Sentence Improvement – Grammar and Vocabulary Based Grammatically Corrected Sentence (English, Study Material, Exam Preparation, Example, Solution, Question, Answer and Explanation)

Sentence Improvement

Sentence Improvement is one of the most important topics from examination point of view. At an average, 5-6 questions are asked from this particular topic in the examination, even though there are no hard and fast rules for mastering, yet a good knowledge of rules of Grammar and Vocabulary can be fruitful for Sentence Improvement section.

Generally, there can be two types of questions from this topic. The first one is grammar based and the second one is vocabulary based. This article, would definitely be helpful to you for grammar based questions and for vocabulary based questions.

Consider the following Example based on Grammar for Sentence Improvement.

Example 1: The three names have reached the Ministry of Law and Justice, who has been processing the files, ministry sources said.
(a) who is processing the files
(b) which was processed
(c) which is processing the files
(d) who was processed the files
(e) No replacement required

Solution: In the above example relative pronoun 'who' has been used after Ministry of Law and Justice which is not a human being. Hence, the usage of 'who' is incorrect. Now, we know that the relative pronoun which follows 'non-living things' is 'which'.

Hence, either (c) or (b) is the correct option. Now, the question is not in passive voice, hence, (b) is not the correct option. Hence, (c) is the correct option. As you can see, it becomes quite easier to choose the correct option if you are well versed with the rules and basics of grammar.

Now, consider the following Example based on Vocabulary for Sentence Improvement.

Example 2: To cover the gap between rainfall and water scarcity, govt. will have to invest in desilting water storage in canals and minor water bodies.
(a) To bridge the gap between rainfall and water
(b) To take down the gap between rainfall and water
(c) To make for the gap between rainfall and water
(d) To make up the gap between rainfall and water
(e) No replacement required

Solution: To cover something means put something on top of or in front of (something) in order to protect or conceal it'. Hence, it does not go with the meaning of the sentence. Now, 'to take down' means 'to lower without removing' hence, (b) is also not the appropriate option.

Again, 'to make for' means' to move or head towards something' whereas, 'to make up for' means 'compensate for something lost, missed, or deficient.' Hence, (c) and (d) are also not the correct option.

Practice Questions : For Sentence Improvement

Directions: Select the most appropriate phrase to replace the underlined phrase in the given sentence to make it grammatically correct. Select 'No Improvement Required' as the answer, if the sentence is correct as it is.

Question 1: He felt exhausted as he was working since 4 O’ clock in the morning.
A) has been working
B) had been working
C) is working
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Past Perfect Continuous Tense will be used.
Corrected Sentence: He felt exhausted as he had been working since 4 O’ clock in the morning.

Question 2: Most people in India like to give a lot of free advice.
A) advices
B) advises
C) advise
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option D
Explanation: The word advice is a noun and has no plural form. Advise is a verb. So option a, b and c all get eliminated.
Corrected Sentence: Most people in India like to give a lot of free advice.

Question 3: Hardly had he finished his work than the peon arrived with another file.
A) when
B) then
C) while
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option A
Explanation: With hardly the word when is used.
Corrected Sentence: Hardly had he finished his work when the peon arrived with another file.

Question 4: Rahul has no right to take a claim on his father’s property as he did not look after him in his old age.
A) to make a claim
B) to stake a claim to
C) to demand
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Stake a claim is a phrase which means to ask for something as one’s own.
Corrected Sentence: Rahul has no right to stake a claim to on his father’s property as he did not look after him in his old age.

Question 5: I have sent the parcel two hours ago.
A) had sent
B) send
C) sent
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option C
Explanation: The usage of two hours ago indicates that the sentence if of simple past tense.
Corrected Sentence: I sent the parcel two hours ago.

Question 6: Rich mineral resources and the government present willing to build infrastructure will attract plenty of foreign investment.
A) government willingly present
B) government presence is willing
C) present government's willingness
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option C
Explanation: The word 'willingness' must be used with the noun word 'Government'.
Corrected Sentence: Rich mineral resources and the present government's willingness to build infrastructure will attract plenty of foreign investment.

Question 7: One of the city's advantages including a good education system, attractive quality of life and a good transport system, which can cope with its rising population.
A) One of the city's advantages include
B) Some of the city's advantages include
C) The city has advantages included
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option B
Explanation: It must be replaced with option B "Some of the city's advantages include" to make it grammatically correct. Because here the sentence is clearly showing a number of advantages that a city can have.
Corrected Sentence: Some of the city's advantages include a good education system, attractive quality of life and a good transport system, which can cope with its rising population.

Question 8: Regulators in America have plans to increase the amount of capital that its eight largest banks can hold and banks will have until 2018 to comply.
A) increased the amount
B) increase in the amount
C) which increases the amount
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option D
Explanation: No Improvement Required. The given sentence is grammatically correct.

Question 9: If we revise the school curriculum, colleges will not only get more quality of students, but companies will also get skilled employees.
A) most quality students
B) good quality of the student
C) better quality students
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option C
Explanation: It must be replaced with option C "better quality students" to make it grammatically correct. Because 'of' is not necessary. So, we remove it from the sentence
Corrected Sentence: If we revise the school curriculum, colleges will not only get better quality students, but companies will also get skilled employees.

Question 10: By running small dairy farms and selling the milk to - factories, the women of the village takes care the needs of their families.
A) woman of the village caring for
B) woman of a village will care
C) women of the village take care of
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option C
Explanation: The word 'women' is plural subject and it will agree to the plural verb only.
Corrected Sentence: By running small dairy farms and selling the milk to - factories, the women of the village take care of care the needs of their families.

Question 11: Top managers are often stymied by the difficult of managing conflict.
A) difficulties of managing
B) difficulty for managing
C) difficult for management
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option A
Explanation: It must be replaced with option A "difficulties of managing" to make it grammatically correct.
Corrected Sentence: Top managers are often stymied by the difficulties of managing conflict.

Question 12: Reaching collective decisions based on individual preferences is an imperfect science.
A) based for
B) based
C) based in
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option D
Explanation: No Improvement Required. The given sentence is grammatically correct.

Question 13: Hollywood bare escaped being totally sidelined by the rise of television.
A) bare escapism
B) bare escapes
C) barely escaped
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option C
Explanation: It must be replaced with option C "barely escaped" to make it grammatically correct.
Corrected Sentence: Hollywood barely escaped being totally sidelined by the rise of television.

Question 14: Taking good decisions and implement those quickly are the hallmarks of high performing companies.
A) implementation quickly
B) implementing quick
C) implementing those quickly
D) No Improvement Required

Answer: Option C
Explanation: It must be replaced with option C "implementing those quickly" to make it grammatically correct.
Corrected Sentence: Taking good decisions and implementing those quickly are the hallmarks of high performing companies.