Directions (Qs. 1-13): Which of the phrases given below each sentence should REPLACE THE PHRASE IN BOLD to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark (e), ‘No correction required’, as the answer.
1. Although the scientists’ report claims to cover everything, missing in it is a number of important developments that have caused the pandemic.
a) missing in it was a number of
b) missing in it were a number of
c) missing in it are a number of
d) missing in it has been a number of
e) No correction required
Ans: c; There is a subject-verb agreement error in the bold part of the sentence. The subject of the singular verb “is” in the bold part is “a number of...decisions”, which is plural. “A number of” means “many”. Therefore, the verb should be converted to plural form “are” to correct the error. The correction is “...missing in it are a number of...” Therefore, c is correct. The same error occurs in a and d. Also, there is tense problem in a and b. The other parts in the sentence are in the present tense, so the bold part should maintain that consistency.
2. In India, in just the last decade, due to a great interest in science and technology, many new technologies in the IT field have been developed by IT professionals.
a) many new technologies in the IT field has been developed
b) many new technologies in the IT field have developed
c) many new technologies in the IT field were developed
d) many new technologies in the IT field developed
e) No correction required
Ans: c; The phrase “in the last decade” indicates a past time reference. Therefore, the tense of the verb “develop” should be the simple past and not ‘present perfect’ as in the bold part, choice a has the same tense with singular verb. Choices b and d have the active voice. We need passive voice as is indicated by “by IT professionals”. Only c has the correct simple past tense.
3. The speaker is now referring to the delegates who I am seeing in the front row.
a) who I see b) whom I see c) who I seeing
d) who is seeing e) No correction required
Ans: b; The phrase “now” indicates that the tense should be present simple or present con tinuous. However, the noun “see”, when it means “perceive with the eyes”, cannot be used in continuous tenses. Therefore, it should be in simple present tense, as given in a and b. Also, the noun “delegates” is the object of the verb “see”. Therefore, “who”, which is referring to “delegates” should be changed to “whom”. This is so only in b.
4. After reading both Chetan Bhagat and Amish Tripathi, my opinion is that although Bhagat’s stories are more relatable than Tripathi’s, Tripathi is the best novelist.
a) Tripathi is the best novelist of all.
b) Tripathi is the best novelist of the two.
c) Tripathi is better novelist.
d) Tripathi is the better novelist.
e) No correction required
Ans: d; Clearly the comparison is between two novelists “Bhagat” and “Tripathi”. Therefore, only a comparative degree of comparison should be used, as has been done in d. However, in the original and in a and b, the superlative degree has been used. The correction is “Tripathi is the better novelist”. In c, the definite article “the” is missing.
5. In spite of being very young, the knowledge of my talented daughter is extraordinary.
a) the knowledge of my talented daughter’s
b) the knowledges of my talented daughter
c) my talented daughter has knowledge that
d) the knowledge of my talented daughter has
e) No correction required.
Ans: c; The first part of the sentence, “In spite of being very young” is a modifying phrase, and can refer only to “my talented daughter” in the context, and not to “the knowledge”. Therefore, we need to start the bold phrase with “the talented daughter”. This is
so only in choice c. In a, “daughter’s” is wrong. In b, the plural “knowledges” is wrong as knowledge is an abstract noun. In d “has” is wrong as the verb “is” is already present.
6. In spite of Radha had been maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she got COVID-19.
a) Radha has been maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she
b) Radha was maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she
c) Radha maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she
d) maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, Radha
e) No correction required
Ans: d; The prepositional phrase “in spite of” is always followed by a noun phrase, noun or a gerund, but the bold part has a clause. This mistake is repeated in a and b. We should change it to “maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, Radha…” Here, the subject of the participle clause is “Radha”. This is given only in d. In c, it should be “Radha’s maintaining” in place of “Radha maintaining”.
7. Eat slowly when you are dining with your superiors, lest they may not get angry.
a) lest they do not get angry.
b) lest they get angry.
c) lest not they should get angry.
d) lest they must not get angry.
e) No correction required.
