Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He wanted not only to win the race but also ___.
A. breaking the record
B. to break the record
C. he broke the record
D. breaks the record
Correct Answer: B
'Not only...but also' should connect parallel structures: 'to win...to break'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The job requires accuracy, patience, and ___.
A. to work hard
B. hard-working
C. hard work
D. working hardly
Correct Answer: C
The series contains nouns: 'accuracy, patience, and hard work'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the sentence with correct parallel structure.
A. She likes reading, to swim, and cycling.
B. She likes reading, swimming, and cycling.
C. She likes to read, swimming, and to cycle.
D. She likes read, swim, and cycling.
Correct Answer: B
Items in a series should have the same grammatical form. All three are gerunds.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Select the clearest sentence.
A. She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
B. On paper plates, she served sandwiches to the children.
C. She served the children on paper plates sandwiches.
D. She to the children served sandwiches on paper plates.
Correct Answer: B
Placing 'On paper plates' at the beginning clearly shows that the sandwiches, not the children, were on paper plates.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the grammatically correct placement of 'even'.
A. Even he did not apologize.
B. He did not even apologize.
C. He even did not apologize.
D. He did not apologize even yesterday.
Correct Answer: B
When emphasizing the surprising failure to perform the action, 'even' is placed before the main verb: 'did not even apologize'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I have seen never such a view.
B. Never I have seen such a view.
C. I have never seen such a view.
D. I never have saw such a view.
Correct Answer: C
Frequency adverbs such as 'never' normally come after the auxiliary and before the main verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. She speaks English fluently very.
B. She very fluently speaks English.
C. She speaks English very fluently.
D. She English speaks very fluently.
Correct Answer: C
The natural word order places the object after the verb and the manner adverb phrase after the object.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the sentence without a dangling modifier.
A. After reading the book, the movie seemed disappointing.
B. After reading the book, I found the movie disappointing.
C. After reading the book, the movie was watched.
D. Reading the book, disappointment was caused by the movie.
Correct Answer: B
The person who read the book must be stated as the subject of the main clause.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. He only gave me five rupees.
B. Only he gave me five rupees.
C. He gave me only five rupees.
D. He gave only me five rupees.
Correct Answer: C
If the intended meaning is that the amount was just five rupees, 'only' should directly modify 'five rupees'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. She almost has finished all the work.
B. She has almost finished all the work.
C. Almost she has finished all the work.
D. She has finished almost all the work yesterday.
Correct Answer: B
The adverb 'almost' is best placed before the verb phrase element it modifies: 'has almost finished'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the sentence with the modifier placed correctly.
A. Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.
B. Walking down the street, I thought the trees looked beautiful.
C. Walking down the street, there were beautiful trees.
D. The trees, walking down the street, looked beautiful.
Correct Answer: B
The introductory participial phrase must logically modify the subject that follows it. 'I' was walking, not the trees.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He stopped ___ a cup of tea.
A. having
B. to have
C. have
D. had
Correct Answer: B
'Stop to have' means he paused another activity in order to have tea.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He stopped ___ because it was unhealthy.
A. to smoke
B. smoking
C. smoke
D. to smoking
Correct Answer: B
'Stop doing' means cease the activity; 'stop to do' means pause another activity in order to do it.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I would rather you ___ tomorrow.
A. come
B. came
C. will come
D. to come
Correct Answer: B
When 'would rather' is followed by a different subject, a past tense is used for present/future preference.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I would rather ___ at home tonight.
A. stay
B. to stay
C. staying
D. stayed
Correct Answer: A
'Would rather' is followed by the bare infinitive when the subject is the same.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You had better ___ now.
A. to leave
B. leaving
C. leave
D. left
Correct Answer: C
'Had better' is followed by the bare infinitive.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The students were made ___ the exercise again.
A. do
B. doing
C. to do
D. did
Correct Answer: C
In the passive form of 'make', the infinitive takes 'to': 'were made to do'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The teacher made the students ___ the exercise again.
A. to do
B. doing
C. do
D. did
Correct Answer: C
After 'make + object', the bare infinitive is used in the active voice.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He used to ___ early.
A. waking up
B. woke up
C. wake up
D. to waking up
Correct Answer: C
'Used to' for a past habit is followed by the base form of the verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He is used to ___ early.
A. wake up
B. waking up
C. to wake up
D. woke up
Correct Answer: B
'Be used to' means be accustomed to and is followed by a noun or gerund.