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Sentence Correction, Error Detection & Sentence Improvement

This document provides an overview of sentence correction as an important section in verbal ability tests. It examines various types of grammatical errors that commonly appear in sentences, such as subject-verb agreement, redundant language, misplaced modifiers, improper comparisons, and incorrect usage of question tags. Specific examples are given to illustrate each error, along with the correct formulation. The key points are that sentence correction evaluates understanding of English grammar rules as well as precise word choice and usage. Attention to grammatical details is important for performing well on this test section.

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Bharat Thangaraj
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96 views

Sentence Correction, Error Detection & Sentence Improvement

This document provides an overview of sentence correction as an important section in verbal ability tests. It examines various types of grammatical errors that commonly appear in sentences, such as subject-verb agreement, redundant language, misplaced modifiers, improper comparisons, and incorrect usage of question tags. Specific examples are given to illustrate each error, along with the correct formulation. The key points are that sentence correction evaluates understanding of English grammar rules as well as precise word choice and usage. Attention to grammatical details is important for performing well on this test section.

Uploaded by

Bharat Thangaraj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPSX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sentence Correction

Introduction:

One of the most important and high scoring section in


verbal ability portion of any test, Sentence Correction is
generally taken by students to be tested on English
grammar. Questions asked in this section are based not
only on the fundamentals of grammar but also on
correct usage of various words.
Sentence Correction

Example:

(i) I had been to your house yesterday.

(Wrong use of HAD BEEN. This should read as: I was at


your house yesterday. Or, I went to your house
yesterday. )

(ii) Who told that this was wrong?

(It should read as: Who told you that this was wrong?
OR Who said that this was wrong. You can omit THAT
and still the sentence would be complete.)
1. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb in a sentence must agree with its subject.


(i) They both should be either singular or plural.
Example:
A boy reads a novel (singular).
The boys are reading a novel (plural)

(ii) In case, the subjects are connected by AND; they require a plural
verb.
Example:
Gold and Silver are precious metals.

(iii)If the subjects are connected by OR, the verb used will be singular
Example:
The dog or the pup is sick.
In case there are two different subjects; the verb is put matching the
closure subject.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb in a sentence must agree with its subject.

Example:
Sachin or I am going for a party.
Sachin or Rahul is going for the party.

(iv) All the sentences that begin with EACH, EVERYONE and ANYONE
will have a singular verb.

Example:
Every one of the boys loves to ride.
Anyone has a pen, please.

:
(v) I, ME While deciding between the nominative form (i.e. I ) and the
objective form (i.e., me); the nominative form was preferred, earlier.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb in a sentence must agree with its subject.

Example:
Atul and I are going for a walk.
But lately its use is considered formal and over correct .We usually use
the objective form, i.e. there is no difference between I and me.

Example:
Jack goes more often to the theatre than me

But whenever a comparison is made with THAN or AS; the objective


form is used.
2. Tautological Error/ Redundancy

Sometimes also referred a ‘redundancy’, this is the error of writing the


same thing twice.

Example:
He returned back from Delhi.
I hardly have any money to give you.

The correct constructions should be;

He came back from Delhi.


I have no money to give you.
3. Misplaced Modifier

A common blunder is to leave a participle dangling without a subject.

Example:
Sitting on the gate, a scorpion stung him.
Here, ‘sitting’ cannot be used for scorpion as it is grammatically
incorrect.. The correct should be:-
Sitting on the gate, he was stung by a scorpion or
While he was sitting on the gate, a scorpion stung him.

Example:
He visited the place where Napoleon died during his holidays.
It seems as the participle ‘during his holidays’ is used for Napoleon
while it is meant for the person visiting .So the correct sentence should
be:-
During his holidays, he visited the place where Napoleon died. This
way, it is correctly understood.
4. Comparisons

The comparison should be made between two similar things. If we say:-


The population of London is greater than any other city in India.
We are comparing:-
(a) The population of London
(b) Any other city in India.
While comparison had to be made between the populations of both. So, the
correct expression should be:-
The population of London is greater than that of any other city in India.
(a) When comparative degree is used with than, make sure that we exclude
the thing compared from the rest of class of things by using the

Example:
He is stronger than any man living.(incorrect).
He is stronger than any other man living.(correct).
Similarly, Solomon was wiser than all other men.
In superlative degree, we must include the thing compared.
Solomon was the wisest of all men.
He is the strongest of all men.
5. Trust Your Ears

If you become stuck, 'say' the choices in your head and then
select the passage that sounds best to your ears. Most test takers,
particularly native English speakers, have internalized many
more grammar rules than they can explicitly identify.
6. Error Detection - Getting your grammar
right matters!

Question Tags….
The two basic rules about tag questions are:

• If the statement is negative, the tag must be positive. If


the statement is positive the tag must be negative. ...

• The tense of the tag is determined by the tense of the


auxiliary/modal verb of the statement that precedes it.
7. Error Detection - Getting your grammar
right matters!

Question Tags….
If the statement is negative, the tag must be positive. If the
statement is positive the tag must be negative....

- You don't like me, do you?


- You won't tell him my secret, will you?
- He doesn't speak German, does he?
8. Error Detection - Getting your grammar
right matters!

Question Tags….
The tense of the tag is determined by the tense of the
auxiliary/modal verb of the statement that precedes it.

- She comes from Korea, doesn't she?


- You like heavy metal music, don't you?
- He got top grade in the math test, didn't he
8. Error Detection – Question Tags…

1. It's a lovely day today, ________?


2. You live in Frankfurt, _______?
3. Miho can't speak German, _______?
4. You haven't seen Miho, _______?
5. His parents are very old, _______?
6. You will remember to call me, _______?
8. Error Detection – Question Tags…

1. It's a lovely day today, isn't it?


2. You live in Frankfurt, don't you?
3. Miho can't speak German, can she?
4. You haven't seen Miho, have you?
5. His parents are very old, aren't they?
6. You will remember to call me, won't you?
Thank You

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