CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
It is vital that every candidate ___ the instructions.
A. follows
B. follow
C. followed
D. has followed
Correct Answer: B
Formal subjunctive uses the base form after expressions of necessity.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The board recommended that the policy ___ reviewed.
A. is
B. be
C. was
D. has been
Correct Answer: B
Formal mandative subjunctive uses the base form 'be'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If only she ___ here now.
A. is
B. were
C. will be
D. has been tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
'If only' for a present unreal situation uses a past form; 'were' is formal.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I wish I ___ the warning yesterday.
A. did not ignore
B. had not ignored
C. would not ignore
D. do not ignore
Correct Answer: B
Past regret after 'wish' uses the past perfect.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I wish I ___ the answer now.
A. know
B. knew
C. will know
D. have known tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
A present unreal wish uses a past form.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Should you require assistance, please ___ reception.
A. contact
B. contacted
C. would contact
D. contacting
Correct Answer: A
The main clause may be an imperative after formal conditional 'Should you require...'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Were he more experienced, he ___ the position.
A. will get
B. would get
C. would have got yesterday
D. gets
Correct Answer: B
This is an inverted second conditional.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Had I seen the notice, I ___ earlier.
A. would apply
B. would have applied
C. will apply
D. applied
Correct Answer: B
This is an inverted third conditional.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If she ___ early, ask her to wait.
A. will arrive
B. arrives
C. arrived
D. would arrive
Correct Answer: B
Future conditions use present simple after 'if'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If water reaches 100°C at sea level, it ___.
A. will boil
B. boils
C. would boil
D. boiled
Correct Answer: B
Zero conditional uses present simple for general truths.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If he had followed the instructions, he ___ the error.
A. would avoid
B. would have avoided
C. will avoid
D. avoided
Correct Answer: B
Third conditional uses 'would have + past participle'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If I ___ more time, I would learn another language.
A. have
B. had
C. will have
D. had had
Correct Answer: B
Second conditional uses a past form in the if-clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He was praised for his honesty, diligence, and because he was punctual.
B. He was praised for his honesty, diligence, and punctuality.
C. He was praised for honest, diligence, and punctuality.
D. He was praised honesty, diligently, and punctual.
Correct Answer: B
The coordinated items should be parallel nouns.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The committee decided to revise the draft and submitting it again.
B. The committee decided to revise the draft and submit it again.
C. The committee decided revising the draft and to submit it again.
D. The committee decided to revise and submitting the draft again.
Correct Answer: B
Parallel base verbs follow the shared infinitive marker 'to'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the clearest sentence.
A. The officer told the applicant after lunch he would call.
B. After lunch, the officer told the applicant that he would call.
C. The officer after lunch told applicant would call he.
D. The officer told after lunch that applicant he would call.
Correct Answer: B
The placement of the time phrase and 'that'-clause makes the structure clearer.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the sentence with clear pronoun reference.
A. When Ahmed met Bilal, he said the report was ready.
B. Ahmed told Bilal, 'The report is ready.'
C. When Ahmed met Bilal, he told him it was ready.
D. He told him the report was ready when he met him.
Correct Answer: B
Using names or direct quotation removes ambiguous pronoun reference.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. She speaks very English fluently.
B. She speaks English very fluently.
C. She English very fluently speaks.
D. Very she speaks English fluently.
Correct Answer: B
The natural order is verb + object + manner adverb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the sentence with a correctly placed modifier.
A. He nearly missed every class last month.
B. He missed nearly every class last month.
C. Nearly he missed every class last month.
D. He missed every nearly class last month.
Correct Answer: B
'Nearly' modifies 'every class', meaning almost all classes.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. She not only writes well but also speaks confidently.
B. She not only writes well but also speaking confidently.
C. She not only writing well but also speaks confidently.
D. She writes not only well but speaking confidently also.
Correct Answer: A
The two coordinated verb phrases are parallel.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He is both honest and works hard.
B. He is both honest and hardworking.
C. He both is honest and hardworking works.
D. He is honest both and hardworking.
Correct Answer: B
'Both...and' should join parallel adjectives.