Ans: b; This is a difficult question and is likely to be given in the Mains. The conjunction “lest” means “that---not”, “with the intention of preventing (something bad) or “to avoid the risk of”. As the meaning of the word “not” is already present in the conjunction, we should avoid “not” with “lest”. This makes a, c, d and e wrong. Also, if you want to use an auxiliary verb with “lest” it should be “should”. But this is not compulsory in Modern English. Only b is correct.
8. Although the famous non-governmental organisation has been committed to helping poor children with comprehensive guides and textbooks, they sometimes ignore such studious children as our maid’s daughter.
a) they sometimes ignore such studious child
b) it sometimes ignores such studious children
c) they sometimes ignores such studious children
d) they sometimes ignore such studious childrens
e) No correction required
Ans: b; The subject of the sentence is “non-governmental organisation”, which is singular. Therefore, the plural pronoun “they” in part the bold part and in a, c and d is wrong. It should be “it”. Also, the verb should be “ignores” (singular). The correction is “it sometimes ignores...”
9. I have only one colleague, Mrs. Anita, and she is more superior than me.
a) she is more superior to me
b) she is superior than me
c) she is superior to me
d) she is superior me
e) No correction required
Ans: c; In Standard English, the word superior takes “to” instead of “than”. Also, remember that it does not have a comparative form “more superior” or superlative form “most superior”. Therefore, the part in bold phrase and choices a and b are wrong. Choice d is wrong as it does not have “to” after “superior”. Choice c “she is superior to me” is correct.
10. Every time people park their vehicles in front of the hotel without eating at the hotel, the hotel management will puncture the tyres of the vehicles.
a) the hotel management puncture the tyres of the vehicles.
b) the hotel management will puncture the tyre of the vehicles.
c) the hotel management has punctured the tyres of the vehicles.
d) the hotel management punctures the tyres of the vehicles.
e) No correction required
Ans: d; The phrase “every time” and the tense of the non-bold part indicate that the sentence is a general fact about the hotel. Therefore, it should be in the simple present tense. But the bold part is in the simple future tense. We should change the same to “simple present tense” as is done in d.
11. In order to maintain excellent health, Ayurveda both suggests that healthy food and yoga are important.
a) Ayurveda suggests both that healthy food and yoga are important.
b) Ayurveda suggests that both healthy food and yoga are important
c) Ayurveda both suggests that healthy food and yoga is important.
d) Ayurveda suggests that both healthy food and yoga is important
e) No correction required
Ans: b; There’s a conjunction-related error. “Both…and” is a correlative conjunction. This conjunction should be positioned such that the two parts it is joining should be grammatically balanced. What follows “both” and what follows “and” should have the same form. In the bold part, “both” is followed by “suggests that + noun phrase”, whereas “and” is followed by only a “noun”. Therefore, we should shift “suggests that” to the place before “both”. The correction is “suggests that both healthy food and yoga are...” The correction given in b is, therefore, correct. In c, the verb “is” is singular and does not match the plural subject “healthy food and yoga”.
12. Carrying their furniture, luggage and college textbooks, the girl from the paying guest house has gone to a friend’s place.
a) the girl from the paying guest house have gone
b) the girls from the paying guest house have gone
c) the girls from the paying guest house has gone
d) the girl from the paying guest houses have gone
e) No correction required
Ans: b; We have the plural pronouns “their” in the first part of the sentence. This indicates that the subject must be plural. Therefore, “girl”, which is singular, should be changed to “girls”. Also, the verb “has” should be changed to “have”. These are given only in b. In a, c and d, the same error is repeated with minor changes.
13. The American foreign exchange students complained that they were not satisfied at the level of education in our country.
a) with b) of c) above d) below e) No correction required
Ans: a; In Standard English Usage, “satisfied” is followed by “with” and not “at”. This is given only in a.
