CHAPTER 5 — SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT
50 Exam-Oriented Practice Questions
CLAT Students | Sample-Based Pattern | Question → 4 Options → Answer → Hindi Concept + English Terminology Explanation
Instructions:
नीचे दिए गए sentences में एक हिस्सा bold है। Bold part में grammatical, structural, usage या meaning-related error हो सकता है। दिए गए options में से वह option चुनिए जो sentence को grammatically correct, natural और standard English बनाता है।
इन questions में Subject–Verb Agreement, Tense, Articles, Prepositions, Pronouns, Modals, Conjunctions, Comparison, Parallelism, Modifiers, Redundancy, Collocation, Conditionals, Gerund/Infinitive और Standard English Usage को cover किया गया है।
PART A — SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT & BASIC GRAMMAR
QUESTION 1
The quality of these products are much better than before.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have been
ANSWER: C. is
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ main subject quality है, न कि products।
Quality singular noun है, इसलिए इसके साथ singular verb is आएगा।
Correct sentence:
The quality of these products is much better than before.
Concept:
Subject–Verb Agreement में verb को मुख्य subject के अनुसार रखना होता है।
Exam Tip:
The quality of + plural noun → singular verb
QUESTION 2
Every student in the class have submitted the assignment.
A. have
B. has
C. are having
D. were having
ANSWER: B. has
EXPLANATION:
Every के बाद आने वाला noun grammatical रूप से singular माना जाता है।
इसलिए:
Every student has… ✅
Every student have… ❌
Correct sentence:
Every student in the class has submitted the assignment.
Concept:
Every/Each + singular noun → singular verb
QUESTION 3
Neither the teacher nor the students was aware of the change.
A. was
B. is
C. were
D. has been
ANSWER: C. were
EXPLANATION:
Neither…nor में verb आमतौर पर nearest subject के अनुसार आता है।
यहाँ nearest subject है students, जो plural है।
इसलिए were सही है।
Correct:
Neither the teacher nor the students were aware of the change.
Exam Tip:
Either…or / Neither…nor → nearest subject rule
QUESTION 4
The number of applicants have increased significantly this year.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
ANSWER: B. has
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ The number of का अर्थ है applicants की total संख्या। पूरा subject number है, जो singular है।
इसलिए verb has होगा।
Correct:
The number of applicants has increased significantly this year.
ध्यान दें:
A number of students are… → plural
The number of students is… → singular
Exam Tip:
The number of → singular verb
QUESTION 5
A number of students is participating in the competition.
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has
ANSWER: C. are
EXPLANATION:
A number of + plural noun का अर्थ होता है many/several।
इसलिए plural verb आएगा।
Correct:
A number of students are participating in the competition.
Exam Tip:
A number of → plural verb
The number of → singular verb
QUESTION 6
One of the best students in the class have won the scholarship.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
ANSWER: B. has
EXPLANATION:
Structure है:
One of + plural noun + singular verb
यहाँ actual subject One है, इसलिए has आएगा।
Correct:
One of the best students in the class has won the scholarship.
Exam Tip:
One of the + plural noun → singular verb
QUESTION 7
The information provided by the university were useful.
A. were
B. are
C. was
D. have been
ANSWER: C. was
EXPLANATION:
Information एक uncountable noun है और standard English में इसके साथ singular verb आता है।
Correct:
The information was useful. ✅
यह नहीं:
The information were useful. ❌
Exam Tip:
Information, advice, furniture, equipment जैसे uncountable nouns के साथ सामान्यतः singular verb आता है।
QUESTION 8
Everyone in the committee were asked to submit their opinion.
A. were
B. have
C. was
D. are
ANSWER: C. was
EXPLANATION:
Everyone meaning में कई लोगों को refer करता है, लेकिन grammar में यह singular indefinite pronoun है।
इसलिए:
Everyone was… ✅
Correct sentence:
Everyone in the committee was asked to submit their opinion.
Exam Tip:
Everyone/Everybody/Someone/Somebody → singular verb.
QUESTION 9
The principal, along with the teachers, are attending the meeting.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
ANSWER: C. is
EXPLANATION:
Along with subject को plural नहीं बनाता।
Main subject है The principal, जो singular है।
Correct:
The principal, along with the teachers, is attending the meeting.
