In competitive exams, Sentence Improvement questions test a candidate’s grasp of grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. These questions require you to identify and correct errors or improve the clarity of a sentence. In this we have provided all essential details about the Sentence Improvement Questions including short notes, key concepts, types of questions, quick tricks, and solved examples from SSC, Banking, and RRB exams (2024–25), and more.
What Is Sentence Improvement in English?
Sentence Improvement questions present a sentence with a highlighted part. You must select the best possible version of the highlighted portion from the given options.
These questions appear to test your:
- Grammatical accuracy (Tenses, Voice, Articles, Prepositions)
- Sentence structure and clarity
- Vocabulary usage and idiomatic expressions
Skills Required:
- Grammar rules
- Reading comprehension
- Logical elimination
- Vocabulary recognition
Why Is Sentence Improvement Important in Competitive Exams?
Sentence Improvement plays a vital role in testing grammatical awareness and sentence composition. It also improves a candidate’s precision in communication an essential skill for both banking and administrative roles.
| Exam | No. of Questions | Difficulty |
| SSC CGL / CHSL | 1–2 | Easy |
| IBPS PO / SBI PO | 3-4 | Moderate |
| RRB NTPC / Group D | 1 | Easy |
| State PSC / Police | 1–2 | Moderate |
Sentence Improvement English Short Notes
Some common grammar terms that are helpful while solving sentence improvement questions:
| Term | Details |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | Subject must agree in number and person with verb |
| Tense Correction | Maintain consistency and correct usage of tenses |
| Article Usage | Use of ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’ with proper nouns/contexts |
| Modifiers | Correct placement of adjectives/adverbs |
| Redundancy | Avoid repeating the same idea in different words |
| Parallelism | Keep similar grammatical structures in a sentence |
Concepts of Sentence Improvement
The concepts that are mostly used in sentence improvement questions are as follows:
| Concept | Details |
| Verb Forms | Use the correct form of the verb |
| Preposition Rules | Match verbs/adjectives with correct prepositions |
| Conditional Sentences | Correct use of “if” and result clause tenses |
| Pronoun Reference | Ensure pronouns refer to correct nouns |
| Active/Passive Voice | Choose correct voice based on sentence structure |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | Singular/plural subjects need proper verb forms |
What Are the Types of Sentence Improvement Questions in English?
Sentence Improvement questions can appear in different formats. The major types are as follows:
- Basic Grammar Error Correction – Subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles
- Redundancy or Wordiness – Removing extra or repeated words
- Idiomatic Usage – Correcting idioms and phrases
- Vocabulary Enhancement – Replacing weak or incorrect word usage
- Parallelism or Modifier Errors – Ensuring grammatical balance and clarity
Sentence Improvement Question Solving Tricks
Some of the tricks that are useful while solving sentence improvement questions are as follows:
- Read the entire sentence first – Don’t just look at the underlined part.
- Mentally replace the underlined part with your own version before checking options.
- Check tense, subject-verb agreement, and modifiers first—they’re the most tested.
- Eliminate options that sound awkward or verbose.
- Be alert to idiomatic usage – e.g., “deal with,” not “deal to.”
- Prefer concise, grammatically correct versions – brevity is often better.
- Avoid getting trapped by ‘No Improvement’ unless you’re absolutely sure.
- Underline the subject and verb to spot grammatical mismatches quickly.
Sentence Improvement Strategies for SSC CGL and Other Exams
Some of the strategies that are mostly useful while solving sentence improvement questions are as follows:
- Scan the sentence once to grasp the tone and structure.
- Spot the grammatical clue (verb, article, tense).
- Mentally fix the sentence before looking at the choices.
- Eliminate clearly wrong options using basic grammar rules.
- Use parallelism and modifiers to spot awkward phrasing.
- Don’t overthink vocabulary unless the sentence demands it.
- Practice with memory-based questions to build familiarity.
Solved Sentence Improvement Questions from 2024–25 Exams
Some memory-based solved sentence improvement questions for your practice:
1. SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1 – Shift 2 (Memory-Based)
Q: The teacher asked the students to go their books.
Options:
a) gone through
b) go through
c) went through
d) No improvement
Answer: b) go through
Explanation: Correct phrasal verb is “go through” meaning to examine.
2. IBPS PO Prelims 2024 (Mock)
Q: He has been working in this company since five years.
Answer: for five years
Explanation: Use “for” with a period of time, not “since.”
3. RRB NTPC 2024 – Shift 1 (Memory-Based)
Q: Neither the manager nor the employees was responsible for the error.
Answer: were responsible
Explanation: When subjects are joined by “neither…nor,” verb agrees with the nearer subject.
Sentence Improvement Concepts for Bank Exams
In IBPS and SBI exams, questions often involve:
- Confusing modifiers
- Wordy sentence replacements
- Advanced idiomatic expressions
Example:
Q: The committee was divided in its opinions.
Correct: The committee were divided in their opinions.
Explanation: “Committee” is a collective noun; if acting individually, use plural verb.
Common Mistakes to Avoid while Solving Sentence Improvement
While solving Sentence Improvement English questions candidates must keep the below-mentioned details in mind:
- Rushing without reading the full sentence – Always read completely to understand context.
- Overusing logic over grammar – Some errors are rule-based, not meaning-based.
- Ignoring subject-verb agreement – A common and easily testable error.
- Confusing similar idioms or phrases – Practice idiomatic usage well.
- Choosing “No Improvement” too often – Don’t over-rely on this; trust grammar.
FAQs
Focus on grammar-based elimination. Read the sentence aloud mentally, then pick the most grammatically and logically sound choice.
Tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, modifiers, and idioms are most commonly tested.
Yes, they are primarily grammar-based with occasional vocabulary enhancement.
Yes, sometimes better or more formal vocabulary is tested for improvement.
Look for subject-verb agreement, concise phrasing, and grammatical correctness.
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