Last reviewed 30 Sept 2026 · 7 min read
The question
A sentence improvement question underlines a word or phrase in a sentence and offers four alternatives (a, b, c, d) — where the first option is usually "no improvement" (the same phrase). You choose the option that makes the sentence grammatically correct and clear.
He is knowing the answer. (a) no improvement (b) knows (c) has known (d) is known
Answer: knows — know is a state verb, not used in the continuous.
Method
FormulaHow to attack it
- Read the entire sentence and find the underlined part's job (subject, verb, object, modifier).
- Ask what rule could be broken: agreement, tense, preposition, article, parallelism, comparison, redundancy, voice, mood.
- Test each option in the full sentence — never in isolation.
- Eliminate options that introduce a new error or change the meaning.
- If the original is correct, choose "no improvement" (it is the answer about 20–25 % of the time).
- Between two grammatical options, choose the shorter, clearer one, unless the longer one is needed for meaning.
Pattern 1 — Agreement and tense
- The number of accidents have increased. → has (the number → singular).
- He has been ill since three days. → for three days.
- The train had left before we reach. → reached (both past).
- I would have gone if he would have invited me. → had invited.
- The doctor said that the patient is better. → was (sequence of tenses) — but if it is still true, is is permissible; the exam usually expects was.
Pattern 2 — Prepositions and idioms
- He is very keen in cricket. → keen on.
- She prefers tea than coffee. → to.
- He insisted for an inquiry. → on.
- We were surprised with his answer. → at.
- It consists in four parts. → of (made up of).
Pattern 3 — Comparison
- The climate of Shimla is colder than Delhi. → than that of Delhi.
- Iron is more useful than any metal. → any other metal.
- He is as good, if not better than, his brother. → as good as, if not better than, his brother (the first comparison needs its own as).
- This is the most unique idea. → unique is absolute — a unique idea.
- He is the more intelligent of the three. → the most intelligent.
Pattern 4 — Redundancy and wordiness
| Wordy | Better |
|---|---|
| in spite of the fact that | although |
| due to the fact that | because |
| at this point in time | now |
| in the event that | if |
| in order to | to |
| each and every | every |
| return back | return |
| revert back | revert |
| repeat again | repeat |
| the reason is because | the reason is that |
| more preferable | preferable |
| completely finished | finished |
| final outcome | outcome |
| join together | join |
| new innovation | innovation |
| past history | history |
| free gift | gift |
| close proximity | proximity |
| very unique | unique |
| mutual cooperation | cooperation |