Exam Tip:
Along with / as well as / together with के बाद वाला noun main subject नहीं बनता।
QUESTION 10
The committee members has agreed to the proposal.
A. has
B. have
C. is
D. was
ANSWER: B. have
EXPLANATION:
Main subject committee members है। Members plural है, इसलिए plural verb have आएगा।
Correct:
The committee members have agreed to the proposal.
Exam Tip:
पहले actual subject identify करो, फिर verb चुनो।
PART B — TENSE & VERB USAGE
QUESTION 11
When I reached the station, the train already left.
A. already left
B. has already left
C. had already left
D. was already leaving
ANSWER: C. had already left
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ दो past actions हैं:
- Train पहले चली गई।
- मैं बाद में station पहुँचा।
जो action past में दूसरे action से पहले हुआ, उसके लिए Past Perfect इस्तेमाल किया जाता है।
Correct:
When I reached the station, the train had already left.
Formula:
Earlier past action → had + V3
QUESTION 12
She has completed her graduation last year.
A. has completed
B. had completed
C. completed
D. has been completing
ANSWER: C. completed
EXPLANATION:
Last year एक definite past time है। ऐसे cases में सामान्यतः Simple Past इस्तेमाल होता है।
Correct:
She completed her graduation last year.
Exam Tip:
Yesterday, last year, in 2024, two days ago जैसे definite past-time markers के साथ Simple Past पर ध्यान दें।
QUESTION 13
By the time the police arrived, the thief escaped.
A. escaped
B. has escaped
C. had escaped
D. was escaped
ANSWER: C. had escaped
EXPLANATION:
Thief पहले escape कर चुका था और police बाद में पहुँची।
इसलिए earlier past action के लिए Past Perfect:
had + V3
Correct:
By the time the police arrived, the thief had escaped.
QUESTION 14
He is living in Delhi since 2022.
A. is living
B. was living
C. has been living
D. had lived
ANSWER: C. has been living
EXPLANATION:
Since 2022 बताता है कि action past में शुरू हुआ और अभी तक continue हो रहा है।
ऐसे continuous action के लिए Present Perfect Continuous उपयुक्त है।
has/have + been + V-ing
Correct:
He has been living in Delhi since 2022.
Exam Tip:
Since + starting point → often Perfect/PPerfect Continuous.
QUESTION 15
I have known him since five years.
A. have known
B. have been knowing
C. knew
D. had known
ANSWER: A. have known
EXPLANATION:
Verb know सामान्यतः stative verb है, इसलिए “have been knowing” standard usage नहीं है।
लेकिन sentence में दूसरा problem है: since five years गलत है।
Correct sentence होगा:
I have known him for five years.
For = duration
Since = starting point
Exam Tip:
For five years ✅
Since 2021 ✅
QUESTION 16
She has been studying for three hours.
A. has been studying
B. studied
C. had studied
D. is studied
ANSWER: A. has been studying
EXPLANATION:
यह sentence पहले से ही grammatically correct है।
For three hours duration बताता है और action अभी तक जारी है।
इसलिए Present Perfect Continuous सही है।
Correct sentence में कोई change आवश्यक नहीं है।
Answer: No Improvement.
Exam Tip:
has/have been + V-ing → past से शुरू होकर अभी तक चल रहा action.
QUESTION 17
If he will work hard, he will succeed.
A. will work
B. worked
C. works
D. had worked
ANSWER: C. works
EXPLANATION:
यह First Conditional है।
Structure:
If + Simple Present, will + V1
इसलिए:
If he works hard, he will succeed.
If-clause में normally will नहीं लगाया जाता।
Exam Tip:
If + Present → will + V1
QUESTION 18
If I knew about the meeting yesterday, I would have attended it.
A. knew
B. had known
C. know
D. have known
ANSWER: B. had known
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ बात past में हुई ऐसी situation की है जो actually नहीं हुई।
यह Third Conditional है।
Structure:
If + had + V3, would have + V3
Correct:
If I had known about the meeting yesterday, I would have attended it.
Exam Tip:
Past unreal condition → had + V3
PART C — ARTICLES & PREPOSITIONS
QUESTION 19
He is a honest person.
