Sentence Correction Questions and Rules

Sentence Correction forms an integral part of the English syllabus of important entrance exams like GMAT, banking, SSC, CLAT etc. While preparing for these exams, students must make it a point to revise the sentence correction rules well. Sentence Correction questions are often too tricky and students find it difficult to answer. Hence, it is always advised to go through the rules well and practise as many questions as possible. In this blog, we shall first discuss a few basic sentence correction rules and then solve a few questions following the sentence correction rules.

Sentence Correction Rules

Here are all the Sentence Correction Rules:

Subject Verb Agreement 

Now we are sure you must have studied this back in school. But let’s go through it again. Subject Verb Agreement implies that the verb used in a sentence must be in agreement with the subject of the sentence.

Let’s go over the basic subject-verb agreement rules quickly:

• The verb must be singular for collective nouns.
• The verb must be plural when words are connected using ‘and/or’.
• The verb must be singular when the sentence begins with each one/anyone/everyone.
• For either/or and neither/nor, the verb is singular if the subjects of the sentences are singular.

Parallelism 

To put it simply, parallelism refers to the structure of a sentence. To ensure the sentence is grammatically correct, different words that signify the same performance in a sentence should be used in a similar format.

For instance:
Diya likes dancing, cooking and singing – Correct.
Diya likes to dance, cook and sing – Correct 
Diya likes to dance, cook and singing – incorrect.

Errors in the Placement of Modifiers

Modifiers are words that modify the subject of a sentence and hence, by rule must be placed next to the subject. Often the modifiers are placed such that they describe the wrong thing.

Example:
Walking on the main road, a car hit her. INCORRECT (since we can’t depict who was hurt)
Walking on the main road, she was hit by a car. CORRECT

Also Read: Top 30 Commonly Confusing Words in English!

Repetitions

While answering sentence correction questions, students must carefully observe there is no direct or indirect repetition of any word in the sentence.

For instance:
I returned back from London. – Incorrect
I came back from London. – Correct

Incorrect Comparisons Used

Another important sentence correction rule is that the degree of comparison used must be correct as often comparisons are made between different entities or dissimilar things.

Parts of Speech Must be Correct

While analysing the question, students must check if all the parts of speech used in the sentence are correct and have been used in the correct place appropriately. 

Sentence Correction Questions for GMAT

Unlike most severance packages, which require workers to stay until the last day scheduled to collect, workers at the automobile company are eligible for its severance package even if they find a new job before they are terminated.

• the last day that they are scheduled to collect, the automobile company’s severance package is available to workers
• their last scheduled day to collect, the automobile company offers its severance package to workers
• their last scheduled day in order to collect, the automobile company’s severance package is available to workers

Getting adequate sleep, a full eight hours every night, the depth of which will be enhanced by a regular regimen of physical exercise, with significant consequences for not only one’s immediate short-term health but also for the immune system’s ability to fight major illness over the long term.

• having significant consequences for not only one’s immediate short-term health, and for the immune system’s ability to fight
•  with significant consequences for not only one’s immediate short-term health but also for the immune system’s ability to fight
•  has significant consequences not only for one’s immediate short-term health but also for the immune system’s ability to fight

Also Read: How to Crack GMAT in 3 Months?

The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer’s meridian and differed from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

• which were determined by when the sun reached the observer’s meridian and differing
• determined by when the sun reached the observer’s meridian and differing
• determined by when the sun reached the observer’s meridian and differed

Hope you’re now familiar with the type of sentence correction questions that come for the GMAT.

Test Your English Proficiency with this Editing Quiz!

Sentence Correction Sample Questions for Banking Exams

So, this was the format of the questions for Banking exams in India.

Also Read: Career in Banking 2021: Jobs, Salary

Sentence Correction Questions for CLAT

The sentences given below are divided into four parts, you need to identify which part contains an error.

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FAQs

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