Sentence Improvement

Overview

Sentence Improvement is a staple of the IBPS PO Prelims English section, typically contributing 5 questions per exam. The format is straightforward: a sentence contains an underlined portion, and you must decide whether that portion is grammatically correct or should be replaced with one of the given alternatives. One option is always "No improvement required" or "No correction required."

This topic tests your command of grammar rules, idiomatic usage, and standard English expression. Unlike Error Spotting where you only identify the mistake, here you must select the best replacement—making it a test of both detection and correction skills. Mastering this topic requires familiarity with common grammatical structures: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, correct preposition usage, parallel construction, and proper idiomatic expressions.

The good news is that Sentence Improvement questions are highly pattern-based. The same error types recur across exams, and once you recognize these patterns, you can solve questions in under 30 seconds each.

Key Concepts

• **Subject-Verb Agreement**: The verb must match the subject in number (singular/plural). Intervening phrases between subject and verb often create confusion.

• **Tense Consistency**: A sentence should maintain logical tense flow. Random shifts between past, present, and future tenses are incorrect unless the meaning demands it.

• **Correct Use of Modifiers**: Modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, phrases) must clearly relate to the word they modify. Misplaced or dangling modifiers create ambiguity or absurdity.

• **Parallel Structure**: Items in a list or comparison must follow the same grammatical form (all nouns, all gerunds, all infinitives).

• **Correct Preposition with Verbs/Adjectives**: Many verbs and adjectives take specific prepositions. "Interested in" not "interested for"; "comply with" not "comply to."

• **Idiomatic Expressions**: English has fixed phrases that must be used exactly. "Not only...but also," "hardly...when," "no sooner...than" are tested frequently.

• **Pronoun Reference and Agreement**: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender, and the reference must be clear.

• **Redundancy and Wordiness**: Good English avoids unnecessary repetition. "Return back," "revert back," "free gift" contain redundant words.

Formulas / Key Facts

| Error Type | Wrong Usage | Correct Usage | |------------|-------------|---------------| | Subject-Verb | The list of items are ready | The list of items is ready | | Tense | He went to market and buys vegetables | He went to market and bought vegetables | | Preposition | She is good in dancing | She is good at dancing | | Parallelism | I like reading, writing and to swim | I like reading, writing and swimming | | Redundancy | He returned back home | He returned home | | Idiom | No sooner did he arrive when | No sooner did he arrive than | | Pronoun | Each student must bring their book | Each student must bring his/her book | | Comparative | He is more taller than me | He is taller than me |

**Fixed Correlatives to Memorize:**

• Neither...nor (not neither...or)
• Either...or (not either...nor)
• Not only...but also
• Both...and (not both...as well as)
• Hardly/Scarcely...when (not than)
• No sooner...than (not when)
• The same...as (not the same...like)
• Such...as (not such...which)

Worked Examples

**Example 1:** *The company has been*(underlined) *declared bankrupt last month.*

Options: (a) had been declared (b) was declared (c) have been declared (d) No improvement

**Solution:** The phrase "last month" indicates a specific point in the past, requiring simple past tense. "Has been declared" is present perfect, which is used for actions with present relevance, not for completed past actions with specific time markers. The correct answer is **(b) was declared**.

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**Example 2:** *Each of the students*(underlined) *have submitted their assignments on time.*

Options: (a) has submitted their (b) have submitted his (c) has submitted his/her (d) No improvement

**Solution:** "Each" is singular, so the verb must be "has" (not "have"). Additionally, the pronoun referring to "each" should be singular: "his/her" rather than "their" (in formal grammar). The correct answer is **(c) has submitted his/her**.

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**Example 3:** *The manager insisted on me*(underlined) *completing the report by Friday.*

Options: (a) insisted on my (b) insisted for me (c) insisted that I (d) No improvement

**Solution:** When a verb like "insist on" is followed by a gerund (completing), the subject of that gerund should be in possessive form. "Insisted on my completing" is grammatically correct. However, option (c) "insisted that I" also works as it restructures the sentence correctly. Between (a) and (c), both are acceptable, but (a) maintains the original structure with proper grammar. The correct answer is **(a) insisted on my**.

Common Mistakes

• **Ignoring the "No improvement" option**: Students often force-select a replacement when the original sentence is already correct. If you cannot identify a clear error, the sentence may need no improvement.

• **Choosing based on sound rather than grammar**: Some options "sound better" but introduce new errors. Always verify that your chosen replacement follows grammatical rules, not just ear appeal.

• **Missing hidden subjects**: In sentences like "The quality of the products have declined," students miss that "quality" (singular) is the subject, not "products." The verb should be "has declined."

• **Confusing similar prepositions**: "Agree with" (a person), "agree to" (a proposal), "agree on" (a matter). Using the wrong preposition changes meaning or creates error.

• **Over-correcting tenses**: Not every tense variation is wrong. Present perfect ("has gone") and simple past ("went") are both correct in different contexts. Check whether the sentence has time markers before changing tenses.

Quick Reference

• "Each/Every/Neither/Either" + singular verb + singular pronoun
• Time markers like "yesterday/last week/in 1990" demand simple past, not perfect tenses
• "More" never combines with -er adjectives: "more better" is always wrong
• When in doubt about an idiom, trust the fixed form—idioms don't follow logic
• Redundancy check: if a word can be removed without losing meaning, it should be
• Read the entire sentence with your chosen replacement before marking the answer