The document provides guidance on correcting errors in sentences for standardized tests. It discusses common grammatical rules tested, such as subject-verb agreement, tense, modifiers and parallels. Examples are given of sentences with errors and the correct answers. Tips are provided such as considering the whole context rather than just the underlined part and using a process of elimination to choose the best answer.

1. Sentence correction

2. Correct the sentence
• Candy taste sweet.
• she like dogs.
• Me favourite coler is red.
• What time it is?
• She does her homework every night.
• I leaving now
• Me and my friend are going to watch
movie .

3. Rules for sentence correction
• Any form of be (is/am are/was/were)+
used to+verb Ist form of verb+ing )
• I am used to smoking .
• I didn’t used to/ use to smoking .

4. •
Read the complete sentence. Do not simply read the
underlined part of the sentence, because context may be
important in determining the correct answer. As
mentioned above, choice A will always be a copy of the
original underlined part of the sentence. If you cannot
find any errors, grammatical or otherwise, in the original
sentence, choose A, and move on. Don't worry about
spelling, capitalization, or punctuation; they are not
covered in Sentence Correction questions. If you do find
an error in the underlined portion, or if you're not sure,
proceed to step two

5. •
After you've read the sentence, look for clues
indicating what grammar rule the question is
testing. These grammar rules, and the clues to look for,
will be covered in more detail in the next section. Keep
an eye out for:
Agreement Issues: Look for pronouns, verbs, and
nouns: do they agree?
Modifiers: Look for introductory phrases set off by a
comma: is the modifier used correctly?
Parallels: Look for commas separating words in a list, as
well as expressions such as not only...but
also, both..and, either...or,neither...nor: is everything
parallel?

6. •
After you've dissected the question,
compare answer choices and note how
they differ. Look for the answer choice
that preserves the meaning of the
original sentence without creating new
errors. Eliminate answer choices with
grammar errors. Use the process of
elimination scrap paper charts to narrow
your choices

7. • Learning the French isn’t easy.

8. • In each of the following pairs of sentences, one sentence
is correct, and the other is wrong. Choose the correct
sentence.
• 1. a) He asked had we taken our food. / b) He asked if
we had taken our food.
• 2. a) He asked where I was going. / b) He asked that
where I was going.
• 3. a) He asked to her why she was angry. / b) He asked
her why she was angry.
• 4. a) No one cared for him after his wife died. / b) No one
took care of him after his wife had died.
• 5. a) When I went there I found that the bag had
disappeared. / b) When I went there I found that the bag
was disappeared.

9. • 6. a) I did not stop because he had gone
out before I arrived. / b) I did not stop
because he went out before I arrived.
• 7. a) When I go to Bombay I will see him. /
b) When I will go to Bombay I will see him
•

10. Error of subject verb agreement
• Each of the candidates was/were awarded a certificate for
participation.
• Either of those dresses is/are suitable for the party.
• 3. Either the student or his parents has/have to be pres ent in the
function.
• 4. Everybody or anybody is/are able to answer these questions.
• 5. Neither of them is/are an ex pert of the suject.
• 6. The ones who is/are found guilty must be punished.
• 7. You or she has/have to be blamed for the accident.
• 8. They and I was/were present there last night.
• 9. Jessica is absent, but some of her class is/are present.
• 10. No one know/knows what hap pens after death.

11. • Answers 1. was–means each one 2. is–
one of the dresses 3. have–the last noun
parents 4. is 5. is–not one of them 6. are–
ones is plural 7. has–the last sub ject she
8. were–and makes the sub ject plu ral 9.
are–class means class mates here 10.
knows–no one is singular.

12. Error of tense
• Consider the following sentences :
• (i) Yesterday I met him.
• (ii) She said she would meet him.
Yesterday and said fixes the time of the
verb to be past. Therefore, we have used
the past forms of ‘meet’ and ‘will

13. Choose the cor rect forms of the
verbs in the fol low ing.
• 1. He was choose/ chose/chosen leader of the group.
• 2. I have do/did/done my work.
• 3. The letter was write/wrote/written by the clerk.
• 4. You have break/broke/bro ken the window pane.
• 5. Who has take/took/taken my pen?
• 6. The bananas have been eat/ate/eaten by the cow.
• 7. A beautiful song in this movie has been
sing/sang/sung by the new singer.
• 8. He has catch/catched/caught cough.
• 9. The magician cast/casted a spell and turned the rat
into a horse.
• 10. A lot has been say/says /said about life and death.

14. • 1. chosen – passive 2. done 3. written –
pas sive 4. bro ken 5. taken 6. eaten 7.
sung 8. caught 9. cast–the past of cast is
cast 10. said

15. Tips to remember
• Always pay close attention to the time reference
in the WHOLE sentence, not just the underlined
part.
• If you have two verb forms to consider, examine
the first one and reject the incorrect answer
choices accordingly. You will save time.
• In truncated verb forms, simply ‘complete’ the
sentence to see whether it make sense

16. • Use were contrary to fact an uncertainty or
a wish .
• I wish I were a king .
• If Mr. Anil were here ,He would know .
(contrary to fact)

17. • We all swum at the beach yesterday.
• They hadn’t scarcely enough feed for
their cattle.
• The cow has trod on my sweet peas.
• The perfume is for your sister and
yourself.
• . My father has laid in bed all day.
• Neither Peter or James can sing well.

18. Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the
phrase printed in bold type to make the grammatically correct?
•
The small child does whatever his
father was done
• .A.has done
• B.did
• C.does
• D.had done

19. •
You need not come unless you want to.
• A.You don't need to come unless you
want to
• B.You come only when you want to
• C.You come unless you don't want to
• D.You needn't come until you don't want
to
• E.No correction required

20. • There are not many men who are so
famous that they are frequently referred to
by their short names only
• A.initials
• B.signatures
• C.pictures
• D.middle names
• E.No correction required

21. • The man to who I sold my house was a
cheat.
• A.to whom I sell
• B.to who I sell
• C.who was sold to
• D.to whom I sold
• E.No correction required

22. • They were all shocked at his failure in
the competition.
• A.were shocked at all
• B.had all shocked at
• C.had all shocked by
• D.No correction required

23. • The population of Tokyo is greater than
that of any other town in the world.
• A.greatest among any other
• B.greater than all other
• C.greater than those of any other
• D.greater than any other
• E.No correction required

24. • Why did you not threw the bag away?
• A.did you not throw
• B.had you not threw
• C.did you not thrown
• D.you did not thrown
• E.No correction required

25. • Shapes of gods and goddess are
worshipped by people.
• A.Images
• B.Reflections
• C.Clay shapes
• D.Clay toys
• E.No correction required

26. •
She cooks, washes dishes, does her
homework and then relaxing.
• A.relaxing then
• B.then is relaxing
• C.relaxing is then
• D.then relaxes
• E.No correction required

27. • Anyone interested in the use of computers
can learn much if you have access to a
personal computer.
• A.they have access
• B.access can be available
• C.he or she has access
• D.one of them have access
• E.No correction required

28. • They are not beware of all the facts
• A.are not aware for
• B.are not aware of
• C.are not to be aware
• D.must not to be aware for
• E.No correction required

29. • He is a singer of repute, but
his yesterday's performance was quite
disappointing.
• A.performances of yesterday were
• B.yesterday performance was
• C.yesterday performance were
• D.performances about yesterday were
• E.No correction required

30. • He is working in this office for the last five
years.
• He works in the office for last five years .
• He has been working in the office fir last
five years .

31. • Jeans was not permitted in out college.
• were
• had
• will
• have

32. • The furniture in this room are made of
teak.
A have
B had
C is
D None of above

33. • Sheela told her teacher to explain the
chapter once again.
• ordered her teacher
• invited her teacher
• asked her teacher
• said to her teacher

34. • They _____their new car two weeks
ago.
• 1. have bought
• 2. buy
• 3. will buy
• 4. bought

35. • I … to the cinema tonight: I’ve got a lot
of work to finish.
• 1. 'm going
• 2. will go
• 3. 'm not going
• 4. went

36. • I’m very happy: my favourite singer …
to my town next October for a big
concert.
• 1. has come
• 2. isn't going to come
• 3. is going to come
• 4. doesn't come

37. • My brother … football in the same club
as me.
• 1. is playing
• 2. plays
• 3. played
• 4. play

38. • She’s shocked because she … a
terrible accident.
• 1. saw
• 2. is going to see
• 3. has seen
• 4. sees

39. • I … English tea. Is it good?
• 1. drink
• 2. 've never drunk
• 3. am drinking
• 4. have drunk

40. • My mother … 42 years old next
Saturday.
• 1. was
• 2. will have
• 3. will be
• 4. is

41. • Sam … the marathon for the first time
in 2009.
• 1. ran
• 2. runs
• 3. is running
• 4. has run

42. • For dinner last night we … fish and
chips.
• 1. will have
• 2. had
• 3. are having
• 4. have had

43. • If it’s sunny tomorrow, maybe we … go
to the beach.
• 1. will go
• 2. went
• 3. go
• 4. don't go

44. • If it’s sunny tomorrow, maybe we … go
to the beach.
• 1. will go
• 2. went
• 3. go
• 4. don't go

45. • We … Mrs Stewart when we were in
California.
• 1. are meeting
• 2. have met
• 3. will meet
• 4. met

46. • I … in a first-class hotel: it’s too
expensive for me.
• 1. 'm going to sleep
• 2. sleep
• 3. am sleeping
• 4. 've never slept

47. • A cactus will flower in spite of the fact that
they receive little water in the desert .
• The number of accidents caused by
cellular phone usage is many times what
they were last summer.

