Sentence Improvement/Correction • Correcting grammatical mistakes
Sentence Improvement/Correction: Full-Length Notes
Topic: Correcting Grammatical Mistakes
1. What is Sentence Improvement/Correction?
Sentence Improvement (also called Sentence Correction) is a common component of English language sections in competitive exams. In these questions, a sentence is given with a part underlined or highlighted. You must identify if the sentence contains a grammatical or usage error and select the best correction from the given options. If the sentence is correct as it is, you may choose “No improvement.”
2. Why is Sentence Improvement Important?
Tests your grasp of English grammar and usage
Assesses your ability to recognize and fix errors
Improves your written and spoken communication
Essential for scoring well in exams
3. Structure of Sentence Improvement Questions
A sentence is presented, with a portion underlined or in bold.
Four or five options are given:
One is the correct improvement.
Others are either incorrect or the original phrase.
“No improvement” is often an option.
You must select the option that makes the sentence grammatically and contextually correct.
Example:
She do not like coffee.
A) does not
B) do not
C) did not
D) No improvement
Answer: A) does not
4. Common Grammar Areas Tested
A. Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
Incorrect: The list of items are on the desk.
Correct: The list of items is on the desk.
B. Tense Consistency
Use the correct verb tense and keep it consistent.
Incorrect: She was going to the market and buys vegetables.
Correct: She was going to the market and bought vegetables.
C. Pronoun Usage
Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedents.
Incorrect: Each of the boys have done their work.
Correct: Each of the boys has done his work.
D. Modifier Placement
Modifiers should be placed next to the word they modify.
Incorrect: Running down the street, the backpack was heavy.
Correct: Running down the street, she found her backpack heavy.
E. Parallelism
Use the same grammatical form for items in a list.
Incorrect: She likes to dance, singing, and read.
Correct: She likes to dance, sing, and read.
F. Article Usage
Use “a,” “an,” or “the” appropriately.
Incorrect: She is a honest woman.
Correct: She is an honest woman.
G. Prepositions
Use the correct preposition for the context.
Incorrect: She is married with a doctor.
Correct: She is married to a doctor.
H. Idiomatic Expressions
Use the correct form of idioms and phrases.
Incorrect: He is good in English.
Correct: He is good at English.
I. Redundancy and Wordiness
Avoid unnecessary repetition.
Incorrect: Return back the book.
Correct: Return the book.
J. Double Negatives
Avoid using two negatives for a single negation.
Incorrect: I don’t need no help.
Correct: I don’t need any help.
5. Steps for Sentence Improvement
Read the entire sentence carefully.
Identify the underlined/marked part.
Check for errors in grammar, usage, and logic.
Mentally substitute each option into the sentence.
Choose the option that is grammatically and contextually correct.
If the original is correct, select “No improvement.”
6. Tips and Tricks
Be familiar with grammar rules: Subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions, pronouns, etc.
Read the sentence aloud: Sometimes, errors are easier to spot by ear.
Eliminate options: Rule out choices that are clearly wrong.
Check for meaning: The correction must not only be grammatically correct but also clear and logical.
Beware of distractors: Some options may look correct but are awkward or less idiomatic.
7. Common Error Types with Examples
| Error Type | Incorrect Example | Corrected Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | She don’t like apples. | She doesn’t like apples. |
| Tense Consistency | He has went to school. | He has gone to school. |
| Pronoun Usage | Everyone must bring their pencil. | Everyone must bring his or her pencil. |
| Modifier Placement | She almost drove her kids to school. | She drove her kids to school almost every day. |
| Parallelism | She likes dancing, to sing, and read. | She likes dancing, singing, and reading. |
| Article Usage | She is a honest woman. | She is an honest woman. |
| Prepositions | She is married with a doctor. | She is married to a doctor. |
| Idioms | He is good in English. | He is good at English. |
| Redundancy | Return back the book. | Return the book. |
| Double Negatives | I don’t need no help. | I don’t need any help. |
8. Practice Example
Question:
He is senior than me in service.
A) senior to me
B) more senior than me
C) senior than I
D) No improvement
Answer: A) senior to me
9. Practice Resources
[Testbook: Sentence Improvement Practice]
[BYJU’S: Sentence Correction Rules]
[BankersAdda: Sentence Improvement PDFs]
[LeverageEdu: Sentence Correction Tips]
10. Summary Table: Sentence Improvement Approach
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Read | Read the sentence and options carefully |
| 2. Identify | Spot the grammatical or usage error |
| 3. Substitute | Try each option in the sentence |
| 4. Eliminate | Remove options that introduce new errors |
| 5. Select | Choose the most correct and idiomatic option |
Mastering Sentence Improvement requires a solid grasp of grammar, careful reading, and regular practice. Always check for both correctness and clarity in your choice.
Sentence Improvement/Correction Practice Questions
She don’t like ice cream.
A) don’t likes ice cream
B) doesn’t like ice cream
C) not likes ice cream
D) No improvement
The team is playing good today.
A) is playing goodly today
B) is playing well today
C) is playing better today
D) No improvement
Each of the students are responsible for their own work.
A) is responsible for their own work
B) is responsible for his own work
C) are responsible for his own work
D) No improvement
The cat and the dog is sleeping.
A) is slept
B) are sleeping
C) am sleeping
D) No improvement
I like pizza, my brother likes burgers.
A) likes burgers.
B) likes burgers;
C) likes burgers,
D) No improvement
She don’t understand the question.
A) doesn’t understanding the question
B) didn’t understands the question
C) doesn’t understand the question
D) No improvement
The blue car is.
A) is car blue
B) car is blue
C) is blue
D) No improvement
He plays good guitar.
