Sentence Improvement

Description: Online Preparation of English Grammar, English Vocabulary, English Learning for MBA Entrance, Law, B-Ed, Bank Exams, Bank PO
Number of Questions: 25
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Tags: English Grammar English Vocabulary English Learning MBA Entrance Law B-Ed Bank Exams Bank PO Error Identification Synonyms / Word Meanings Sentence Completion (Gap Fills) Sentence Completion Sentence Completion (Gap fills) Sentence Construction Structural Errors
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Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

Workers who performed the same operation day after day can take no pleasure or pride in their work.

  1. perform

  2. have performed

  3. had performed

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Error of sentence formation in past indefinite tense. Modal 'can' gives the clue that we are talking about a general fact of present times. So, verb 'performed' should be replaced by 'perform'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

I gave my niece a children’s beautifully illustrated encyclopedia.

  1. beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of children

  2. child’s beautifully illustrated encyclopedia

  3. beautifully illustrated children’s encyclopedia

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Case of improper placement of words. The encyclopedia for children is beautifully illustrated. So, children's should come before encyclopedia showing possessiveness.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

The word cancer strikes dread in the average man's heart and once he has diagnosed as suffering from it, he loses all hope.

  1. is diagnosed

  2. was diagnosed

  3. would be diagnosed

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Error of verb usage. Here, in place of the verb i.e. 'has diagnosed', we need verb of being i'e. 'is diagnosed'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

When the Nobel Prize for Peace has announced this year, I experienced a sense of elation.

  1. was announced

  2. had announced

  3. were announced

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of passive voice. To refer to a time of past, we use past indefinite. It being a passive voice case, 'was announced' is the best option.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

The popular theory that modern man came out of Africa has thrown into doubt by the discovery of a 3,50,000 year old skull from China.

  1. have thrown

  2. has been thrown

  3. had been thrown

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Case of passive voice. A sentence of past indefinite, when changed into passive voice, thas the form: has/have + been + third form of the verb. Now, the noun 'theory' is singular, so 'has been thrown'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

The old woman would return with a beaming countenance the next day and reported that her husband had recovered.

  1. returns

  2. returned

  3. has returned

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Error of sentence formation. As per the rules if one clause of a sentence is in the past indefinite, the other clause must also be in the same tense. So, 'returned' in the subordinate clause needs to be preceded by 'returned'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

That all cancers are not incurable and even the terminally ill may be able to live the rest of their lives in peace and relative comfort is seldom understood.

  1. The fact that all cancers

  2. The fact all cancers

  3. The fact every cancer

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Error of sentence formation (Modifier usage). Modifier is missing, and from the available options, option 1 is the best choice.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

She looked askance at the tablet and asked if it has been all that was to be given to a dying man to make him well.

  1. is

  2. was

  3. had been

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Error of sentence formation. If the principal clause of a sentence is in the past tense, the subordinate clause must also be in the same tense. Hence, 'asked' should be followed by 'was'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

Pitching the camp on top of the mountain took five times as long as it would have taken in a place where there was enough air to breathe.

  1. five times as long it would take

  2. five times as long as it takes

  3. five times as long as it would take

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence is correct as given.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

In spite of various attempts to brighten the lives of workers, the average man in a factory is rather to pity than envy.

  1. to be pitied than envied

  2. to be pitied than envy

  3. to be pity than envied

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of passive voice. This option 1 seems to be correct.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

At night, most climbers took their gloves off, but I prefer to keep them on.

  1. take their gloves off

  2. took their gloves of

  3. had taken their gloved off

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Error of sentence formation. Verb 'prefer' in the sentence shows that the sentence is in the present indefinite tense.  So, 'took off' should be replaced by 'take off'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

The extraordinary ability of satellites to see, listen and communicate have made them an integral part of the modern warfare.

