Superlative Forms Are Used To...

Correction of sentences is an integral part of many competitive exams. One has to pay attention to agreement issues like nouns, pronouns and verbs. Apart from the agreement rules all other grammar sections are also a part of this section. Paying attention to expressions such as not only...but also, both...and, either...or, neither...nor: is equally important. Pay attention to the usage of the following:

Better/Best
This concept tests the comparative/superlative forms. Comparative forms like "better", "more", etc. are only used when two things are being compared. Superlative forms like "best", "most", etc. are used to compare three or more things.

Much/Many
"Much" refers to an uncountable noun. "Many" refers to a countable one.

Amount/Number
"Amount" can only refer to an uncountable noun. We can use "number" to refer to a countable noun.

Fewer/Less
"Less" refers to an uncountable noun, whereas "fewer" refers to a countable noun. Remember that some words can change from countable/uncountable depending on whether they are plural or singular. For example, "stone" is uncountable, but "stones" are countable.

Over/More Than
"Over" refers to location only and is a preposition. "More than" is only used to refer to a number or a quantity.

Among/Between
"Among" is used when dealing with a group of three or more. "Between" can only be used for a group of two.

Let us take a practice test on correction of sentences in this session. At the end of the test answers with explanation is given for a better understanding of the concepts.

Directions: (Questions 1 to 25) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error if any will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part will be the answer. (Ignore punctuation errors if any.)

1. It was clear from the way (1)/ they were behaving (2)/ that they had been (3)/ lost their senses (4)/ No error (5).
2. That girl possess (1)/ three elegant pens (2)/ but she would not (3)/ show them to anyone (4)/ No error (5).
3. When he had been (1)/ walked along the road (2)/ a wild and ferocious dog (3)/ hit him hard and knocked him down (4)/ No error (5).
4. I have criticize (1)/ the remarkable book (2)/ because I benefitted (3)/ from reading it. (4)/ No error (5)
5. As Arundhati Roy (1)/ in her foreword write (2)/ John offers (3)/un-told stories of people. (4) No error (5)
6. Responsibilities includes (1)/ working with the editors (2)/ on all aspects (3)/ of the editorial process. (4)/ No error (5)
7. While grouping the words (1)/ care have been taken (2)/ to include the role (3)/ grammar plays in a language. (4)/ No error (5)
8. Distrust seems (1)/ to be a factor (2)/ borne out of (3)/ prevailing circumstances. (4)/ No error (5)
9. No book is (1) as absorbing as (2)/the novel I am reading (3) written by Prem Chand. (4)/No error (5).
10. The amount of (1)/ informations available (2)/ nowadays is too much (3)/ for any one person to learn(4)/ No error.
11. The population (1)/ of different areas of (2)/ the world are (3)/ increasing dramatically.(4)/ No error.
12. People always (1)/ spend too much times (2)/ accessing the internet (3)/ in their leisure time.(4)/ No error.
13. More money (1)/ needs to be invested (2)/ in infrastructure, but it depends (3)/ of the funds available. (4)/ No error.
14. Music has (1)/ a grand impact (2)/ on people's lives, (3)/ as it affects their mood. (4)/ No error.
15. I am not knowing anything (1)/ about the political system in the United States (2)/ because I am a student of History,(3)/ not Political Science (4)/ No error.
16. In any disciplined country (1)/ all the citizens (2)/ are expected (3)/ to abide the rules. (4)/ No error.
17. I wouldn't mind (1)/ your coming late (2)/ if you do not (3)/ wake me on. (4)/ No error.
18. He is (1)/ independent from (2)/ his parents. (3)/ No error
19. Somesh is (1)/ taller of (2)/ the two boys. (3)/ No error
20. Could you (1)/ please move (2)/ the bit? (3)/ No error
21. There I saw (1)/ his Dad (2)/ whom he said (3)/ was away. (4)/ No error
22. This chair (1)/ is quite cheap (2)/ at Rs.200. (3)/ No error
23. We do not(1)/ sell things (2)/ at credit.(3)/ No error
24. As we labour, (1)/ so (2)/ shall we (3)/ reward. (4)/ No error
25. I'm (1)/ too tired (2)/ that I cannot (3)/ attend the class. (4)/ No error

ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION

1. (3) Past Perfect Tense will be used. The structure is:
   Subject + had + past participle
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   It was clear from the way they were behaving that they had lost their senses.
   
