Understanding Sentence Improvement with Examples
A sentence improvement question represents a sentence with an underlined portion and provides options to choose from for improving that sentence.
Although there are no particular rules for sentence improvement to follow while answering questions, one can learn to crack such questions in placement exams with the help of examples and expert tips.
Here are a few sentence improvement examples to help you understand better:
- The new research findings were surprising; it revealed potential risks previously unknown.
a. it reveals
b. revealed
c. it has revealed
d. No correction required
Answer: b. revealed
Explanation:
In the given sentence, the subject "it" is redundant and unnecessary. The verb "revealed" is correct in the past tense, indicating that the research findings were already made known.
- The team had to work late into the night to meet their project deadline.
a. her
b. our
c. its
d. No correction required
Answer: c. its
Explanation:
The word "team" is a collective noun and is treated as a singular entity. Therefore, the possessive pronoun "its" should be used to refer to the team, instead of the plural pronoun "their."
- The students were asked to write an essay on the topic, providing their personal insights.
a. its
b. his
c. her
d. No correction required
Answer: d. No correction required
Explanation:
In this sentence, the pronoun "their" is used correctly to refer to the plural noun "students." It indicates that each student is expected to provide their own personal insights.
- The company has recently implemented several strategies to improve it's market position.
a. its'
b. it's
c. its
d. No correction required
Answer: c. its
Explanation:
The word "it's" is a contraction of "it is" and is not suitable for indicating possession. The correct form to show possession is "its," without an apostrophe.
- The report highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.
a. to exercise
b. for exercising
c. exercise
d. No correction required
Answer: c. exercise
Explanation:
In the given sentence, the verb "exercise" should be used in its base form without the infinitive marker "to." This form is appropriate because it follows the pattern of the previous phrases "maintaining" and "getting."
- The professor asked the students to submit him their assignments by the end of the week.
a. he
b. his
c. themselves
d. No correction required
Answer: d. No correction required
Explanation:
In this sentence, the pronoun "him" is correctly used to indicate that the students should submit their assignments to the professor. No correction is needed.
- The new marketing campaign was designed to effect a significant increase in sales.
a. affect
b. reflect
c. expect
d. No correction required
Answer: a. affect
Explanation:
In this sentence, the word "affect" is the appropriate choice, meaning to bring about or influence. "Effect" is a noun, not a verb, and would not convey the intended meaning.
- The economic crisis had a profound effect on the country's GDP growth.
a. affect
b. impact
c. influence
d. No correction required
Answer: d. No correction required
Explanation:
In this sentence, the word "effect" is correct because it functions as a noun, indicating the result or consequence of the economic crisis. The other options, "affect," "impact," and "influence," are all verbs.
- The government announced a new policy to combat the climate change crisis.
a. a
b. that
c. no article
d. No correction required
Answer: d. No correction required
Explanation:
In this sentence, the use of the definite article "the" before "climate change crisis" is appropriate. It indicates that the government is addressing a specific crisis, namely the climate change crisis. No correction is needed.
- The author's latest novel was met with less critical acclaim than her previous works.
a. fewer
b. little
c. lesser
d. No correction required
Answer: c. lesser
Explanation:
In this sentence, the comparative form "lesser" should be used to indicate a smaller degree of critical acclaim.
The word "less" is used for uncountable nouns, while "lesser" is used to compare two things. Therefore, "lesser" is the correct choice here.
Tips and Tricks to Solve Sentence Improvement Questions
Sentence improvement questions can be easily solved by learning sentence improvement tips and tricks. These tips and tricks are very useful in finding the correct answer quickly and effectively, saving a lot of time.
Follow these tips and tricks while solving sentence improvement questions:
1. Strictly Follow the Rules for Grammar and Syntax
Check for grammatical errors such as subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, proper word usage, and parallelism. Ensure that the sentence follows the standard rules of sentence structure and is free from any syntactical errors.
2. Aim for Clear and Concise Sentences
Improve the clarity of the sentence by rephrasing ambiguous or convoluted phrases. Simplify complex sentence structures and avoid wordiness or redundancy to make the sentence more concise.
3. Check for Correct Contextual Usage
Make sure the revised sentence makes sense in the context in which the original one was presented. It should express the intended meaning and stay on the main subject or theme.
4. Ensure Logical Coherence
Examine the sentence's coherence and logical flow. Make sure the sentence flows well with the previous and following sentences and that the ideas are presented in a clear and logical order.
5. Take Care of Appropriate Word Choice and Diction
Analyze the suitability of the sentence's word choice. Find opportunities to replace vague or overused words with more definite and useful ones. Make sure the words you choose appropriately express the idea you want.
FAQsFAQs
Why is understanding the concepts of sentence improvement important?
Understanding the concepts of sentence improvement is crucial because it forms a significant portion of the verbal ability section in various placement exams. It is not only about understanding the sentence but also interpreting, analyzing, and drawing inferences from it.
Understanding these concepts helps to answer different types of verbal ability questions accurately, ranging from direct facts to complex inference-based questions.
How does understanding examples assist in solving sentence improvement questions more effectively?
Understanding examples is a powerful tool for effectively solving sentence improvement questions. Examples of sentence improvement often illustrate how to improve the sentence structure and flow according to the context.
By studying the examples in the sentence improvement topic, learners can understand how to improve the flow of a sentence through vocabulary and grammar, which helps in identifying the correct answer during exams.
Do we have rules to solve questions on sentence improvement?
No, there are no specific rules that students need to learn to solve the sentence improvement topic in verbal ability. However, there are certain tips and tricks for sentence improvement that students must know to solve the questions on this topic in a verbal ability exam.
What are some of the helpful tips to learn sentence improvement?
Here are some tips to improve and learn sentence improvement topic:
- Read widely to explore different writing styles.
- Master grammar rules for better sentence structure.
- Expand vocabulary to enhance word choice.
- Practice active writing and seek feedback.
- Analyze sentence errors to improve accuracy.
- Eliminate unnecessary words.
- Use transitions for smooth idea connections.
- Experiment with sentence types for impact and variety.
- Proofread meticulously for errors.
- Seek help from guides or online resources.
