Sentence Improvement Practice Worksheet with 30 Solved PYQs | GPN

Instructions: Improve or rewrite each sentence to make it more effective, concise, or grammatically correct. Multiple improvements may be possible. Click "Show Answer" to see suggested improvements.

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Section A: Conciseness & Clarity (10 Questions)

1. The reason why he was late was because of the heavy traffic.

Improved: He was late because of the heavy traffic.
Alternative: The heavy traffic caused him to be late.
Explanation: "The reason why...was because" is redundant. Use either "The reason was that" or just "because".

2. In spite of the fact that it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.

Improved: Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.
Alternative: Despite the rain, we decided to go for a walk.
Explanation: "In spite of the fact that" is wordy. Use "although" or "despite" for conciseness.

3. She is a person who is always punctual.

Improved: She is always punctual.
Alternative: She is known for her punctuality.
Explanation: "A person who is" is unnecessary. The adjective can directly describe the subject.

4. There are many students who are waiting for the results.

Improved: Many students are waiting for the results.
Alternative: The results are awaited by many students.
Explanation: "There are...who" structure can often be simplified for more direct sentences.

5. Due to the fact that he worked hard, he succeeded.

Improved: Because he worked hard, he succeeded.
Alternative: His hard work led to his success.
Explanation: "Due to the fact that" is verbose. Use "because" or "since" instead.

6. At this point in time, we cannot make a decision.

Improved: We cannot decide now.
Alternative: Currently, we are unable to make a decision.
Explanation: "At this point in time" is wordy. Use "now," "currently," or "at present."

7. The meeting concluded at a time which was later than expected.

Improved: The meeting ended later than expected.
Alternative: The meeting concluded later than anticipated.
Explanation: "At a time which was" is redundant. "Later than expected" already conveys the meaning.

8. In the event that it rains, the picnic will be canceled.

Improved: If it rains, the picnic will be canceled.
Alternative: The picnic will be canceled in case of rain.
Explanation: "In the event that" is formal and wordy. Use "if" for everyday language.

9. He returned back to his hometown after many years.

Improved: He returned to his hometown after many years.
Alternative: He went back to his hometown after many years.
Explanation: "Returned back" is redundant. "Return" already means to go back.

10. She is not only intelligent but she is also hardworking.

Improved: She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
Alternative: Besides being intelligent, she is hardworking.
Explanation: Remove the second "she is" for parallel structure with "not only...but also".

Section B: Sentence Combining (10 Questions)

11. Combine: The weather was bad. We canceled the trip. We decided to stay home.

Combined: Due to bad weather, we canceled the trip and decided to stay home.
Alternative: Because the weather was bad, we canceled the trip, deciding to stay home instead.
Explanation: Use subordinating conjunctions (because, due to) and coordinating conjunctions (and) to combine related ideas.

12. Combine: She finished her work. She went for a walk. She wanted some fresh air.

Combined: After finishing her work, she went for a walk to get some fresh air.
Alternative: Having finished her work, she went for a walk because she wanted some fresh air.
Explanation: Use participial phrases ("After finishing") and infinitives ("to get") to combine sentences smoothly.

13. Combine: He is a talented musician. He is an excellent teacher. His students admire him.

Combined: He is a talented musician and an excellent teacher who is admired by his students.
Alternative: Not only is he a talented musician, but he is also an excellent teacher admired by his students.
Explanation: Use relative clauses ("who") and correlative conjunctions ("not only...but also") to combine related qualities.

14. Combine: The book was interesting. It was also informative. I read it in one sitting.

Combined: The book was so interesting and informative that I read it in one sitting.
Alternative: Being both interesting and informative, the book was read by me in one sitting.
Explanation: Use "so...that" structure to show result, or participial phrase to begin the sentence.

15. Combine: The team practiced hard. They won the championship. Their coach was proud.

Combined: Because the team practiced hard, they won the championship, making their coach proud.
Alternative: The team's hard practice led to their championship win, which made their coach proud.
Explanation: Show cause-effect relationship and use participle ("making") to add additional information.