A. a honest
B. an honest
C. the honest
D. honest
ANSWER: B. an honest
EXPLANATION:
Article a/an spelling से नहीं बल्कि sound/pronunciation से तय होता है।
Honest में “h” silent है और pronunciation vowel sound से शुरू होती है:
honest → /ˈɒnɪst/
इसलिए an honest person सही है।
Exam Tip:
An honest man
A university — क्योंकि university का sound “yu” है।
QUESTION 20
She is good in mathematics.
A. in
B. on
C. at
D. with
ANSWER: C. at
EXPLANATION:
Good at एक standard collocation है।
Correct:
She is good at mathematics.
कुछ fixed combinations याद रखना useful है:
- good at
- interested in
- responsible for
- capable of
- depend on
Exam Tip:
Preposition questions में केवल Hindi translation पर depend न करें; collocation याद रखें।
QUESTION 21
He is interested on constitutional law.
A. on
B. at
C. in
D. for
ANSWER: C. in
EXPLANATION:
Standard expression है:
Interested in something
इसलिए:
He is interested in constitutional law.
Exam Tip:
Interested in हमेशा याद रखें।
QUESTION 22
The manager is responsible of preparing the report.
A. of
B. for
C. with
D. to
ANSWER: B. for
EXPLANATION:
Correct collocation है:
Responsible for + noun/gerund
इसलिए:
The manager is responsible for preparing the report.
Exam Tip:
Responsible for — not responsible of.
QUESTION 23
She has been working here since five years.
A. since five years
B. from five years
C. for five years
D. by five years
ANSWER: C. for five years
EXPLANATION:
For duration बताता है।
Five years एक duration है।
इसलिए:
for five years ✅
लेकिन:
since 2021 → starting point
Exam Tip:
For = अवधि
Since = शुरुआत का समय
QUESTION 24
The students were divided between four groups.
A. between
B. among
C. into
D. across
ANSWER: B. among
EXPLANATION:
Traditional grammar rule के अनुसार between आमतौर पर two persons/things के बीच relation के लिए और among three or more के लिए इस्तेमाल किया जाता है।
यहाँ four groups हैं।
इसलिए:
among four groups सही है।
Exam Tip:
Traditional exam rule:
Between → two
Among → more than two
QUESTION 25
He entered into the room quietly.
A. into the room
B. in the room
C. the room
D. at the room
ANSWER: C. the room
EXPLANATION:
जब enter का अर्थ किसी जगह में प्रवेश करना हो, तो इसके बाद normally direct object आता है; enter into the room standard exam usage नहीं माना जाता।
Correct:
He entered the room quietly.
लेकिन enter into अलग expressions में आता है:
enter into an agreement
enter into negotiations
Exam Tip:
Enter the room ✅
Enter into an agreement ✅
PART D — PRONOUNS, MODALS & USAGE
QUESTION 26
Between you and I, this plan may not work.
A. I
B. me
C. myself
D. mine
ANSWER: B. me
EXPLANATION:
Preposition between के बाद object pronoun चाहिए।
Object pronoun है me, न कि I।
Correct:
Between you and me, this plan may not work.
Exam Tip:
Between + object pronoun
QUESTION 27
The teacher asked Rahul and I to stay after class.
A. I
B. me
C. myself
D. mine
ANSWER: B. me
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ Rahul और pronoun verb asked के object हैं।
इसलिए object pronoun me आएगा।
Correct:
The teacher asked Rahul and me to stay after class.
I subject position में आता है:
Rahul and I went…
Exam Tip:
Subject → I
Object → me
QUESTION 28
You can to solve this problem easily.
A. can to solve
B. can solve
C. can solving
D. can solved
ANSWER: B. can solve
EXPLANATION:
Modal verbs जैसे:
can, could, may, might, should, must, will, would
के बाद base form (V1) आती है।
इसलिए:
can solve ✅
can to solve ❌
Correct sentence:
You can solve this problem easily.
Exam Tip:
Modal + V1
QUESTION 29
You must to submit the form before Friday.
