Sentence Improvement Practice Questions

5 questions per page • Detailed step-by-step solutions

Directions (Q. )

In each of the following questions, a part of the sentence is italicised. Alternatives to the italicised part are provided below, one of which may improve the sentence. Choose the best alternative. If no improvement is needed, select 'E' as your answer.

Question 6

Easy

Please let me to know your decision.

A let me to know

B let to me know

C make me know

D let me knowing

E let me know

Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

'Let' is followed by an object and the base verb without 'to': 'let me know'.

Question 7

Medium

Scarcely had the bell rang when the students rushed out.

A the bell rings

B the bell rang

C the bell rung

D the bell ringing

E No improvement

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

After 'Scarcely had', the subject comes before the past participle: 'the bell rung'.

Question 8

Medium

The teacher asked us that we should be quiet during the test.

A asked us to be quiet

B asked us for being quiet

C asked to us be quiet

D asked that us be quiet

E No improvement

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The pattern 'ask someone to do something' is idiomatic. 'Asked us that we should' is wordy and not the standard structure.

Question 9

Easy

There were much people at the fair.

A many

B much more

C a much

D very much

E No improvement

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

'People' is countable, so 'many' is used. 'Much' is for uncountable nouns.

Question 10

Medium

The reason why he failed is because he did not study.

A is why he did not study

B is for he did not study

C is that he did not study

D is because of not study

E No improvement

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

'The reason ... is because' is redundant. In formal English, use 'The reason ... is that'.