Directions (Qs. 14 - 26): Which of the phrases given below each sentence should REPLACE THE PHRASE IN BOLD to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark (e), ‘No correction required’, as the answer.
14. Although the scientists’ report claims to cover everything, missing in it is a number of important developments that have caused the pandemic.
a) missing in it was a number of
b) missing in it were a number of
c) missing in it are a number of
d) missing in it has been a number of
e) No correction required
Ans: c - There is a subject-verb agreement error in the bold part of the sentence. The subject of the singular verb “is” in the bold part is “a number of...decisions”, which is plural. “A number of” means “many”. Therefore, the verb should be converted to plural form “are” to correct the error. The correction is “...missing in it are a number of...” Therefore, c is correct. The same error occurs in a and d. Also, there is tense problem in a and b. The other parts in the sentence are in the present tense, so the bold part should maintain that consistency.
15. In India, in just the last decade, due to a great interest in science and technology, many new technologies in the IT field have been developed by IT professionals.
a) many new technologies in the IT field has been developed
b) many new technologies in the IT field have developed
c) many new technologies in the IT field were developed
d) many new technologies in the IT field developed
e) No correction required
Ans: -c; The phrase “in the last decade” indicates a past time reference. Therefore, the tense of the verb “develop” should be the simple past and not ‘present perfect’ as in the bold part, choice a has the same tense with singular verb. Choices b and d have the active voice. We need passive voice as is indicated by “by IT professionals”. Only c has the correct simple past tense.
16. The speaker is now referring to the delegates who I am seeing in the front row.
a) who I see b) whom I see c) who I seeing
d) who is seeing e) No correction required
Ans: b; The phrase “now” indicates that the tense should be present simple or present continuous. However, the noun “see”, when it means “perceive with the eyes”, cannot be used in continuous tenses. Therefore, it should be in simple present tense, as given in a and b. Also, the noun “delegates” is the object of the verb “see”. Therefore, “who”, which is referring to “delegates” should be changed to “whom”. This is so only in b.
17. After reading both Chetan Bhagat and Amish Tripathi, my opinion is that although Bhagat’s stories are more relatable than Tripathi’s, Tripathi is the best novelist.
a) Tripathi is the best novelist of all.
b) Tripathi is the best novelist of the two.
c) Tripathi is better novelist.
d) Tripathi is the better novelist.
e) No correction required
Ans: -d; Clearly the comparison is between two novelists “Bhagat” and “Tripathi”. Therefore, only a comparative degree of comparison should be used, as has been done in d. However, in the original and in a and b, the superlative degree has been used. The correction is “Tripathi is the better novelist”. In c, the definite article “the” is missing.
18. In spite of being very young, the knowledge of my talented daughter is extraordinary.
a) the knowledge of my talented daughter’s
b) the knowledges of my talented daughter
c) my talented daughter has knowledge that
d) the knowledge of my talented daughter has
e) No correction required.
Ans: -c; The first part of the sentence, “In spite of being very young” is a modifying phrase, and can refer only to “my talented daughter” in the context, and not to “the knowledge”. Therefore, we need to start the bold phrase with “the talented daughter”. This is
so only in choice c. In a, “daughter’s” is wrong. In b, the plural “knowledges” is wrong as knowledge is an abstract noun. In d “has” is wrong as the verb “is” is already present.
19. In spite of Radha had been maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she got COVID-19.
a) Radha has been maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she
b) Radha was maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she
c) Radha maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, she
d) maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, Radha
e) No correction required
Ans: -d; The prepositional phrase “in spite of” is always followed by a noun phrase, noun or a gerund, but the bold part has a clause. This mistake is repeated in a and b. We should change it to “maintaining social distancing during the pandemic, Radha…” Here, the subject of the participle clause is “Radha”. This is given only in d. In c, it should be “Radha’s maintaining” in place of “Radha maintaining”.
