MCQ
Sentence correction & improvement MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers
Solve 15 Sentence correction & improvement questions for RAS/RPSC preparation.
Practice questions
Q1Four versions of a sentence are given below. Identify the sentence that is grammatically incorrect.
A participial or reduced introductory clause must logically modify the subject of the main clause. In option C, 'After examining the evidence carefully' appears to modify 'the complaint', as if the complaint examined the evidence. That is impossible; a person or authority examined it. A correct version would be: 'After examining the evidence carefully, the inquiry officer found the complaint exaggerated.' The other options place the actor immediately after the introductory phrase, so their modifiers are properly attached.
Q2Choose the option in which both statements are correctly improved. Statement 1: One of the criteria for selection are academic consistency. Statement 2: Neither the appellate authority nor the district officers was consulted.
Statement 1 tests the one of the + plural noun pattern. The noun after the phrase should be plural, so criteria is correct, but the grammatical subject of the verb is one; therefore the verb must be singular: is. Statement 2 tests proximity agreement in a neither...nor structure. In traditional exam grammar, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Since district officers is plural and stands nearest to the verb, were consulted is the correct form. Only option A corrects both sentences without introducing a new error.
Q3Choose the grammatically correct improvement of the underlined part: Had the committee scrutinised the proposal earlier, the irregularities <u>would have been detected before the funds were released</u>.
In a third conditional sentence, the if-clause may be inverted: 'Had the committee scrutinised' means 'If the committee had scrutinised'. The result clause therefore takes 'would have + past participle'. Since 'irregularities' receive the action, the passive form is required: 'would have been detected'. Options using 'would be' or 'will have been' disturb the past unreal time frame, and the active 'would have detected' leaves the object without a proper agent.
Q4Assertion (A): 'Had the minutes been circulated earlier, the members could have raised their objections before the meeting' is grammatically correct. Reason (R): In a past unreal conditional, 'had + subject + past participle' can replace 'if + subject + had + past participle' without changing the conditional meaning.
The assertion uses an inverted third conditional: 'Had the minutes been circulated earlier' means 'If the minutes had been circulated earlier'. This structure refers to an unreal past condition and its possible past result. The result clause correctly uses 'could have raised', not 'could raise' or 'could have been raised' for the members' action. The reason states the exact rule: in formal English, the auxiliary 'had' may be moved before the subject to omit 'if'. Therefore both statements are true, and R explains A.
Q5Read the two statements and choose the correct answer. Statement 1: The revised draft contains less errors than the earlier version. Statement 2: The revised draft took less time to circulate than the earlier version.
The distinction is between countable and uncountable nouns. Use 'fewer' with plural count nouns such as 'errors', 'applications' and 'recommendations'. Use 'less' with mass or uncountable nouns such as 'time', 'money' and 'information'. Therefore Statement 1 should read: 'The revised draft contains fewer errors than the earlier version.' Statement 2 is already correct because 'time' is uncountable in this context. Hence only Statement 1 requires correction.
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More questions
6Which option correctly improves the sentence? The audit team was asked to verify the invoices, checking the stock register, and whether the approvals had been recorded.
7Match the sentence in List I with the correction principle in List II. List I: 1. Neither the chairperson nor the members was willing to endorse the resolution. 2. The committee's findings are superior than the earlier audit note. 3. No sooner did the notice appear when objections were filed. 4. The programme is aimed to improving digital record-keeping. List II: a. Use 'than' after 'no sooner'. b. Use 'to' after 'superior'. c. Make the verb agree with the nearer subject. d. Use 'at' followed by a gerund after 'aimed'.
8Which one of the following sentences is grammatically incorrect?
9Choose the most appropriate correction for the underlined part of the sentence. The committee found the report not only inaccurate but also that it was deliberately misleading.
10Choose the most appropriate improvement for the underlined part of the sentence. The committee recommended that the report is revised before it is placed before the board.
11Which one of the following sentences is grammatically incorrect and needs correction?
12Read the Assertion and Reason and choose the correct option. Assertion (A): The sentence 'Having examined the file, several discrepancies were noticed by the auditor' needs improvement. Reason (R): An opening participial phrase should logically modify the grammatical subject that immediately follows it.
13Select the option that best improves the sentence. The legal adviser recommended that the notice was withdrawn before the hearing began.
14Consider the assertion and reason below. Assertion (A): The sentence 'The board insisted that every candidate submits the undertaking before counselling' needs correction. Reason (R): After verbs such as insist, recommend, demand and suggest, formal English often uses the base form of the verb in the that-clause.
15Read the following sentences and choose the option that contains only the grammatically correct sentence(s). Statement 1: Neither the finance officer nor the clerks were able to explain the discrepancy. Statement 2: Neither the clerks nor the finance officer were able to explain the discrepancy. Statement 3: Either the director or the secretaries is responsible for maintaining the register.