A. must to submit
B. must submitting
C. must submit
D. must submitted
ANSWER: C. must submit
EXPLANATION:
Must एक modal verb है। Modal के बाद V1 आता है।
Correct:
You must submit the form before Friday.
Exam Tip:
Must + V1, not must + to + V1.
QUESTION 30
The lawyer advised him to not sign the document.
A. to not sign
B. not to sign
C. not signing
D. no sign
ANSWER: B. not to sign
EXPLANATION:
Standard exam English में negative infinitive का common structure है:
not + to + V1
इसलिए:
advised him not to sign
Correct sentence:
The lawyer advised him not to sign the document.
Exam Tip:
advise + object + not to + V1
PART E — CONJUNCTIONS & CONNECTORS
QUESTION 31
Although the evidence was weak, but the court accepted the argument.
A. although
B. but
C. although…but
D. no improvement
ANSWER: A. although
EXPLANATION:
Although और but दोनों contrast दिखाते हैं। Standard sentence में इन्हें एक साथ इस structure में use नहीं करते।
Incorrect:
Although…, but… ❌
Correct:
Although the evidence was weak, the court accepted the argument.
या:
The evidence was weak, but the court accepted the argument.
Exam Tip:
Although…but ❌
QUESTION 32
Because he was ill, therefore he did not attend the lecture.
A. Because
B. therefore
C. Because…therefore
D. No improvement
ANSWER: A. Because
EXPLANATION:
Because और therefore दोनों cause-effect relation दिखाते हैं। Standard exam sentence में इन्हें एक साथ use करना redundant माना जाता है।
Correct:
Because he was ill, he did not attend the lecture.
या:
He was ill; therefore, he did not attend the lecture.
Exam Tip:
Because…therefore को साथ में avoid करें।
QUESTION 33
Despite he was tired, he continued working.
A. despite he was tired
B. despite being tired
C. despite of being tired
D. although being tired
ANSWER: B. despite being tired
EXPLANATION:
Despite एक preposition है। इसके बाद सामान्यतः:
noun / pronoun / gerund (-ing)
आता है।
इसलिए:
Despite being tired… ✅
लेकिन although के बाद clause आता है:
Although he was tired… ✅
Exam Tip:
Despite + noun/gerund
Although + subject + verb
QUESTION 34
The company reduced prices so that attract more customers.
A. so that attract
B. so that it could attract
C. so that attracting
D. so that attracted
ANSWER: B. so that it could attract
EXPLANATION:
So that purpose दिखाता है और इसके बाद normally subject + modal/verb वाला clause आता है।
Correct:
The company reduced prices so that it could attract more customers.
Concept:
So that + subject + can/could/may/might + V1
Exam Tip:
Purpose clause की structure पहचानें।
PART F — COMPARISON & PARALLELISM
QUESTION 35
This book is more better than the previous edition.
A. more better
B. much better
C. most better
D. better more
ANSWER: B. much better
EXPLANATION:
Better स्वयं comparative form है। इसलिए इसके साथ more नहीं लगाते।
More better = double comparative ❌
Correct:
This book is much better than the previous edition.
Exam Tip:
Good → better → best
Not more better.
QUESTION 36
She is senior than me in the organization.
A. senior than
B. senior to
C. more senior than
D. senior from
ANSWER: B. senior to
EXPLANATION:
Senior के साथ standard preposition to आता है, than नहीं।
Correct:
She is senior to me in the organization.
इसी pattern में:
- junior to
- superior to
- inferior to
- senior to
Exam Tip:
Senior to, not senior than.
QUESTION 37
He is one of the best player in the team.
A. best player
B. better player
C. best players
D. most best players
ANSWER: C. best players
EXPLANATION:
Structure:
One of the + superlative adjective + plural noun
इसलिए:
one of the best players ✅
यहाँ one एक individual member है, लेकिन उसके बाद जिस group में वह member है वह plural noun होगा।
Exam Tip:
One of the best students
One of the most important books
QUESTION 38
She likes reading, writing and to paint.
A. reading, writing and to paint
B. reading, writing and painting
C. to read, writing and painting
D. read, writing and to paint
ANSWER: B. reading, writing and painting
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ तीन activities एक ही grammatical pattern में हैं। इसे Parallelism कहते हैं।
पहले दो forms:
reading + writing
इसलिए तीसरा भी:
painting
Correct:
She likes reading, writing and painting.
