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Phrase Replacement

Model Questions

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.

Some More Questions

Directions (Qs. 1 - 15): In each of the following questions, a part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the grammatically correct option that can replace the underlined part. If no correction is required, the choose option 'd' as the answer.

1. Everybody among the guests were enjoying their drink when the theft took place.
a) was enjoying his or her drink when the theft took place.
b) was enjoying their drink when the theft took place.
c) were enjoying his or her drink when the theft took place. d) No correction required 

 

2. Americans are accustomed drinking coffee with their meals.
a) accustomed at drinking coffee with their meals.
b) accustomed in drinking coffee with their meals.
c) accustomed to drinking coffee with their meals.
d) No correction required

 

3. The fact that he was uninterested in politics was clear from the way he shunned political news.
a) The fact that he being disinterested in politics
b) The fact that he was disinterested in politics
c) The fact that he was disinterested about politics
d) No correction required

 

4. After every student had turned in their paper, the teacher dismissed the class.
a) After every student had turned in his or her paper,
b) After every student had turned in one’s paper,
c) After every student had turned in your paper,
d) No correction required

 

5. The baby fell and hurt his leg.
a) and hurt it’s leg.        b) and hurt its leg.
c) and hurt herself.         d) No correction required

 

6. Thieves broke in his house yesterday.
a) inside his house yesterday.          b) into his house yesterday.
c) house yesterday.             d) No correction required

 

7. The tiger sprang into the goat.
a) with the goat.        b) in the goat.
c) upon the goat.      d) No correction required

 

8. There are four assistants beside the head of the department.
a) are four assistants besides
b) was four assistants beside
c) is four assistants beside
d) No correction required

 

9. An average person has approximately 1,00,000 hairs.
a) have approximately 1,00,000 hairs.
b) have approximately 1,00,000 hair.
c) has approximately 1,00,000 hair.
d) No correction required

 

10. What else can you expected if you go on a late-night outing?
a) can you expect if you goes
b) could you expected if you go
c) can you expect if you go
d) No correction required

 

11. The major reasons students give for failing to participate in the political process is that they have demanding assignments and work at part-time jobs.
a) are demanding assignments and they work at
b) are that they have demanding assignments and that they have
c) is having demanding assignments and having
d) No correction required


12. Many people are alarmed by the recent TADA Court ruling that gives judges discretionary powers to determine about closing trials to the public.
a) whether he or she ought to close trials
b) if he or she should close trials
c) whether or not trials should be closed
d) No correction required

 

13. Separated by the sea from any major population centre, the people of Antarctica have developed a unique culture.
a) have developed into a very unique culture.
b) have a unique development, their culture.
c) had developed their culture uniquely.
d) No correction required

 

14. Neither she nor her plight were any longer amusing.
a) Neither her nor her plight were any longer amusing.
b) Neither she or her plight was any longer amusing.
c) Neither she nor her plight was any longer amusing.
d) No correction required

 

15. Opening a bag, it was seen by Ram that a cat jumped out instead of a hare.
a) Ram saw that on opening a bag a cat jumped out instead of a hare.
b) A bag being opened by Ram, a cat jumped out instead of a hare.
c) On opening a bag, Ram saw a cat jump out of it instead of a hare.
d) No correction required

 

Key With Explanations

1 - a; According to subject-verb agreement, a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. ‘Everybody’ is a singular subject and should be followed by a verb in the singular form. Hence, the correct usage is: “Everybody …… was enjoying his or her …… place.” Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
 

2 - c; The preposition ‘to’ should follow ‘accustomed’. So, the correct usage is: “Americans ……. accustomed to ….. meals”. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
 

3 - b; Option (a) is grammatically incorrect. The correct way of writing the sentence is ‘... he was disinterested...’ Option (d) is incorrect because the correct usage is ‘disinterested in’ and not ‘disinterested about’. Hence, option (b) is correct.
 

