Sentence Correction Questions & Rules For English Language

cThis article will provide rules and sentence correction questions for the English language section that form a vital part of various competitive exams. 

Aspirants of various Government exams such as Bank, RRB, SSC, Insurance, etc must go through the important sentence correction questions and rules provided in the article, as the English Language is an imperative component of the syllabus of these examinations. 

Generally, candidates are not very comfortable with this topic as these are based on grammar rules and English is a subject in which even people proficient in the language, end up making mistakes. Hence, to master the sentence corrections it is important that candidates practise as many sentence correction questions as possible. 

Sentence Correction Questions PDF:-Download PDF Here

Sentence Correction Questions Format

The format of Sentence Correction questions goes like this: 

• Candidates are given a sentence, a part of which is highlighted in bold.
• 3 or 4 options are given from which candidates need to select the option that best goes with the sentence, in place of the highlighted text.
• There might be questions when sentences have no error or require no correction; in that case, candidates need to select the option that says ‘No error’ ‘no improvement required’.

Check other relevant English language topics given below-

For more English language topics discussing concepts, rules, lists and uses of General English for competitive exams, check the linked page.

Rules To Solve Sentence Corrections Questions

Rule 1: The articles a/an or the are not used with words such as (kind of, sort of, type of, etc)

Example:

Incorrect – What type of the books you like to read?

Correct – What type of books do you like to read?

Incorrect – What sort of an insect is that?

Correct – What sort of insect is that?

Rule 2: Sentences with words ‘each of’ ‘one of’ ‘none of’ is always followed by a plural form of the noun.

Examples:

Incorrect: Each of the player performed well in the match.

Correct – Each of the players performed well in the match.

Incorrect – None of the student scored above 90% in boards.

Correct – None of the students scored above 90 % in boards.

Rule 3: The collective noun takes a plural verb when not used as a single unit.

Example:

Incorrect: The resources was divided based on its expertise

Correct: The resources were divided based on their expertise. 

Rule 4: Use Present Continuous tense rather than simple present tense, when the recurring action is problematic.

Example:

Incorrect: She always hits me without any reason

Correct: She is always hitting me without any reason

Rule 5: If, in a sentence, two action clauses are to take place in the future, use simple present tense for conditional clause and simple future tense for the other clause.

Example:

Incorrect: The moment she will enter the room, we will start singing the birthday song

Correct: The moment she enters the room we will start singing the birthday song.

Rule 6: For impossible past conditions, use past perfect and for its likely results use Would+Have+ 3 form of Verb. Past perfect is used for impossible past conditions.

Example:

Incorrect: If Jacob would have called me. I would have picked him up from the airport.

Correct: If Jacob had called me, I would have picked him up from the airport.

This article will give fewer rules since we have already covered important rules for sentence correction or error spotting in the English language in detail for candidate assistance. 

Let’s dive deep into the type of sentence correction questions asked in various competitive or government exams. 

Sentence Correction Questions For Competitive Exams

The prominence of sentence correction in English language can only be understood by knowing the types of questions asked in the exams, based on it. Given below are various types of sentence correction questions that candidates encounter in the verbal ability section of competitive exams.

Directions: The sentences given below are grammatically incorrect. Pick out the best suitable option to correct the sentence.

Q.1 The employees of this company demand higher salaries for a very long period of time.

1. The employee of this company demand higher salary for a long time.
2. The employees of this company demands higher salary for a very long time.
3. The employees of this company are demanding higher salaries for a long time.
4. The employees of this company have been demanding higher salaries for a very long time.

Answer (4)

Q.2. The train is expected to arrive between 11 pm to 12 pm.

1. The train is expecting to between by 11pm to 12pm.
2. The train is expected to arrive between 11pm and 12pm.
3. The train is expected to arrive between 11pm or 12pm.
4. The train is expected for arrival between 11pm to 12pm.

Answer(2)

Q.3. If the cab would have started on time, she would have reached office on time.

1. If the cab would have started on time, she had reached office on time.
2. If the cab would have started on time, she would have reached the office on time.
3. If the cab would have been started on time, she had reached office on time.
4. If the cab had started on time, she would have reached office on time.

