CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2022
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
I must walk two miles to school every morning when I was a child.
I had to walk two miles to school every morning when I was a child.
The corrected sentence uses the past tense “had to” to indicate a requirement or obligation in the past.
After the storm, we had got to pick up some fallen branches..
After the storm, we had to pick up some fallen branches.
The corrected sentence uses “had to” to express the necessity or obligation to pick up the fallen branches after the storm. “Had got to” is not grammatically incorrect, but “had to” is more commonly used to indicate the obligation or necessity of an action.
Guitar is most popular instrument among teen age boys, but not girls.
The guitar is the most popular instrument among teenage boys but not among girls.
The corrected sentence includes the definite article “the” before “guitar” to specify which instrument is being referred to. Additionally, “teenage” is combined as “teenage” to properly modify “boys.” Finally, the phrase “but not among girls” is repositioned for clarity and better flow within the sentence.
You are not well and I wish you feel better soon.
You are not well, and I hope you feel better soon.
The corrected sentence separates the clauses with a comma since they are two related but independent thoughts. “Wish” is replaced with “hope” to convey a sense of desire for the person to feel better soon.
The grass not looking green now because it is not raining since last month.
The grass is not looking green now because it hasn’t rained since last month.
The corrected sentence uses “isn’t” to contract “is not” for smoother flow. “Hasn’t” is used to indicate the absence of rain from the past until now, which better connects the lack of rain to the current condition of the grass.
The cold air made me shiver a little when I was waiting for him.
The cold air made me shiver a little while I was waiting for him.
By replacing “when” with “while,” the sentence clarifies that the shivering occurred simultaneously with the act of waiting for someone. “While” helps to indicate the duration or period during which the shivering took place.
I offered my seat to an older woman who just smiled me.
I offered my seat to an older woman who just smiled at me.
Adding “at” after “smiled” corrects the preposition, creating the appropriate structure for the sentence. The corrected sentence indicates that the older woman smiled toward the speaker, rather than just “smiled me,” which isn’t grammatically accurate.
She packed her bags, carried downstairs and put the back seat of her car.
She packed her bags, carried them downstairs, and put them in the back seat of her car.
Adding “them” after “carried” and repeating “them” after “put” clarifies what was being carried downstairs and placed in the back seat of the car, providing a clearer and more complete description of the actions.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2021
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
They were lieing in the sun.
They were lying in the sun.
The corrected sentence uses the correct spelling of “lying” as the present participle of the verb “lie” (to recline or rest). “Lieing” is not the correct spelling; it should be “lying” in this context.
He will not come without he is asked.
He will not come unless he is asked.
The corrected sentence uses “unless” to convey the condition under which he will not come. “Without” is replaced with “unless” to express the idea that his coming is dependent on being asked.
John as well as Harry bear witness to it.
John, as well as Harry, bears witness to it.
When “as well as” is used to connect two subjects, the verb should agree with the first subject mentioned. In this case, “John” is the subject that requires the singular form of the verb “bears.”
The crew was now on board and they soon busied themselves in preparing to meet the coming storm.
The crew was now on board and soon busied itself preparing to meet the coming storm.
To maintain subject-verb agreement, “itself” is used instead of “themselves” because “crew” is a collective noun that refers to a single unit. This helps ensure consistency in the sentence structure.
Could I have piece of please?
Could I have a piece, please?
The corrected sentence adds the indefinite article “a” before “piece” to specify that you’re asking for a singular piece. Additionally, “please” is placed at the end of the sentence for politeness.
Is there a sport club near by?
Is there a sports club nearby?
“Sport” should be changed to “sports” to make it plural since you’re referring to a club that likely covers multiple sports or activities. Additionally, “nearby” is written as one word to properly describe the proximity of the sports club.
The coat is quite big.
The coat is quite large.
The correction substitutes “big” with “large” for variety in expression. Both words convey size, but “large” might be considered slightly more formal than “big.”
It’s only a short travel by train.
It’s only a short trip by train.
The correction replaces “travel” with “trip” for more clarity and natural usage. “Trip” is commonly used to describe a journey or travel, and it fits well in this context.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2020
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
I won him in the race.
I beat him in the race.