2. (1) 'That girl possesses' is the correct usage, as the verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   That girl possesses three elegant pens but she would not show them to anyone.
   
3. (2) The structure of Past Perfect Continuous is
   Subject + had been + verb +ing
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   While he was walking along the road, a speeding car knocked him down.
   
4. (1) The error lies in part (1) of the sentence. 'I have criticize' should be replaced with 'I did not criticize'. It will make the sentence meaningful.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   I did not criticize the remarkable book because I benefitted from reading it.
   
5. (2) The word 'write' is in Present Indefinite Tense. It should be replaced with 'has written' as Present Perfect is used to express past action whose time is not given and not definite.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   As Arundhati Roy in her foreword has written John offers un-told stories of people.
   
6. (1) The word Responsibilities is a Plural Subject. It will take plural verb.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   Responsibilities include working with the editors on all aspects of the editorial process.
   
7. (2) The word Care is Singular and it will take Singular verb. Hence, 'care have been taken' should be replaced with 'care has been taken'.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   While grouping the words care has been taken to include the role grammar plays in a language.
   
8. (3) The phrase 'borne out of,' should be replaced with 'born of' which means coining from the specified type of parents, background, origin etc.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   Distrust seems to be a factor born out of prevailing circumstances.
   
9. (1) Here the comparison is between things (novels) which belong to the same class or group. Therefore, no other should be used in the place of no.
   Hence, the correct sentence will be:
   No other book is as absorbing as the novel I am reading written by Prem Chand.
   
10. (2) Information is an uncountable noun, it never takes's'.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    The amount of information available nowadays is too much for any one person to learn.
    
11. (3) The subject 'population' is an uncountable noun, so it is classed as singular; hence it needs a singular verb.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    The population of different areas of the world is increasing dramatically.
    
12. (2) The subject in the sentence is the singular noun hence the verb should be singular.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    People always spend too much time accessing the internet in their leisure time.
    
13. (4) The mistake in this sentence is regarding the usage of preposition.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    More money needs to be invested in infrastructure, but it depends on the funds available.
    
14. (2) A wrong adjective is used in the sentence.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    Music has a huge impact on people's lives, as it affects their mood.
    
15. (1) The correct sentence should be:
    I do not know anything about the political system in the United States because I am a student of History, not Political Science.
    
16. (4) In this sentence abide must be followed by the preposition by to make it more meaningful.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    In any disciplined country all the citizens are expected to abide by the rules.
    
17. (4) The mistake is in the usage of preposition.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    I wouldn't mind your coming late if you do not wake me up.
    
18. (2) Independent is followed by 'of' in this sentence.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    He is independent of his parents.
    
19. (2) When a group has just two members, we use the comparative with the.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    Somesh is the taller of the two boys.
    
20. (3) The correct determiner that should be used here is 'a'.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    Could you please move a bit?
    
21. (3) 'Who' and 'whom' are often confused. Whom replaces the object pronouns him, her, them etc. Avoid using whom if you do not know how to use it correctly. Instead, use who. It is possible in most situations.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    There I saw his Dad who he said was away.
    
22. (3) The mistake is in the usage of preposition.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    This chair is quite cheap for Rs.200.
    
23. (3) The correct preposition to be used in this sentence is 'on'.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    We do not sell things on credit.
    
24. (4) The correct sentence will be:
    As we labour, so shall we be rewarded.
    
25. (3) Proper care should be taken in the usage of too...to.
    Hence, the correct sentence will be:
    I'm too tired to attend the class. OR I'm so tired that I cannot attend the class.
    

Published date : 12 Jun 2014 06:31PM