4 - a; ‘Every student’ is a singular subject, so, the correct pronoun to be used in the given case will also be singular (his or her) and not ‘their’. Hence, option (a) is correct.
 

5 - b; In case the gender is not specific, we use the possessive pronoun ‘its’. Therefore, the correct answer is given in option (b). Option (a) uses ‘it's’ which means ‘it is’. And options (c) and (d) are incorrect because gender is not specified in the given sentence. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
 

6 - b; ‘Break in’ is an intransitive verb and it has no direct object and ‘break into’ is transitive verb and we should specifically what was broken into. The correct sentence should be: thieves broke into his house yesterday. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
 

7 - c; The right preposition to be used here is ‘upon’. ‘Sprang’ means a leap or sudden movement; to jump. Options (a), (b) and (d) are logically incorrect. 'Into' as a preposition means to or towards the inside of something. Hence, option (c) is correct.
 

8 - a; ‘Besides’ means in addition to and ‘beside’ means ‘at the side of’. Hence, the correct usage is: “There are ……. besides …... department”. Also, the plural form ‘are’ should be used because ‘assistants’ is plural. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
 

9 - d; ‘An average person’ is singular and will take the singular verb ‘has’. So, options (a) and (b) are negated. ‘Hair’ is used when we refer to it as a whole. ‘Hairs’ is used when we can count them. In the given case, ‘hair’ is used as a count noun. So, the sentence is correct in its given form.
 

10 - c; Option (a) is incorrect because ‘you’ is never used with the verb ‘goes’. The correct way of writing the sentence is ‘... if you go ...’ Option (b) is grammatically incorrect. The correct way of writing the sentence is “what else can you expect if...” Hence, option (c) is the correct choice.
 

11 - b; We are talking about more than one reason, so, the plural form of the verb should be used. Also, you do not work ‘at’ a part-time job. You ‘have’ a part-time job. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
 

12 - c; Option (d), 'about closing trials' is grammatically incorrect. 'Whether' as a conjunction is the correct usage to indicate choices or possibilities. However, option (a) is incorrect because 'judges' is plural and can not take the singular pronouns 'he or she'. Similarly, option (b) is incorrect. Thus, option (c) is the correct answer.
 

13 - d; The given sentence is absolutely correct and need not be changed. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
 

14 - c; As per the rule, when using ‘neither ... nor’ in a sentence, if both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. For example: neither Sita nor Gita is going to write the letter. In the given context, the correct sentence should be: neither she nor her plight was any longer amusing. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
 

15 - c; ‘On opening a bag’ is a modifier which is referring to the subject ‘Ram’. So, it has to be placed immediately after it. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer. 

Posted Date : 04-10-2021

గమనిక : ప్రతిభ.ఈనాడు.నెట్‌లో కనిపించే వ్యాపార ప్రకటనలు వివిధ దేశాల్లోని వ్యాపారులు, సంస్థల నుంచి వస్తాయి. మరి కొన్ని ప్రకటనలు పాఠకుల అభిరుచి మేరకు కృత్రిమ మేధస్సు సాంకేతికత సాయంతో ప్రదర్శితమవుతుంటాయి. ఆ ప్రకటనల్లోని ఉత్పత్తులను లేదా సేవలను పాఠకులు స్వయంగా విచారించుకొని, జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించి కొనుక్కోవాలి లేదా వినియోగించుకోవాలి. వాటి నాణ్యత లేదా లోపాలతో ఈనాడు యాజమాన్యానికి ఎలాంటి సంబంధం లేదు. ఈ విషయంలో ఉత్తర ప్రత్యుత్తరాలకు, ఈ-మెయిల్స్ కి, ఇంకా ఇతర రూపాల్లో సమాచార మార్పిడికి తావు లేదు. ఫిర్యాదులు స్వీకరించడం కుదరదు. పాఠకులు గమనించి, సహకరించాలని మనవి.

 

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