  1. were made them

  2. has made them

  3. have been made them

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Error of subject-verb agreement. Here the subject (i.e. the extraordinary ability of the satellites) is a singular noun, and must be followed by a singular auxilary verb. Thus, option 2.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

This is the first time in my memory that the river has overflown the banks.

  1. has been over flown

  2. has overflowed

  3. has overflowing

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Error of vocabulary usage. Rivers always 'flow', they never 'fly'. 'Flown' is the third form of fly, while 'flowed' is the third form of flow. Thus, option 2.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

They decided to arrange a grand party on the eve of her retirement, especially, as she had been working for the firm since almost twenty years.

  1. almost twenty years since

  2. for almost twenty years

  3. almost twenty years ago

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Error of prepositional usage. To refer a 'period of time' we use preposition 'for'. 'Since' is used to refer to a specific point of time.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

Israel has been turning the search for water into a science so advanced that it has been surpassing even biblical miracles.

  1. it surpasses

  2. it had surpassed

  3. it has been surpassing

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of present tense. Double usage of continuity form is avoided. Hence, option 1.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

At last the two climbers were getting the tent up and crawled in.

  1. got

  2. has gotten

  3. get

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Case of sentence formation in past indefinite tense. Second form of the verb is to be used. Hence, option 1.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

After his retirement from the Presidency College, Bose founded the great institute which now bear his name.

  1. which now bears his name

  2. which now has born his name

  3. which now has borne his name

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Error of subject-verb agreement. Here, pronoun 'which' qualifies to the mentioned college. It being a singular noun, usage of singular auxilary is required. Hence, 'bear' should be replaced by 'bears'. Thus, option 1.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

It is an established fact that the consumption of alcohol be discouraged as it has been the cause of ruin in many families.

  1. should discourage

  2. should have discouraged

  3. should be discouraged

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

When we wish or desire something, we use 'should be'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

His duties were to teach design to the architectural students and also developing new courses for them.

  1. to develop

  2. to developing

  3. to have developed

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Error of parallelism. 'To teach' in the antecedant needs to be followed by 'to develop' in the subsequent clause.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

He looked as though he had not a decent meal for over a month.

  1. have not a decent

  2. had not have a decent

  3. had not had a decent

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Taking a meal can also be written as 'having a meal', and for the past we use 'had a meal'. In option 3rd, the first 'had' is used as an auxilary for time referral, and the other 'had' is used as 'having/eating'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

Thirty eight years before, a handful of Americans declared April 22, 1970 to be the Earth Day.

  1. Thirty eight years from now

  2. Since thirty eight years

  3. Thirty eight years ago

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

To refer to a specific point of time in the past, we use 'ago'. So, option 3 is the right option.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

He pressed with his enquiries until at last he learned the reason for their panic.

  1. He pressed at with his enquiries

  2. He pressed on with his enquiries

  3. He pressed after with his enquiries

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Case of idiomatic usage. The sentence implies that he puts his best to identify the core reason for the panis. 'Pressed on' is the right usage. It means 'to put pressure on someone or something'.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

My friend is so rich that he is having four apartments in Mumbai, and six in Pune.

  1. has

  2. have

  3. had

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Conceptual case. 'Is having' shows a verb of action, while 'has' shows a verb of being (here showing possession). Thus option 1.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

In the olden days, before the discovery of anesthetics, various methods would have used to keep the patient quiet during an operation.

  1. were used

  2. had used

  3. was used

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The sentence mentions a fact of the past. In such cases, verb of action is changed into verb of being. 'Was/were + third form of the verb is used'. Here the subjects (i.e. methods) is a plural noun, hence, option 1.

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) and (3) should replace the underlined phrase to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (4) as your answer.

The spectre that has haunted our country represents both an opportunity and a challenge.

  1. has haunting

  2. had haunting

  3. has been haunting

  4. No improvement needed


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Case of present perfect continuous tense. 'Has and had' take third form of the verb and not the gerund form. Thus, option 1 & 2 eliminated. It being a case of present perfect continuous tense, option 3 is the right choice.

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