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.
If he has to spend five hours in the queue, it was really a wastage.
Answer: D
It should read is really a wastage.
The if-clause is present - if he has to spend - so the main clause must be present too. Really is the adverb modifying is, and it comes before the noun phrase.
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The world has seen small real attempt at population and resource planning.
Answer: B
It should read little.
Attempt here is uncountable - real attempt at planning - so it takes little, not few. Little means hardly any; a little would mean some, which reverses the sense.
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My hair stood off ends when I saw the horrible sight.
Answer: B
It should read stood on ends.
Hair stands on end is the idiom, from the hair rising at fright. The preposition is on; off, at and to are not used with it.
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The long or short of it is that I do not want to deal with that new firm.
Answer: A
It should read the long and short of it.
The long and short of it means the sum of the matter, and both words are held together by and. With or the phrase asks the reader to choose, which is not the sense.
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Can you tell me why did you not speak the truth?
Answer: C
It should read why you did not speak.
The clause after tell me is a noun clause, not a question, so it takes statement word order with no inversion. Did already carries the tense, so speak stays in the base form.
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The people generally try to curry favour with the corrupt but influential person
Answer: E
No correction is required.
Curry favour is the fixed idiom for seeking favour by flattery. It has nothing to do with the spice: it comes from currying a horse named Fauvel in a medieval French poem, and the name became favour in English.
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I have got some tea, but I do not have a sugar.
Answer: D
It should read any.
Sugar is uncountable, so it takes no article. In a negative sentence some becomes any, giving I do not have any sugar.
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Had I realised how close I was to the edge of the valley, I would not have carried the bags there.
Answer: E
No correction is required.
Had I realised is the inverted form of if I had realised, and the main clause correctly takes would not have carried. Every alternative either doubles the auxiliary or puts would into the if-clause.
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Most of the Indian workers are as healthy as, if not healthier than, British workers.
Answer: E
No correction is required.
As healthy as, if not healthier than, is the complete double comparison - the first as ... as is closed before the parenthesis, and than follows healthier. Dropping either half leaves the sentence unbalanced.
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If you are thinking about investing overseas, isn't it makes sense to find an experienced guide?
Answer: B
It should read doesn't it make.
A question with the auxiliary does keeps the main verb in the base form: doesn't it make sense. Isn't it makes puts two finite verbs together.
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