Exam Tip:
List में grammatical structure समान रखें।
QUESTION 39
The course aims to improve reading, writing and speaking skills.
A. to improve reading, writing and speaking skills
B. to improve reading, writing and to speak skills
C. improving reading, writing and speak skills
D. to improving reading, writing and speaking skills
ANSWER: A. to improve reading, writing and speaking skills
EXPLANATION:
यह sentence already grammatically correct है।
To improve एक infinitive है, जिसके बाद parallel nouns/gerunds:
reading + writing + speaking
आ रहे हैं।
इसलिए No Improvement आवश्यक है।
Exam Tip:
हर sentence में error ढूँढना जरूरी नहीं। No Improvement भी सही answer हो सकता है।
QUESTION 40
The manager is responsible for planning the event, arranging the venue and to invite guests.
A. planning the event, arranging the venue and to invite guests
B. planning the event, arranging the venue and inviting guests
C. to plan the event, arranging the venue and inviting guests
D. planning, arranging the venue and to invite guests
ANSWER: B. planning the event, arranging the venue and inviting guests
EXPLANATION:
Responsible for के बाद यहाँ तीन activities की list है। तीनों में parallel structure होना चाहिए।
Correct:
planning + arranging + inviting
इसलिए B सही है।
Exam Tip:
Parallelism = same grammatical form
PART G — REDUNDANCY, MODIFIERS & NATURAL ENGLISH
QUESTION 41
The two brothers returned back to their hometown.
A. returned back
B. returned
C. went returned
D. came returned
ANSWER: B. returned
EXPLANATION:
Return का अर्थ ही है वापस आना/जाना (go or come back)।
इसलिए return back में unnecessary repetition है। इसे Redundancy कहते हैं।
Correct:
The two brothers returned to their hometown.
Exam Tip:
Return already contains the idea of back.
QUESTION 42
The reason why he failed is because he did not prepare well.
A. is because
B. is that
C. was because
D. has because
ANSWER: B. is that
EXPLANATION:
Formal/standard English में:
The reason is that…
structure ज्यादा appropriate है।
Correct:
The reason why he failed is that he did not prepare well.
यहाँ is because कई contexts में सुनने को मिल सकता है, लेकिन competitive exam में standard construction is that चुनना बेहतर है।
Exam Tip:
The reason is that…
QUESTION 43
Walking through the market, the shops looked crowded.
A. the shops looked crowded
B. I found the shops crowded
C. the market was crowded
D. shops were crowded
ANSWER: B. I found the shops crowded
EXPLANATION:
यहाँ Walking through the market एक participial phrase है। Walking कौन कर रहा था? I.
लेकिन original sentence में grammatical subject the shops है, जो walk नहीं कर सकते।
इसे Dangling Modifier कहते हैं।
Correct:
Walking through the market, I found the shops crowded.
Exam Tip:
Introductory -ing phrase का logical subject main clause के subject से match होना चाहिए।
QUESTION 44
The report was very unique in its approach.
A. very unique
B. unique
C. much unique
D. more unique
ANSWER: B. unique
EXPLANATION:
Unique का basic meaning है one of a kind / बिल्कुल अनोखा।
Traditional competitive English में इसे absolute adjective माना जाता है, इसलिए very unique को avoid करना preferred है।
Correct:
The report was unique in its approach.
Exam Tip:
Exam में unique, perfect, complete, impossible जैसे absolute words के साथ unnecessary intensifiers से सावधान रहें।
QUESTION 45
The manager discussed about the new policy with the employees.
A. discussed about the new policy
B. discussed the new policy
C. discussed on the new policy
D. discussed over about the new policy
ANSWER: B. discussed the new policy
EXPLANATION:
Discuss एक transitive verb है। इसके बाद direct object आता है; standard usage में discuss about नहीं लगाया जाता।
Correct:
The manager discussed the new policy with the employees.
Exam Tip:
Discuss something ✅
Discuss about something ❌
PART H — QUANTIFIERS & COMMON CLAT TRAPS
QUESTION 46
There are less students in the class today.