A) plays guitar well
B) plays guitar good
C) plays a good guitar
D) No improvement
The concert was canceled due to the bad, weather.
A) due to the bad weather.
B) due to the bad weather,
C) due to bad weather.
D) No improvement
The team have been preparing for the championship since last year.
A) has been preparing
B) were preparing
C) was preparing
D) No improvement
She asked me for submitting the report by tomorrow.
A) that I submit
B) to submit
C) submit
D) No improvement
Neither the teacher nor the students was aware of the changes.
A) is aware
B) are aware
C) were aware
D) No improvement
The concert was more exciting as I had expected.
A) more exciting than
B) as exciting than
C) as exciting as
D) No improvement
He is known with his exceptional leadership skills.
A) of
B) for
C) by
D) No improvement
The cat laid lazily on the windowsill.
A) lay
B) lies
C) lain
D) No improvement
The project was aborted due to budget constraints.
A) abandoned
B) ceased
C) stopped
D) No improvement
She was late for the meeting due to she missed her bus.
A) because she missed her bus
B) as she missed her bus
C) since she missed her bus
D) No improvement
He is senior than me in service.
A) is more senior than
B) is senior to
C) is senior as
D) No improvement
She is married with a doctor.
A) is married to
B) is married by
C) is married for
D) No improvement
The news are very encouraging.
A) is very encouraging
B) are very encouraged
C) is very encouraged
D) No improvement
I have visited Mumbai last year.
A) visited Mumbai last year
B) have been visiting Mumbai last year
C) had visited Mumbai last year
D) No improvement
She did not wrote the letter herself.
A) did not write
B) does not write
C) didn’t wrote
D) No improvement
The police is looking for the lost child.
A) are looking
B) were looking
C) is looked
D) No improvement
I am living here since ten years.
A) am living here for ten years
B) have been living here for ten years
C) have lived here since ten years
D) No improvement
He is one of the best player in the team.
A) best players in the team
B) best player of the team
C) best players of the team
D) No improvement
She is suffering with fever since yesterday.
A) suffering from fever since yesterday
B) suffering by fever since yesterday
C) suffering in fever since yesterday
D) No improvement
The teacher as well as the students are going to the museum.
A) is going
B) were going
C) have gone
D) No improvement
I have finished my works before lunch.
A) have finished my work before lunch
B) finished my works before lunch
C) have finished my working before lunch
D) No improvement
The audience was clapping their hands in excitement.
A) were clapping their hands
B) was clapping its hands
C) were clapping its hands
D) No improvement
He is taller of the two brothers.
A) is tallest of the two brothers
B) is taller than the two brothers
C) is the taller of the two brothers
D) No improvement
One must do his duty sincerely at all times.
A) do their duty sincerely at all times
B) do one’s duty sincerely at all times
C) does his duty sincerely at all times
D) No improvement
She has completed her homeworks already.
A) completed her homework already
B) completed her homeworks yet
C) completed her homework yet
D) No improvement
The climate of Shimla are pleasant throughout the year.
A) is pleasant throughout the year
B) is pleasant during the year
C) are pleasant during the year
D) No improvement
My father is angry on me for being late.
A) is angry with me for being late
B) is angry by me for being late
C) is angry at me for being late
D) No improvement
He is used to get up early in the morning.
A) is used to getting up early in the morning
B) used to get up early in the morning
C) is used for get up early in the morning
D) No improvement
The number of students in this class are increasing every year.
A) is increasing every year
B) are increased every year
C) is increased every year
D) No improvement
Neither of the boys have done their homework today.
A) has done his homework today
B) have done his homework today
C) has done their homework today
D) No improvement
The train has left before we reached the station.
A) left before we reached the station
B) has left before we had reached the station
C) had left before we reached the station
D) No improvement
She is the most intelligent than all the girls.
A) is more intelligent than all the girls
B) is the most intelligent of all the girls
C) is most intelligent than all the girls
D) No improvement
He is senior to me by five years.
A) senior than me by five years
B) more senior to me by five years
C) senior to me five years
D) No improvement
The students are discussing about the new project.
A) are discussing the new project
B) have discussed about the new project
C) are discussed about the new project
D) No improvement
I am looking forward to meet you soon.
A) am looking forward to meeting you soon
B) am looking forward for meeting you soon
C) am looking forward to meet you
D) No improvement
She is more intelligent than any girl in the class.
A) is more intelligent than any other girl in the class
B) is most intelligent than any girl in the class
C) is more intelligent than all girls in the class
D) No improvement
He is the eldest of the two brothers.
A) is the older of the two brothers
B) is elder of the two brothers
C) is older than the two brothers
D) No improvement
The furniture in this room are new and expensive.
A) is new and expensive
B) are new and are expensive
C) is new but expensive
D) No improvement
My cousin brother is coming to visit us next week.
A) cousin is coming to visit us next week
B) cousin’s brother is coming to visit us next week
C) cousin brother is coming to visit us next weeks
D) No improvement
She is more beautiful than her sister.
A) is beautiful than her sister
B) is most beautiful than her sister
C) is more beautifully than her sister
D) No improvement
He is capable to do this work efficiently.
A) is capable for doing this work efficiently
B) is capable of doing this work efficiently
C) is capable in doing this work efficiently
D) No improvement
The teacher gave us many advices during the class.
A) much advice during the class
B) many advice during the class
C) much advices during the class
D) No improvement
I am going to home now to rest.
A) am going home now to rest
B) am going for home now to rest
C) am going at home now to rest
D) No improvement
For more practice and explanations, refer to resources at IndiaBIX, Testbook, BYJU’S, Smartkeeda, and Leverage Edu1345678. If you need answer keys or explanations for any question, just ask!
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