Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'E' as the answer.
The accused now flatly denies have admitted his guilt in his first statement.
Answer: A
It should read having admitted.
Deny takes a gerund, and since the admission was earlier than the denial the perfect gerund having admitted is required. Deny cannot be followed by a bare infinitive.
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In the sentence below, a part is printed in bold. Choose the alternative that best replaces it. If no improvement is needed, choose ‘No correction required’.
The manager, along with his assistants, were present at the inauguration.
Answer: B
Correct answer: was present
A phrase introduced by along with, as well as, together with, besides, in addition to or accompanied by does not change the number of the subject. The subject here is the manager, singular, so the verb is was. These phrases are parenthetical - usually set off by commas, as here - and can be removed without damaging the sentence: the manager was present. That removal is the quickest test. Contrast this with and, which genuinely creates a compound plural subject: the manager and his assistants were present is correct. The distinction is a favourite of examiners precisely because the plural noun sits next to the verb and the ear supplies the wrong agreement.
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If I would have realised the nature of the job earlier, I would not have accepted it.
Answer: A
It should read had I.
The if-clause of a third conditional never takes would - it is if I had realised, or with inversion had I realised. The main clause keeps would not have accepted.
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The crime has growth rapidly in Russia since the disintegration of the communist system.
Answer: B
It should read crime has grown rapidly.
The verb is grown, not the noun growth, and the adverb rapidly modifies it. Crime is uncountable here, so it takes no article and a singular verb.
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They failed in their attempt to repair the demolished portion of that building.
Answer: E
No correction is required.
Fail in their attempt is correct, and attempt takes the infinitive to repair. The alternatives change the preposition or turn the infinitive into a noun without improving anything.
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I earnestly believe that you will visit our relatives during your forthcoming trip to Mumbai.
Answer: E
No correction is required.
Earnestly believe that is idiomatic and the tense sequence is sound - a present belief about a future visit. Each alternative introduces a tense or a verb that contradicts the second half of the sentence.
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By such time you finish that chapter, I will write a letter.
Answer: B
It should read by the time.
By the time is the fixed conjunction introducing a clause - by the time you finish. Such time and that time are demonstratives and cannot do the work of a conjunction here.
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Though we have kept in mind to try and maintain most facilities, we would like to request you to bear with us over any inconvenience caused.
Answer: E
No correction is required.
Have kept in mind to try and maintain is acceptable, and try and is standard in this idiom. The alternatives shift the modal or double the infinitive marker without gain.
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The tea-estate administration is in such mess there is no leader to set things right.
Answer: C
It should read in such a mess that there.
Mess is a countable noun and needs the article - such a mess. And such ... that is the correlative pair, so the that cannot be dropped before the result clause.
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They examined both the samples very carefully but failed to detect any difference in them.
Answer: C
It should read any difference between.
Between is used of two things, among of more than two, and there are two samples. Any is right in a negative context; some would be wrong after failed to detect.
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