A. less students
B. fewer students
C. little students
D. lesser students
ANSWER: B. fewer students
EXPLANATION:
Students countable plural noun है।
Countable plural nouns के साथ comparison में fewer use होता है।
- Fewer students ✅
- Less water ✅
Less generally uncountable nouns के साथ आता है।
Exam Tip:
Fewer → Countable
Less → Uncountable
QUESTION 47
There is a little students in the classroom.
A. a little students
B. a few students
C. few student
D. little students
ANSWER: B. a few students
EXPLANATION:
Students countable plural noun है, इसलिए इसके साथ few/a few आएगा।
A few का अर्थ है कुछ, although not many और generally positive sense देता है।
Correct:
There are a few students in the classroom.
Exam Tip:
A few + countable plural noun
A little + uncountable noun
QUESTION 48
The company has much employees working remotely.
A. much employees
B. many employees
C. a little employees
D. less employees
ANSWER: B. many employees
EXPLANATION:
Employees countable plural noun है।
इसलिए quantity बताने के लिए many इस्तेमाल होगा।
Correct:
The company has many employees working remotely.
Many → countable plural
Much → uncountable
Examples:
Many employees
Many books
Much money
Much information
Exam Tip:
Noun countable है या uncountable, पहले यह पहचानें।
QUESTION 49
No sooner did the meeting begin when the electricity went off.
A. did the meeting begin when
B. had the meeting begun than
C. had the meeting begun when
D. the meeting began than
ANSWER: B. had the meeting begun than
EXPLANATION:
यह एक important correlative structure है:
No sooner + had + subject + V3 + than…
Correct:
No sooner had the meeting begun than the electricity went off.
इसी तरह:
Hardly/Scarcely + had + subject + V3 + when…
Exam Tip:
No sooner → than
Hardly/Scarcely → when
QUESTION 50
If I would have known about the opportunity, I would have applied.
A. would have known
B. had known
C. have known
D. knew
ANSWER: B. had known
EXPLANATION:
यह Third Conditional है क्योंकि sentence past की unreal situation की बात कर रहा है।
Correct structure:
If + had + V3, would have + V3
इसलिए:
If I had known about the opportunity, I would have applied.
- had known = past perfect condition
- would have applied = unreal past result
Exam Tip:
Third Conditional:
If + had + V3 → would have + V3
CHAPTER 5 — CLAT SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT STEP BY STEP FORMULA
Sentence Improvement में option देखकर guess मत करो। पहले sentence को इस order में scan करो:
1. SUBJECT
कौन काम कर रहा है?
2. VERB
Subject के अनुसार verb सही है?
3. TENSE
Action कब हुआ — Present, Past या Future?
4. ARTICLE
a / an / the सही है?
5. PREPOSITION
in / on / at / for / since / to / of सही है?
6. PRONOUN
I / me / he / him / they / them सही position में है?
7. MODAL
can, could, should, must, may के बाद V1 है?
8. CONJUNCTION
although, because, despite, unless, either…or सही structure में हैं?
9. COMPARISON
better, more, best, senior to, prefer to आदि check करें।
10. PARALLELISM
List में सभी words का grammatical form समान है?
11. MODIFIER
Modifier logically उसी noun को describe कर रहा है?
12. REDUNDANCY
क्या sentence में unnecessary word दोहराया गया है?
13. COLLOCATION
क्या words का natural combination है?
14. MEANING
Grammar सही होने के बावजूद sentence का meaning logical है?
CLAT EXAM GOLDEN RULE
Sentence Improvement = Grammar + Usage + Structure + Meaning
सिर्फ grammar देखकर answer मत चुनो।
उदाहरण:
The manager discussed about the proposal.
यहाँ problem केवल grammar नहीं, बल्कि Verb Usage / Collocation की है।
The manager discussed the proposal. ✅
इसी तरह:
Walking through the market, the shops looked crowded.
यहाँ error Dangling Modifier का है।
इसलिए CLAT में sentence improvement solve करते समय हमेशा:
Identify Error → Identify Rule → Check Options → Preserve Meaning → Choose Natural English
यह approach Chapter 5 के बाद आने वाले practice questions को conceptually solve करने के लिए बनाया गया है।