Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CHSL, SSC CGL, STENOGRAPHER exams are among the most important topics in the English section.
This article provides 20 carefully selected questions with correct answers, grammar rules, and detailed explanations. These practice questions are also highly useful for SSC CHSL, SSC CGL, STENOGRAPHER exams, and other competitive government examinations.
Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CGL
Q1
Sentence:
Neither of the two boys have completed the assignment.
Correct Improvement:
Neither of the two boys has completed the assignment.
Error:
The verb have is incorrect.
Rule:
Neither is treated as a singular pronoun, so it always takes a singular verb.
Detailed Explanation:
Although “two boys” is plural, the subject is Neither, not boys. Therefore, the singular verb has must be used.
SSC Tip:
Neither / Either / Each / Everyone / Someone / Anybody always take a singular verb.
Q2
Sentence:
No sooner did the train arrive when the passengers rushed inside.
Correct Improvement:
No sooner did the train arrive than the passengers rushed inside.
Error:
when is incorrect.
Rule:
No sooner…than is the correct correlative conjunction.
Detailed Explanation:
English grammar follows fixed pairs:
No sooner…than ✅
Hardly…when ✅
Scarcely…when ✅
SSC Tip:
Never use No sooner…when.
Q3
Sentence:
The teacher asked me where was I going.
Correct Improvement:
The teacher asked me where I was going.
Error:
Incorrect word order in indirect speech.
Rule:
In indirect questions, the order is:
Question Word + Subject + Verb
Detailed Explanation:
After reporting verbs like asked, wanted to know, inversion disappears.
Wrong:
Where was I going ❌
Correct:
Where I was going ✅
Q4
Sentence:
She is one of the smartest student in the class.
Correct Improvement:
She is one of the smartest students in the class.
Error:
student should be plural.
Rule:
After one of the, always use a plural noun.
Detailed Explanation:
The phrase means she belongs to a group of smart students.
Correct Pattern:
One of the + Superlative + Plural Noun
Q5
Sentence:
The committee have taken its final decision.
Correct Improvement:
The committee has taken its final decision.
Error:
Plural verb used with a collective noun.
Rule:
When a collective noun acts as one unit, use a singular verb.
Detailed Explanation:
Here, the committee is acting together, so singular agreement is required.
Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CGL
Q6
Sentence:
He prevented me to enter the room.
Correct Improvement:
He prevented me from entering the room.
Error:
Wrong preposition and verb form.
Rule:
The correct structure is:
Prevent + Object + from + Verb-ing
Detailed Explanation:
After prevent, always use from followed by the gerund (Verb + ing).
Examples:
Prevent him from speaking.
Prevent children from playing here.
Q7
Sentence:
Each of the employees were rewarded for their honesty.
Correct Improvement:
Each of the employees was rewarded for his or her honesty.
Error:
Incorrect verb agreement.
Rule:
Each always takes a singular verb.
Detailed Explanation:
The grammatical subject is Each, not employees.
SSC exams often test agreement with words like:
Each
Every
Either
Neither
Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CGL & CHSL with Answers and Detailed Explanations
Q8
Sentence:
He is senior than me in this department.
Correct Improvement:
He is senior to me in this department.
Error:
Incorrect preposition.
Rule:
The following adjectives take to, not than:
Senior to
Junior to
Superior to
Inferior to
Preferable to
Detailed Explanation:
These comparative adjectives are exceptions and never use than.
Q9
Sentence:
The news are very encouraging today.
Correct Improvement:
The news is very encouraging today.
Error:
Plural verb used with an uncountable noun.
Rule:
News is grammatically singular.
Detailed Explanation:
Although it ends in -s, “news” is an uncountable singular noun.
Examples:
The news is shocking.
This news is true.
Q10
Sentence:
I look forward to meet you next month.
Correct Improvement:
I look forward to meeting you next month.
Error:
Wrong verb form after the preposition.
Rule:
After every preposition, use:
Verb + ing
Detailed Explanation:
In look forward to, to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.
Correct:
Look forward to meeting you.
Object to working late.
Be accustomed to living here.
Sentence Improvement Practice Set (SSC CGL & SSC CHSL Level)
Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CGL
Q11
Sentence:
One of my friends have qualified for the SSC CGL examination.
Correct Improvement:
One of my friends has qualified for the SSC CGL examination.
Error:
The verb have is incorrect.
