Types of Sentence Improvement Asked in Exam

1. Error Spotting

In this type of question, a sentence is given with a few words underlined. You need to identify the error in the underlined part and select the correct option that replaces the underlined part.

Example:

The boy is playing in the park.

The error in the underlined part is “is”. The correct option is “was” as the sentence is in the past tense.

2. Sentence Completion

In this type of question, a sentence is given with a blank space. You need to fill in the blank with the correct word or phrase.

Example:

The girl was so happy that she _____ with joy.

The correct option to fill in the blank is “jumped”.

3. Sentence Correction

In this type of question, a sentence is given with an error. You need to identify the error and select the correct option that corrects the error.

Example:

The man has been working on the project for two weeks.

The error in the underlined part is “has”. The correct option is “is” as the sentence is in the present tense.

4. Sentence Improvement

In this type of question, a sentence is given with an improvement suggestion. You need to decide whether the suggested improvement is correct or not.

Example:

The boy ran quickly to the store. (Suggested improvement: The boy ran fast to the store.)

The suggested improvement is correct as “fast” is a better adverb to describe the boy’s running speed than “quickly”.

5. Sentence Rearrangement

In this type of question, a sentence is given with the words in a jumbled order. You need to rearrange the words in the correct order to form a meaningful sentence.

Example:

the / park / in / children / playing / are / the

The correct order of the words is “The children are playing in the park.”

Rules and Cases of English Grammar Sentence Correction

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Rule: The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number.
  • Example: The cat is sleeping. (singular subject, singular verb)
  • Example: The cats are sleeping. (plural subject, plural verb)

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

• Rule: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and gender.
  • Example: The cat is sleeping. It is dreaming of mice. (singular antecedent, singular pronoun)
  • Example: The cats are sleeping. They are dreaming of mice. (plural antecedent, plural pronoun)

Verb Tense

• Rule: The verb tense in a sentence must be consistent with the time frame of the sentence.
  • Example: The cat is sleeping. (present tense)
  • Example: The cat was sleeping. (past tense)
  • Example: The cat will sleep. (future tense)

Adjective and Adverb Placement

• Rule: Adjectives and adverbs must be placed close to the words they modify.
  • Example: The red car is parked in the driveway. (adjective placed close to the noun it modifies)
  • Example: The car is parked quickly in the driveway. (adverb placed close to the verb it modifies)

Comma Usage

• Rule: Commas are used to separate items in a list, to join two independent clauses, and to set off nonessential information.
  • Example: The cat, the dog, and the bird are all pets. (comma used to separate items in a list)
  • Example: The cat is sleeping, and the dog is barking. (comma used to join two independent clauses)
  • Example: The cat, which is sleeping, is not bothering anyone. (comma used to set off nonessential information)

Apostrophe Usage

• Rule: Apostrophes are used to indicate possession and to form contractions.
  • Example: The cat’s toy is under the bed. (apostrophe used to indicate possession)
  • Example: I’m going to the store. (apostrophe used to form a contraction)

Capitalization

• Rule: Capital letters are used to begin sentences, proper nouns, and titles.
  • Example: The cat is sleeping. (capital letter used to begin a sentence)
  • Example: The cat’s name is Mittens. (capital letter used to begin a proper noun)
  • Example: The book is titled “The Cat in the Hat.” (capital letter used to begin a title)

Punctuation

• Rule: Punctuation marks are used to clarify the meaning of a sentence and to make it easier to read.
  • Example: The cat is sleeping. (period used to end a sentence)
  • Example: The cat, which is sleeping, is not bothering anyone. (comma used to set off nonessential information)
  • Example: “The cat is sleeping,” said the owner. (quotation marks used to enclose a direct quotation)

English Grammar Sentence Correction FAQs

1. What are the most common grammar mistakes people make?

• Subject-verb agreement: The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. For example, “The dog barks” is correct, but “The dogs bark” is incorrect.
• Pronoun agreement: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and gender. For example, “The boy gave the ball to his friend” is correct, but “The boy gave the ball to her friend” is incorrect.
• Verb tense: The verb tense in a sentence must be consistent. For example, “I went to the store yesterday” is correct, but “I go to the store yesterday” is incorrect.
• Adjective and adverb placement: Adjectives and adverbs must be placed correctly in a sentence. For example, “The red car” is correct, but “The car red” is incorrect.
• Comma usage: Commas must be used correctly to separate items in a list, to join two independent clauses, and to set off nonessential information. For example, “I went to the store, bought some groceries, and came home” is correct, but “I went to the store bought some groceries and came home” is incorrect.

2. How can I improve my grammar?

There are many ways to improve your grammar. Here are a few tips:

• Read widely. Reading exposes you to different writing styles and helps you learn how to use grammar correctly.
• Write often. The more you write, the more comfortable you will become with the rules of grammar.
• Use a grammar checker. A grammar checker can help you identify and correct grammar mistakes in your writing.
• Take a grammar class. If you need more help with grammar, you can take a grammar class at a community college or online.

3. What are some common grammar myths?

There are many common grammar myths that people believe. Here are a few examples:

• You can’t start a sentence with a conjunction. This is not true. You can start a sentence with a conjunction if it is followed by a comma. For example, “And then, I went to the store” is correct.
• You can’t use two adjectives in a row. This is not true. You can use two adjectives in a row if they are separated by a comma. For example, “The red, shiny car” is correct.
• You can’t split an infinitive. This is not true. You can split an infinitive if it is necessary to make the sentence sound better. For example, “I want to really enjoy my vacation” is correct.

4. Where can I find more information about grammar?

There are many resources available to help you learn more about grammar. Here are a few examples:

• Grammar books: There are many grammar books available that can teach you the basics of grammar.
• Online resources: There are many online resources available that can help you learn grammar. Some popular resources include Grammarly, Khan Academy, and Purdue OWL.
• Grammar classes: If you need more help with grammar, you can take a grammar class at a community college or online.