16. Combine: She studied for many hours. She was determined to pass. She achieved her goal.

Combined: Determined to pass, she studied for many hours and eventually achieved her goal.
Alternative: Her determination to pass led her to study for many hours, resulting in her achieving the goal.
Explanation: Begin with adjective phrase ("Determined to pass") and use "and" to connect related actions.

17. Combine: The museum has ancient artifacts. It has modern art. It attracts many visitors.

Combined: The museum, which has both ancient artifacts and modern art, attracts many visitors.
Alternative: Having ancient artifacts as well as modern art, the museum attracts many visitors.
Explanation: Use non-defining relative clause or participial phrase to include descriptive details.

18. Combine: He missed the bus. He arrived late. He missed the beginning of the movie.

Combined: Having missed the bus, he arrived late and consequently missed the beginning of the movie.
Alternative: Because he missed the bus, he arrived late, which caused him to miss the beginning of the movie.
Explanation: Show chain of events using participles ("Having missed") and transitional words ("consequently").

19. Combine: The project was challenging. It was completed on time. The team received praise.

Combined: Despite being challenging, the project was completed on time, and the team received praise.
Alternative: The challenging project was completed on time, earning praise for the team.
Explanation: Use concessive clause ("Despite being") and participle ("earning") to combine contrasting and resulting ideas.

20. Combine: She loves reading. She enjoys writing. She wants to become an author.

Combined: Because she loves reading and enjoys writing, she wants to become an author.
Alternative: Her love for reading and enjoyment of writing inspire her desire to become an author.
Explanation: Show relationship between interests and aspiration using subordinating conjunction or possessive structure.

Section C: Advanced Rewriting (10 Questions)

21. Rewrite in passive voice: The committee will announce the results tomorrow.

Passive: The results will be announced by the committee tomorrow.
Alternative passive: Tomorrow, the results will be announced by the committee.
Explanation: Object becomes subject + appropriate form of 'be' + past participle + optional 'by' phrase.

22. Rewrite beginning with "Never": I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.

Rewritten: Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.
Explanation: Inversion (auxiliary verb before subject) is required when sentence begins with negative adverbs like 'never', 'seldom', 'rarely'.

23. Rewrite using "so...that": The noise was very loud. We couldn't sleep.

Rewritten: The noise was so loud that we couldn't sleep.
Alternative: So loud was the noise that we couldn't sleep.
Explanation: "So + adjective/adverb + that" shows degree and consequence. Inversion possible for emphasis.

24. Rewrite using "too...to": The box is very heavy. I cannot lift it.

Rewritten: The box is too heavy for me to lift.
Alternative: The box is too heavy to be lifted by me.
Explanation: "Too + adjective/adverb + to + verb" shows excess leading to inability.

25. Rewrite as conditional: He didn't study, so he failed the exam.

Conditional: If he had studied, he would not have failed the exam.
Alternative: Had he studied, he would not have failed the exam.
Explanation: Third conditional for unreal past: if + past perfect, would have + past participle.

26. Rewrite using "unless": You must work hard. Otherwise, you will not succeed.

Rewritten: You will not succeed unless you work hard.
Alternative: Unless you work hard, you will not succeed.
Explanation: "Unless" means "if not" - shows condition required to avoid negative outcome.

27. Rewrite as indirect speech: She said, "I will come tomorrow."

Indirect: She said that she would come the next day.
Alternative: She said she would come the following day.
Explanation: Remove quotes, add 'that', change pronouns, backshift tenses, adjust time expressions.

28. Rewrite using "no sooner...than": As soon as he arrived, it started raining.

Rewritten: No sooner did he arrive than it started raining.
Alternative: No sooner had he arrived than it started raining.
Explanation: "No sooner" requires inversion (auxiliary before subject) and is followed by "than".

29. Rewrite using "not only...but also": He is talented. He is also humble.

Rewritten: He is not only talented but also humble.
Alternative with inversion: Not only is he talented, but he is also humble.
Explanation: Correlative conjunctions joining two parallel elements. Inversion optional after "Not only".

30. Last worksheet! Next topic is: Omission of Words & Gap Filling.

Answer: Omission of Words & Gap Filling (final topic in Error Correction series)
Explanation: Practice identifying missing words and completing sentences logically.

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