Correction of Sentences

1. Introduction to Sentence Correction

• Definition: Sentence correction involves identifying grammatical, syntactical, or usage errors and making necessary changes to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct, clear, and coherent.
• Importance: Mastering sentence correction helps in competitive exams, academic writing, and everyday communication. 

2. Common Error Categories

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
2. Tense Consistency
3. Pronoun Usage
4. Articles (a, an, the)
5. Prepositions
6. Adjective vs. Adverb Usage
7. Modifiers (Misplaced or Dangling)
8. Parallelism
9. Double Negatives
10. Comparison Errors
11. Word Order & Redundancies

3. Subject-Verb Agreement

• Rule: The verb must agree in number (singular/plural) with its subject.

Example 1

• Incorrect: He go to school every day.
• Correct: He goes to school every day.
• Explanation: “He” (3rd person singular) requires the verb “goes.”

Example 2

• Incorrect: The group of students were playing.
• Correct: The group of students was playing.
• Explanation: “Group” is a singular collective noun, so the singular verb “was” is needed (depending on whether you see “group” as a single unit).

4. Tense Consistency

• Rule: Maintain the same tense within a sentence or connected sentences unless a time shift requires a change.

Example 1

• Incorrect: She ate dinner and then goes to bed.
• Correct: She ate dinner and then went to bed.
• Explanation: Both actions (eating dinner, going to bed) happened in the past, so the same (past) tense is required.

Example 2

• Incorrect: Yesterday, I am feeling sick, but today I’m better.
• Correct: Yesterday, I was feeling sick, but today I’m better.
• Explanation: The reference to “yesterday” needs the past tense “was feeling.”

5. Pronoun Usage

• Rule: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in person, number, and gender, and must be used in the correct case (subjective, objective, possessive).

Example 1

• Incorrect: Each of the boys did their project on time.
• Correct: Each of the boys did his project on time.
• Explanation: “Each” is singular, so use the singular pronoun “his” (or “his or her” for gender neutrality).

Example 2

• Incorrect: The teacher asked my friend and I to stay.
• Correct: The teacher asked my friend and me to stay.
• Explanation: “me” is needed in the object position (the teacher asked whom?).

6. Articles (a, an, the)

• Rule: Use a/an for non-specific or first mention of singular nouns, the for specific references or known contexts.

Example 1

• Incorrect: I saw the elephant in the zoo, and it was huge. (If any elephant, not previously mentioned.)
• Correct: I saw an elephant in the zoo, and it was huge.
• Explanation: “Elephant” not previously introduced, so we use “an” (because “elephant” starts with a vowel sound).

Example 2

• Incorrect: I live in a United States.
• Correct: I live in the United States.
• Explanation: “The United States” is a proper name often treated with a definite article because it’s a specific country composed of states.

7. Prepositions

• Rule: Prepositions can vary depending on time, place, direction, and common usage patterns.

Example 1

• Incorrect: We discussed about the plan.
• Correct: We discussed the plan.
• Explanation: The verb “discuss” does not take “about” after it.

Example 2

• Incorrect: He is good in English.
• Correct: He is good at English.
• Explanation: The correct preposition with “good” (in terms of skill) is “at.”

8. Adjective vs. Adverb Usage

• Rule: Adjectives modify nouns/pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Example 1

• Incorrect: She plays the piano beautiful.
• Correct: She plays the piano beautifully.
• Explanation: We need an adverb (“beautifully”) to modify the verb “plays.”

Example 2

• Incorrect: The flowers smell sweetly.
• Correct: The flowers smell sweet.
• Explanation: “Smell” here is a linking verb (perception sense), so an adjective (“sweet”) is used, not an adverb.

9. Modifiers (Misplaced or Dangling)

• Rule: Place modifiers (words, phrases, clauses) close to what they describe. If not, it can create confusion.

Example 1 (Misplaced Modifier)

• Incorrect: He served steak to the guests on paper plates.
• Correct: He served the guests steak on paper plates.
• Explanation: “On paper plates” should follow “steak” to clarify that the steak (not the guests) was on paper plates.

Example 2 (Dangling Modifier)

• Incorrect: Driving home, the trees looked beautiful.
• Correct: While I was driving home, the trees looked beautiful.
• Explanation: The subject “I” must be clearly stated. Otherwise, the phrase “Driving home” dangles without a subject.

10. Parallelism

• Rule: Items in a list or series, or paired ideas, should be in the same grammatical form.

Example 1

• Incorrect: I like reading, to swim, and playing cricket.
• Correct: I like reading, swimming, and playing cricket.
• Explanation: Ensure all verb forms are consistent (-ing form here).

Example 2

• Incorrect: She wants to work efficiently, quickly, and with accuracy.
• Correct: She wants to work efficiently, quickly, and accurately.
• Explanation: Use the same adverb form for each item.

11. Double Negatives

• Rule: Avoid using two negative words in a single clause unless for special emphasis in informal speech.

Example 1

• Incorrect: I don’t know nothing about the problem.
• Correct: I don’t know anything about the problem.
• Explanation: “Don’t” is already negative; “nothing” is another negative. Replace “nothing” with “anything.”

12. Comparison Errors

• Rule: Use the correct form of comparative (–er or more) and superlative (–est or most) adjectives/adverbs. Compare like things.

Example 1

• Incorrect: This painting is more prettier than that one.
• Correct: This painting is prettier than that one.
• Explanation: “Pretty” → “prettier” (comparative). Don’t use “more” with “-er.”

Example 2 (Illogical Comparison)

• Incorrect: My car is faster than Ravi.
• Correct: My car is faster than Ravi’s car.
• Explanation: Compare “car” with “car,” not “car” with “Ravi.”

13. Word Order & Redundancies

• Rule: Maintain a logical, concise sentence structure and avoid repetitive or unnecessary words.

Example 1 (Word Order)

• Incorrect: To the store, we went yesterday.
• Correct: We went to the store yesterday.
• Explanation: A more natural English word order is Subject + Verb + Object + Adverbial.

Example 2 (Redundancy)

• Incorrect: She returned back to her hometown.
• Correct: She returned to her hometown.
• Explanation: “Returned” already implies “back,” so “returned back” is redundant.

14. Practice Example

Sentence: “Everyone are going to the concert tomorrow, but nobody have told me the exact time.”

• Identify Errors:
  1. “Everyone are” → subject-verb agreement issue.
  2. “nobody have told me” → subject-verb agreement issue.
• Corrected: “Everyone is going to the concert tomorrow, but nobody has told me the exact time.”

Key Points for Quick Revision

1. Check Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular subject → singular verb, plural subject → plural verb.
2. Maintain Tense Consistency: Keep the same tense unless logically shifting time.
3. Use Proper Pronouns: Ensure pronoun reference is clear and correct.
4. Articles: “a/an” for indefinite references, “the” for definite references.
5. Preposition Usage: Learn common collocations (e.g., “good at,” “discuss something,” “afraid of,” etc.).
6. Adjective vs. Adverb: Adjectives modify nouns/pronouns; adverbs modify verbs/adjectives/other adverbs.
7. Modifier Placement: Put descriptive phrases close to the words they describe.
8. Parallel Structure: Keep items in lists or comparisons in the same form.
9. Avoid Double Negatives: Use “not anything,” “never,” etc.
10. Correct Comparisons: Use proper comparative/superlative forms and compare like with like.
11. Logical Word Order: Typically Subject + Verb + Object in normal statements.
12. Avoid Redundancies: Use concise, precise phrasing.

Correction of Sentences MCQ Question and Answers