by noun with adjective i.e. 'in a friendly manner'.

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

After two days marching through the foothill, they found themselves at the base of the mountain proper.

  1. in the bottom of the mountain

  2. under the mountain

  3. beneath the mountain

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence is perfectly correct.

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

That day, for the first time since her husband had died a year ago, she was glad that she was not died as well.

  1. had not died as well

  2. has not died as well

  3. didn't die as well

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of past perfect tense. Whenever two incidents in the past happen sequentially, we use 'had' with the former one.

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

When he kept saying that he was working late in the office, it made her suspicious.

  1. later in the office, his wife became suspicious

  2. late in the office, she became suspicious

  3. till late in the office, it made her suspicious

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Here, antecedent of 'it' is missing. Thus, we need to introduce the subject for 'her'. Hence, option 2.

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

It is extremely difficult to wake my father early morning.

  1. awake my father

  2. rouse my father up

  3. wake my father up

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

'Wake' is an intrnsitive verb, which means 'to cease to sleep'. 'Rouse' is a transitive verb that means ' to rouse from sleep; awaken, to stir, as from a dormant or inactive condition'.

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

I am going to do my exams, and after I am going to study medicine.

  1. afterwards

  2. later

  3. then

  4. no improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of usage of  vocabulary. The sentence implies that two things will be done in a sequential manner. And for this 'afterwards' is a better option.

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

On the stand, there were newspapers and magazines of all kind.

  1. every

  2. any

  3. whole

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Every, like each, is always used with a singular noun form and therefore, with a singular verb form in English because we are counting the things or people that we are talking about separately one by one. All is more often used with plural verb forms.

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

I know you don't like me. I don't like you too.

  1. I don't like you neither

  2. I don't like you either

  3. I too don't like you

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Case of sentence formation. The person wants to say that 'If you don't like me, I also don't like you'. So, error of placement. Though option 2 could be the right answer, but option 3 is the preferred usage.

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

I like to be alone for short periods, but after a few days, I start feeling alone.

  1. lonely

  2. lone

  3. solitary

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

You can feel 'lonely', but not 'alone'. 'Lonely' is an adjective, which means that you are unhappy because you are not with other people. 'Alone' means to be without other people, e.g. you can feel lonely when you are alone. 

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

Your statement that you were complete unaware of his motive cannot be trusted.

  1. were completely unaware of

  2. had complete unaware of

  3. were completely aware of

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of adjective-adverb usage. Adjective 'complete' needs to be changed with 'adverb 'completely'.

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