Rule:
When the subject is One of + Plural Noun, the main subject is One, which is singular. Therefore, a singular verb must be used.
Detailed Explanation:
Many students mistakenly make the verb agree with the plural noun (friends). However, the real subject is One, not friends.
Examples:
One of the players is injured. ✅
One of the teachers has resigned. ✅
SSC Tip:
One of + Plural Noun + Singular Verb
Q12
Sentence:
He is too intelligent that he can solve every problem easily.
Correct Improvement:
He is so intelligent that he can solve every problem easily.
Error:
Incorrect use of too.
Rule:
Use So…that to express a result.
Use Too…to to express impossibility or excess.
Detailed Explanation:
“Too” indicates something beyond the required limit.
Correct patterns:
So + Adjective + That + Clause ✅
Too + Adjective + To + Verb ✅
Examples:
She is so kind that everyone likes her.
He is too weak to walk.
Q13
Sentence:
The manager as well as his assistants were present at the meeting.
Correct Improvement:
The manager as well as his assistants was present at the meeting.
Error:
Incorrect verb agreement.
Rule:
Expressions like as well as, along with, together with, in addition to do not affect the verb.
Detailed Explanation:
The verb agrees with the first subject.
Subject = The manager
Verb = was
SSC Tip:
Never make the verb plural because of as well as.
Q14
Sentence:
If I was you, I would accept the offer immediately.
Correct Improvement:
If I were you, I would accept the offer immediately.
Error:
Incorrect use of was.
Rule:
Use were in imaginary or unreal conditions.
Detailed Explanation:
This is a hypothetical situation.
Correct Pattern:
If + Subject + Were + …
Examples:
If I were rich…
If he were here…
Important Sentence Improvement Grammar Rules for SSC CGL & CHSL Exams
Q15
Sentence:
He insisted to pay the restaurant bill himself.
Correct Improvement:
He insisted on paying the restaurant bill himself.
Error:
Wrong preposition and verb form.
Rule:
The correct pattern is:
Insist on + Verb-ing
Detailed Explanation:
“Insist” is always followed by on when talking about an action.
Examples:
She insisted on coming.
They insisted on helping.
Q16
Sentence:
The police has arrested the suspect.
Correct Improvement:
The police have arrested the suspect.
Error:
Incorrect verb agreement.
Rule:
Police is treated as a plural noun.
Detailed Explanation:
Words like:
Police
People
Cattle
always take plural verbs.
Correct:
The police have arrived.
The people were happy.
Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CGL
Q17
Sentence:
He has been working here since five years.
Correct Improvement:
He has been working here for five years.
Error:
Incorrect use of since.
Rule:
Use:
Since → Starting point
For → Duration
Detailed Explanation:
Five years is a period of time, not a starting point.
Correct:
Since 2020
Since Monday
For five years
For two months
Q18
Sentence:
The scenery of Kashmir are breathtaking.
Correct Improvement:
The scenery of Kashmir is breathtaking.
Error:
Plural verb used with an uncountable noun.
Rule:
Scenery is an uncountable singular noun.
Detailed Explanation:
Although scenery refers to many views, grammatically it is singular.
Examples:
The scenery is beautiful.
The furniture is expensive.
The luggage is heavy.
Q19
Sentence:
This is the most unique idea among all the proposals.
Correct Improvement:
This is a unique idea among all the proposals.
Error:
Incorrect use of most with unique.
Rule:
Unique means “one of a kind.” It is an absolute adjective and normally should not be modified by most, very, or more.
Detailed Explanation:
Since something is either unique or not unique, comparative or superlative forms are generally avoided in formal English.
Correct:
A unique opportunity.
A unique design.
Q20
Sentence:
Unless you do not work hard, you will not succeed.
Correct Improvement:
Unless you work hard, you will not succeed.
Error:
Double negative.
Rule:
Unless itself means if not, so another not should not be used.
Detailed Explanation:
Wrong:
Unless you do not study… ❌
Correct:
Unless you study… ✅
Equivalent sentence:
If you do not study, you will not pass.
ADVICE FROM AUTHOR
Regular practice of Sentence Improvement Questions for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, STENOGRAPHER exams helps strengthen grammar concepts and improves accuracy in competitive exams. Revise these rules consistently and solve similar questions daily to increase your confidence and maximize your score in SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, and other government examinations.