Answer (4)

Q.4. The renowned Birla’s family is divided on the property.

1. The renowned Birla family is divided on the property.
2. The renowned Birla family is divided for the property.
3. The renowned Birla’s family is divided into properties.
4. The renowned Birla family divided on the property.

Answer (1)

Q.5. What kind of a car do you want?

1. What kinds of car do you want?
2. What kind of car do you want?
3. What kind of a car are you wanting?
4. What are the kinds of car you want?

Answer (2)

Q.6. Nishi said to the boy, “Can you take me home now?”

1. Nishi asked the boy if he could take her home then.
2. Nishi asked the boy that if he could take her to the home then
3. Nishi asked the boy that if he would take her to home at once.
4. Nishi asked the boy if he can take her to home then.

Answer (1)

Q.7. Select the alternative that is the best substitute of the phrase. ‘a loud, harsh, piercing cry’.

1. howl
2. Noise
3. Scream
4. Screech

Answer (4)

Q.8. The payment was collected by the hardworking salesman.

1. The hardworking salesman collects the payment.
2. The hardworking salesman was able to collect the payment.
3. The hardworking salesman collected the payment.
4. To collect the payment the salesman had to work hard.

Answer (3)

Q.9. Though very old, yet my grandfather is the complete head of the extended family.

1. Absolute
2. Overall
3. Undisputed
4. No correction

Answer (3)

Q.10. Pick the correct word for the phrase ‘Back to the drawing board’.

1. An inventive person find fresh ways to solve a problem
2. To solve a problem go back to the root cause
3. An artist is always happy if he gets a chance to go back to painting
4. An idea has been unsuccessful and that a new one must be devised

Answer (4)

Q.11. Rearrange the sentence in the correct order: This means that for(A) in poverty, rural incomes(B) have to grow at a faster rate(C) making a significant dent(D)

1. ABCD
2. ADBC
3. CDBA
4. BDAC

Answer (2)

Q.12. While expectations(A) One year after its official launch(B) ­has  largely escaped political scrutiny(C) ­have been scaled down, the rhetoric(D)

1. ABCD
2. BADC
3. DCAB
4. CBDA

Answer (2)

Q.13. What is the best alternative for the phrase, ‘An achievement or something desired fail to be attained by someone’?

1. To delude
2. To eschew
3. To elude
4. To shirk

Answer (3)

Q.14. If the screen of the computer (was bright enough), it would have been easier to read from here.

1. was any brighter
2. was more brighter
3. Was little brighter
4. had been brighter

Answer (4)

Q.15. By the time she reached there, he left the place.

1. By the time she reached there, he had leave the place.
2. By the time she reached there, he leaved the place.
3. By the time she reached there, he had left the place.
4. No error

Answer (3)

Q.16. This kingdom has been belonging to us since generations.

1. has belonged
2. has belonging
3. belongs
4. Belonged

Answer (1)

Q.17. Rama told his wife, he would not mind standing and eat the dinner.

1. Stand and eat the dinner
2. Stand and eating the dinner
3. Standing and eating the dinner
4. No correction

Answer (3)

Q.18. People in villages do not have enough water, besides many people in metro cities have water even for their swimming pools.

1. Where
2. But
3. And
4. Whereas

Answer (4)

Q.19. She had invited(1) all her brothers-in-law(2) to her daughter’s engagement party(3) No error(4)

1. 2
2. 1
3. 4
4. 3

Answer (3)

Q.20. They were with daggers drawn despite attempts to understand each other.

1. In daggers
2. At daggers
3. On daggers
4. To daggers

Answer (2)

For more variation in sentence correction questions in English grammar asked in various competitive exams, check out Previous Year Question Papers PDF with Solutions. 

It is important to go through the above-given sentence correction questions and the related rules for them. This will help candidates not only in the objective verbal ability section but descriptive sections as well, like reading comprehension, essay, letter writing, etc. 

Sentence Correction Questions PDF:-Download PDF Here

Candidates who are preparing for the upcoming government exams must carefully refer to the detailed exam syllabus in the links given below:

For further questions or information regarding competitive exams, study material or best books for preparation, candidates can turn to BYJU’S.