20. Eat slowly when you are dining with your superiors, lest they may not get angry.
a) lest they do not get angry.
b) lest they get angry.
c) lest not they should get angry.
d) lest they must not get angry.
e) No correction required.
Ans: -b; This is a difficult question and is likely to be given in the Mains. The conjunction “lest” means “that---not”, “with the intention of preventing (something bad) or “to avoid the risk of”. As the meaning of the word “not” is already present in the conjunction, we should avoid “not” with “lest”. This makes a, c, d and e wrong. Also, if you want to use an auxiliary verb with “lest” it should be “should”. But this is not compulsory in Modern English. Only b is correct.
21. Although the famous non-governmental organisation has been committed to helping poor children with comprehensive guides and textbooks, they sometimes ignore such studious children as our maid’s daughter.
a) they sometimes ignore such studious child
b) it sometimes ignores such studious children
c) they sometimes ignores such studious children
d) they sometimes ignore such studious childrens
e) No correction required
Ans: -b; The subject of the sentence is “non-governmental organisation”, which is singular. Therefore, the plural pronoun “they” in part the bold part and in a, c and d is wrong. It should be “it”. Also, the verb should be “ignores” (singular). The correction is “it sometimes ignores...”
22. I have only one colleague, Mrs. Anita, and she is more superior than me.
a) she is more superior to me
b) she is superior than me
c) she is superior to me
d) she is superior me
e) No correction required
Ans: -c; In Standard English, the word superior takes “to” instead of “than”. Also, remember that it does not have a comparative form “more superior” or superlative form “most superior”. Therefore, the part in bold phrase and choices a and b are wrong. Choice d is wrong as it does not have “to” after “superior”. Choice c “she is superior to me” is correct.
23. Every time people park their vehicles in front of the hotel without eating at the hotel, the hotel management will puncture the tyres of the vehicles.
a) the hotel management puncture the tyres of the vehicles.
b) the hotel management will puncture the tyre of the vehicles.
c) the hotel management has punctured the tyres of the vehicles.
d) the hotel management punctures the tyres of the vehicles.
e) No correction required
Ans: -d; The phrase “every time” and the tense of the non-bold part indicate that the sentence is a general fact about the hotel. Therefore, it should be in the simple present tense. But the bold part is in the simple future tense. We should change the same to “simple present tense” as is done in d.
24. In order to maintain excellent health, Ayurveda both suggests that healthy food and yoga are important.
a) Ayurveda suggests both that healthy food and yoga are important.
b) Ayurveda suggests that both healthy food and yoga are important
c) Ayurveda both suggests that healthy food and yoga is important.
d) Ayurveda suggests that both healthy food and yoga is important
e) No correction required
Ans: -b; There’s a conjunction-related error. “Both…and” is a correlative conjunction. This conjunction should be positioned such that the two parts it is joining should be grammatically balanced. What follows “both” and what follows “and” should have the same form. In the bold part, “both” is followed by “suggests that + noun phrase”, whereas “and” is followed by only a “noun”. Therefore, we should shift “suggests that” to the place before “both”. The correction is “suggests that both healthy food and yoga are...” The correction given in b is, therefore, correct. In c, the verb “is” is singular and does not match the plural subject “healthy food and yoga”.
25. Carrying their furniture, luggage and college textbooks, the girl from the paying guest house has gone to a friend’s place.
a) the girl from the paying guest house have gone
b) the girls from the paying guest house have gone
c) the girls from the paying guest house has gone
d) the girl from the paying guest houses have gone
e) No correction required
Ans: -b; We have the plural pronouns “their” in the first part of the sentence. This indicates that the subject must be plural. Therefore, “girl”, which is singular, should be changed to “girls”. Also, the verb “has” should be changed to “have”. These are given only in b. In a, c and d, the same error is repeated with minor changes.
26. The American foreign exchange students complained that they were not satisfied at the level of education in our country.
a) with b) of c) above d) below e) No correction required
Ans: -a; In Standard English Usage, “satisfied” is followed by “with” and not “at”. This is given only in a.
