Sentence Improvement

Description: Verbal ability sentence improvement online free questions for competitive examination and entrance test preparation and practice
Number of Questions: 25
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Tags: Learn English English Vocabulary MBA Bank PO English Sentence Improvement Sentence Correction GMAT Grammar Sentence Correction Sentence Correction CAT Others Sentence Improvement Sentence (GMAT Pattern) Improvement Change of Voice Narration and Voice Relative Pronouns Pronoun Usage Tenses
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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 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 is the only one among our politicians who is popular throughout the country.

  1. was

  2. were

  3. are

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

'The only' in the sentence refers to a single person and for singular subject, we use 'is' in present case.

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 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.

This is one of the best pictures that have released this year.

  1. have been released

  2. were released

  3. was released

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'Have been released' is the correct option as pictures need to be released by someone. They cannot release themselves on their own. Therefore, we need the verb "been" to indicate this.

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 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 Hyderabad House in New Delhi, which is been used by the External affairs Ministry, is to be sold.

  1. which is being

  2. which has been

  3. which was

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The first option is correct as in passive voice, we use 'being' to show continuity.

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 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 dug a deep well, but could not find water.

  1. could not find no water

  2. cannot find water

  3. would not find water

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence is correct. Option 1 is incorrect as it has double negative. Second option cannot be correct as the sentence is in past tense and 'can' is present tense. 'Would' expresses the consequence of an imagined event or situation. So, it does not fit 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 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 the bell rung, the swimmers sprang into the water.

  1. was rung

  2. ring

  3. had rung

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'was rung' is the correct option as the bell has to be rung by someone, which indicates past tense and this is in line with the sentence.

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 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 manager sent for the clerk, he came at once.

  1. that

  2. who

  3. whom

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

'who' is the correct option as it is refering to its antecedent 'clerk'. 'whom' cannot be used as it is objective type.

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 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.

By December 2008, I shall be giving him a monthly stipend for ten years.

  1. shall have been giving

  2. should be giving

  3. would be giving

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

 'Shall have been giving' is the correct option because we need to use the future perfect continuous  with the usage of 'for'.

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 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.

Bribery is one of the charges that have been leveled against him.

  1. has been leveled

  2. is leveled

  3. is being leveled

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

  No improvement is needed in the sentence.

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 is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate option (4) as your answer.

I was reading the novel when the lights suddenly went out.

  1. had been reading

  2. were reading

  3. has been reading

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

No correction is required in the sentence.

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 is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate option (4) as your answer.

There lied my lost keys in the midst of a clutter of small plants.

  1. laid

  2. was laid

  3. lay

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

'Lay' is the correct option. It means located or situated somewhere. 

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 is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate option (4) as your answer.

Tom took two wickets before rain interrupted the play.

  1. had taken

  2. has taken

  3. had took

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'Had taken' is the correct option because the subsequent event is in simple past tense. So, an event preceding that would be in past perfect tense.

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 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.

Edison used to have sold newspapers before he became a famous inventor.

  1. used to sell

  2. should sell

  3. was selling

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

 'Used to sell' is the correct option as it is a case of simple past tense.

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 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.

One of the officers who were suspected of treachery was the Major himself.

  1. was suspected

  2. had suspected

  3. suspected

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

'The officers' talked about is a plural entity. Therefore, 'were' is correct. If it were just a single officer, then we must use 'was'.

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 is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate option (4) as your answer.

As he was swinging the axe, it fell from his hands and his toe was cleft in two.

  1. swung

  2. swings

  3. had swung

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'Swung' is the best option because the action has just happened once and ended there. 'Was swinging' shows continuation.

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 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.

If you had listened more carefully, you would not make so many mistakes.

  1. would not have made

  2. will not make

  3. should not have made

  4. No improvement required


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'Would not have made' is the correct option because the event prior to this, i.e. 'had listened more carefully', is in past perfect tense.

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 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.

I despair of ever reforming my nephew who is a rascal.

  1. despair about

  2. despair at

  3. despair with

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

 No correction is required in the sentence.

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 is better than the underlined part, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate option (4) as your answer.

By the winter of 2008, we shall be living in this house for twelve years.

  1. would be living

  2. should be living

  3. shall have been living

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future .Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the future. 'Shall have been living' is the correct option because 'for' is used in the sentence and because of that we need to use future perfect continuous tense.

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 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 robber waived a pistol and frightened the passengers.

  1. waved

  2. would waive

  3. was waving

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

 'Waived' means that something has been deferred. 'Waved' means movement. Hence, (1) is 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 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 learn how to deal in different kinds of people.

  1. deal with

  2. deal at

  3. deal on

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

 'Deal with' is the correct option as prepositions 'at, in and on' will be grammatically incorrect with the word 'people'. 

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 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.

A person who loses heart after failure is a lost soul, but a person who takes failure in his stride and continued his efforts for success, does succeed in the long.

  1. continue in

  2. continues in

  3. will continue

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

'continues in' is the correct option as it is a case of simple present tense.

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 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.

All the great men of the world would face great obstacles in the fulfillment of their mission.

  1. had to face

  2. were facing

  3. had been facing

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'had to face' is the correct option. 'were facing' and 'had been facing' is the incorrect option because there is no continuation being showed in the sentence.

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 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.

While I was a student, I was a member of the college cricket team, which I should captain in my last year.

  1. captained

  2. had captained

  3. have captained

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

 'Captained' is the correct option. 'Should captain' is incorrect as it talks about the present. 'Had captained' is incorrect because there is no comparison among any events. 'Have captianed' is also grammatically incorrect.

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 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.

A man with severe brain damage regained the ability to talk, eat, and move after doctors have implanted an electrical device deep inside his brain.

  1. implanted

  2. would implant

  3. implant

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'implanted' is the correct option because it is a case of simple past tense. 

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 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 touched at unemployment and allied problems in his talk.

  1. touched upon

  2. touched with

  3. touched of

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

'Touched upon' is the correct option as prepositions 'with' and 'of' will  be grammatically incorrect.

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 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.

All nations which do not or cannot observe internal discipline will ultimately ruled by some external power which is capable of enforcing discipline.

  1. will ultimately be ruled

  2. will ultimately rule

  3. can ultimately be ruled

  4. No improvement


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

' will ultimately be ruled' is the correct option because after the word 'ruled' there is followed by the preposition 'by' and for that we need to use the helping verb 'be'.

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