Episode 8 — Aptitude and Reasoning / 8.27 — Sentence Improvement
8.27.b -- Tips and Common Patterns: Sentence Improvement
1. The Approach: Read All Options First
Unlike error identification where you just find the error, sentence improvement requires you to evaluate multiple alternatives and pick the best one.
Step-by-Step Method
Step 1: Read the Full Sentence
Read the entire sentence, paying special attention to the underlined/bold part. Understand what the sentence is trying to say.
Step 2: Identify the Problem (If Any)
Ask yourself: "Does the underlined part sound wrong?" Check for:
- Grammar errors (tense, agreement, pronoun, preposition)
- Idiom/phrase errors
- Wordiness
- Awkward construction
- Modifier issues
Step 3: Predict the Correction
Before looking at the options, try to mentally correct the underlined part. This prevents you from being confused by distractors.
Step 4: Match Your Prediction with the Options
Look for the option closest to your prediction.
Step 5: Verify by Substitution
Read the full sentence with your chosen replacement. Does it flow smoothly? Is it grammatically correct?
Step 6: Choose "No Improvement" Only If Certain
If the underlined part passes all grammar and style checks, choose "No improvement."
2. The Elimination Technique
When you cannot immediately identify the best answer, eliminate the worst options first.
Elimination Rules
| Eliminate an option if it... | Example |
|---|---|
| Introduces a new grammar error | Original: "has went" --> Option: "have gone" (agreement error if subject is singular) |
| Changes the meaning of the sentence | Original talks about past; option shifts to future |
| Is more wordy than the original | Options should make sentences better, not longer |
| Uses an incorrect idiom | "cope up with" instead of "cope with" |
| Creates an awkward or unnatural construction | Unusual word order that is not standard English |
| Uses informal language | Contractions, slang, or colloquial phrases |
Elimination Example
The company has took several measures to reduce pollution.
(a) has taken (b) have taken (c) had took (d) No improvement
Process:
- The original "has took" is wrong (past participle of "take" is "taken," not "took").
- (b) "have taken" -- wrong because subject "the company" is singular (needs "has").
- (c) "had took" -- still uses "took" instead of "taken" -- eliminated.
- (a) "has taken" -- correct: singular subject + correct past participle.
- Answer: (a)
3. Common Replacement Patterns
Pattern 1: Wrong Tense --> Correct Tense
This is the most common pattern in exams.
| Wrong | Correct | Rule Tested |
|---|---|---|
| is working since | has been working since | Since + perfect continuous |
| has went | has gone | Correct past participle |
| did not went | did not go | Base form after "did" |
| would have been know | would have known | Correct conditional form |
| have wrote | have written | Correct past participle |
| was ran | was run | Correct passive form |
Pattern 2: Wrong Preposition --> Correct Preposition
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| discuss about | discuss (no preposition) |
| comprise of | comprise (no preposition) |
| cope up with | cope with |
| superior than | superior to |
| prefer A than B | prefer A to B |
| angry on | angry with |
| good in | good at |
| married with | married to |
Pattern 3: Wordy --> Concise
| Wordy | Concise |
|---|---|
| in spite of the fact that | although / despite |
| due to the fact that | because / since |
| at this point in time | now |
| for the purpose of | to / for |
| in order to | to |
| has the ability to | can |
| make a decision | decide |
| give consideration to | consider |
Pattern 4: Passive --> Active
| Passive (Given) | Active (Improved) |
|---|---|
| The book was written by her | She wrote the book |
| The match was won by India | India won the match |
| A mistake was committed by him | He committed a mistake |
Pattern 5: Dangling Modifier --> Fixed Modifier
| Wrong (Given) | Corrected |
|---|---|
| Walking down the road, the trees were beautiful. | Walking down the road, I found the trees beautiful. |
| Having finished dinner, the TV was switched on. | Having finished dinner, he switched on the TV. |
| Born in poverty, success was achieved by him. | Born in poverty, he achieved success. |
Pattern 6: Wrong Idiom --> Correct Idiom
| Wrong (Given) | Corrected |
|---|---|
| He availed the opportunity. | He availed himself of the opportunity. |
| She gave a cold shoulder on me. | She gave me the cold shoulder. |
| Keep your finger crossed. | Keep your fingers crossed. |
| Make both the ends meet. | Make both ends meet. |
Pattern 7: Non-Parallel --> Parallel
| Wrong (Given) | Corrected |
|---|---|
| He likes reading, to swim, and painting. | He likes reading, swimming, and painting. |
| She is smart, talented, and works hard. | She is smart, talented, and hardworking. |
| The job needs patience, skill, and to be dedicated. | The job needs patience, skill, and dedication. |
Pattern 8: Double Comparative/Superlative --> Single
| Wrong (Given) | Corrected |
|---|---|
| more better | better |
| more smarter | smarter |
| most fastest | fastest |
| most unique | unique |
Pattern 9: Wrong Verb Form --> Correct Verb Form
| Wrong (Given) | Corrected | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| would rather to go | would rather go | "Would rather" + base verb |
| need not to worry | need not worry | "Need not" + base verb |
| made me to wait | made me wait | Causative "make" + base verb |
| let him to go | let him go | "Let" + base verb |
| suggested me to go | suggested that I should go / suggested my going | "Suggest" takes a clause, not object + infinitive |
Pattern 10: Redundancy --> Clean Version
| Redundant (Given) | Improved |
|---|---|
| return back | return |
| revert back | revert |
| repeat again | repeat |
| free gift | gift |
| past history | history |
| reason is because | reason is that |
| collaborate together | collaborate |
4. High-Frequency Exam Traps
Trap 1: The Distractor That Sounds Formal But Is Wrong
Examiners sometimes include an option that sounds sophisticated but introduces an error.