48. • A cactus will flower in spite of the fact that it
receives little water in the desert.
• The number of accidents caused by cellular
phone usage is many times what it was last
summer.
• [Note: The number is always singular (“The
number of cars he owned was impressive.”) A
number is always plural. (“A number of fans
lined up outside the concert hall.”)

49. • Even though variable rate mortgages are an attractive option due to
low introductory interest rates, it can be potentially dangerous for
people with tight budgets, whose monthly expenditures should
remain fairly constant to avoid ending up in debt.
• (A) it can be potentially dangerous for people with tight budgets,
whose
• (B) they can be potentially dangerous for people with tight budgets,
because their
• (C) they are potentially dangerous for people with tight budgets,
whose
• (D) for people with tight budgets it can be dangerous, because their
• (E) for people with tight budgets, they can be potentially dangerous
in that their

50. • There are a couple errors present here: The first pronoun in the
main clause should be “they” in order to agree with its referent,
“mortgages.” “Whose” correctly refers to “people,” but “can be
potentially” is redundant.
• (A) — the statement as written — is incorrect. “It” does not agree
with the plural subject “mortgages,” and “can be potentially” is
redundant.
• (B) is unclear whether “their” refers to “mortgages” or “people,” and
“can be potentially” is still redundant.
• (C) is the correct answer: “They” agrees with “mortgages;” “whose”
agrees with “people;” and the redundancy has been omitted.
• (D)’s construction doesn’t work — “their” is ambiguous and “it”
should be plural.
• and (E) “In that their” is even more ambiguous and wordy.

51. • Neither Jason nor Sam wants to share
their office during the remodeling project.
• Neither Jason nor Sam wants to share his
office during the remodeling project.
• A) B) AorB

52. • She cooks, washes dishes, does her
homework and then relaxing.
• 1. then relaxes
• 2. relaxing then
• 3. then is relaxing
• 4. relaxing is then

53. • Ago is always used with Past Indefinite
Tense. So, if ago is used in a sentence,
that sentence must be in the Past
Indefinite Tense.
• For example,
• Incorrect- He has come a month ago.
• He came a month ago.

54. • At present means at this moment and it is used
with •Present Tense, whereas presently and
shortly are used for future; action and generally
• used with Future Indefinite Tense.
• For example,
• Incorrect- Presently he is in the room.
• Correct- At present he is in the room.

55. • The sentence which starts with seldom, never.
hardly. rarely or scarcely takes an inverse
structure, Le., Verb + Subject - Structure.
• For example,
• Incorrect- Seldom I had seen such a beautiful
sight.
• Correct- Seldom had I seen such a beautiful
sight.

56. • Two Conjunctions should not be used in
the same sentence.
Incorrect- Although she was tired, but she
still went on working.
• Correct- Although she was tired, she still
went on working.

57. • Both; should be followed by and. It should be
used in the positivesense. In the negative sense,
neither ..... nor• should be used in place of both
• incorrect- Both Ravi as well as Raja were
present there.
• Correct- Both Ravi and Raja were present there.

58. • both and, not only, but also should be
followed by the same parts of speech.
• Incorrect- He not only lost his ticket, but
also his luggage.
• Correct- He lost not only his ticket but also
his luggage.

59. • No sooner should be followed by than not
by but or then .
• Incorrect- No sooner do I finish this book
then I shall begin another.
• Correct- No sooner do I finish the book,
than I shall begin another.

60. • That should not be used before a sentence in Direct
Speech and
• before Interrogative Adverbs and Pronouns in the
Indirect Speech.
• 1. Incorrect- He said that,” I shall go there”.
• Correct- He said,”I shall go there”.
• 2. Incorrect- He asked me that “who I was”.
• Correct- He asked me who was.

61. • When two or more singular Pronouns of
different persons come together, the
Pronoun of second per¬son singular (you)
comes first, the pronoun of the first person
singular (I) comes last and the pronoun of
the third person singular (he) comes in
between.

62. • Incorrect- I, You and he must work
together ..
• Correct- You, he and I must work together.

63. • When two or more plural Pro-nouns of
different persons come together first
person plural (we) comes first, then
second person plural (you) and last of all
third person plural (they).

64. • Incorrect- You, they and we must work
together ..
• Correct- We, you and they must work
together.

65. •
Mrs Cable was the richest woman in the city, but she
is also a busybody. She always wanted to know wha
t everybody was doing.
When she needed something she rang a bell and a s
ervant came. One day a truck
stopped in front of her house and three men got out.
They are carrying a large box. Mrs. Cable sees this
and told her servant, Sam, to go and see what the
men were doing. Sam goes out and spoke to the me
n but they don't tell him. When he came back Mrs.
Cable is very angry with him. Next she sent George t
o find out. He idn't want to go at first and Mrs. Ca
ble told him he is
afraid. When he goes out the men ignored him when
he sai good morning. He tries again but this time the
big man hit him in the stomach and he fell on the g
round. Mrs. Cable sees all this and came on to the
street. The men take her by the arms and put
her in the box.