The project was completed by the team ahead of schedule.
(a) was being completed by the team (b) has been completed by the team (c) the team completed (d) No improvement
Option (a) sounds complex but changes tense to past continuous passive -- incorrect. Option (b) changes to present perfect passive -- incorrect (the sentence is about a past event). Option (c) is active but loses "ahead of schedule" grammatically. Answer: (d) -- the original is correct.
Trap 2: "No Improvement" When Something Looks Slightly Off
About 15--20% of questions have "No improvement" as the correct answer. Do not change something just because it "feels" different.
Trap 3: Two Options That Look Correct
When two options seem correct, choose the one that is:
- More concise (fewer words).
- More active (active voice > passive voice).
- More standard (formal English > colloquial).
Trap 4: Changing Meaning While Fixing Grammar
An option might fix the grammar but change the meaning. Always check that the meaning is preserved.
5. Decision Matrix for Common Question Types
| If the Underlined Part Has... | Look For This Replacement |
|---|---|
| Wrong tense | Correct tense based on time markers |
| Wrong preposition | Standard preposition for that verb/adjective |
| Wordy phrase | Concise equivalent |
| Passive voice (unnecessary) | Active voice version |
| Dangling modifier | Version where the modifier matches the subject |
| Non-parallel list | Parallel structure (all gerunds, all nouns, or all infinitives) |
| Double comparative | Single comparative |
| Wrong idiom | Standard form of the idiom |
| Redundant words | Version without repetition |
| Informal language | Formal equivalent |
6. Practice Strategy
Phase 1: Rule Learning (Days 1--4)
- Day 1: Study tense rules and solve 10 tense-based improvement questions.
- Day 2: Study preposition/idiom rules and solve 10 related questions.
- Day 3: Study wordiness and voice rules and solve 10 related questions.
- Day 4: Study modifier and parallelism rules and solve 10 related questions.
Phase 2: Mixed Practice (Days 5--8)
- Solve 15 mixed questions daily.
- Target: under 45 seconds per question.
- After each set, categorise your errors by type.
Phase 3: Speed Building (Days 9--12)
- Solve 20 mixed questions daily.
- Target: under 30 seconds per question.
- Focus on the elimination technique for speed.
Phase 4: Exam Simulation (Days 13--15)
- Solve timed sets of 25 questions in 12--15 minutes.
- Review all wrong answers and revise the relevant rules.
7. Quick Comparison: Error Identification vs Sentence Improvement
| Aspect | Error Identification (8.26) | Sentence Improvement (8.27) |
|---|---|---|
| Task | Find which part is wrong | Choose the best replacement |
| Number of options | 3--4 parts + "No Error" | 3--4 replacements + "No improvement" |
| Key skill | Knowing the rule | Knowing the rule + evaluating alternatives |
| Time per question | 30--45 seconds | 30--45 seconds |
| Biggest pitfall | Forcing an error when there is none | Choosing a replacement that changes meaning |
Golden Rule: The best replacement is always the one that is (1) grammatically correct, (2) preserves the original meaning, (3) is the most concise, and (4) uses standard formal English. If the original already meets all four criteria, choose "No improvement."