The correction uses “beat” to convey winning in a competition or race. “I won him” isn’t a typical phrase to express winning against someone in a race or competition.
He said that I am playing chess.
He said that I was playing chess.
The correction changes “am” to “was” to maintain the consistency of the past tense within reported speech. When reporting what someone said in the past, the tense often shifts one step back in time from the original statement.
Unless you do not try, you will never succeed.
Unless you try, you will never succeed.
The correction removes the double negative “do not” to create a clearer and more concise sentence. In English, using “unless” already conveys a negative condition, so there’s no need for an additional negation within the clause.
He wrote with ink.
He wrote using ink.
The correction changes “with” to “using” for clearer expression. While “with” could be used, “using” adds specificity and clarity to indicate the instrument or material used for writing.
What country he belongs to?
What country does he belong to?
In English, when forming a question, the auxiliary verb “does” is often used to invert the subject and verb. So, “does he” is used to properly structure an interrogative sentence inquiring about someone’s country of origin.
When he reaches to manhood, he will visit to England.
When he reaches manhood, he will visit England.
The corrected sentence removes the unnecessary prepositions “to” after “reaches” and “visit.” In English, the verbs “reach” and “visit” do not require the preposition “to” after them in this context.
The new session commences from February 1st, 2020.
The new session commences on February 1st, 2020.
“From” indicates a starting point of a duration or period, whereas “on” specifies a particular date or day. In this context, “on” is more appropriate to indicate the exact starting date of the new session.
Please send this letter on my address.
Please send this letter to my address.
In English, when indicating the recipient of a letter or package, we use “to” before the recipient’s address, not “on.” Using “to” clarifies the direction or destination of where the letter should be sent.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2019
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
He enjoyed during the holidays.
He enjoyed himself during the holidays.
Adding “himself” after “enjoyed” specifies who experienced the enjoyment during the holidays. This construction makes the sentence clearer and more specific in indicating who had a good time during that period.
None of the boys had learnt their lesson.
None of the boys had learned their lesson.
“Learnt” can be considered a variant spelling, but “learned” is more commonly used, especially in American English. Both forms are correct, but “learned” is more widely recognized and used in modern writing.
He is abusing the money of his father.
He is misusing his father’s money.
“Abusing” in this context can imply physical or emotional harm. Using “misusing” better conveys the idea that he is not using the money in an appropriate or responsible way without implying a more severe form of mistreatment or harm.
I regret at the delay.
I regret the delay.
“Regret” doesn’t need the preposition “at” in this context. It’s more natural and grammatically correct to say “regret the delay” to express remorse or apology for the delay without using unnecessary prepositions.
I could not help but laugh.
I couldn’t help laughing.
The corrected sentence uses a more concise structure. “Couldn’t help laughing” is an idiomatic expression that means being unable to resist or prevent oneself from laughing.
I always have and always shall be your friend.
I have always been and will always be your friend.
The correction provides a more consistent tense structure. “Have always been” maintains the past tense consistently throughout the sentence, while “will always be” indicates the future, creating a smoother flow.
I was out walking when I saw the new moon in the garden.
I was out for a walk when I saw the new moon in the garden.
The correction rephrases the sentence to clarify that the person was taking a walk when they spotted the new moon in the garden. It uses “out for a walk” to better convey the act of walking during the observation.
He cried as if he was mad.
He cried as if he were mad.
The correction uses “were” instead of “was” to maintain the subjunctive mood. In hypothetical or unreal situations, the subjunctive mood is used, hence “were” is preferred over “was” after “as if.”
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2018
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
They only work when they have no money.
They only work when they have no money.
The original sentence is already correct. It conveys the idea that they work only in situations when they lack money, indicating a correlation between their employment and financial circumstances.
They left the hotel here they had been staying in a motor-car.
They left the hotel where they had been staying in a motorcar.
The corrected sentence replaces “here” with “where” to properly indicate the location from which they departed. “Where” is used to refer to a place, while “here” refers to the speaker’s current location, which isn’t suitable in this context. Additionally, “motor-car” is combined into one word, “motorcar,” for clarity and correctness.
I cannot by no means allow you to do so.
I cannot allow you to do so by any means.
The corrected sentence removes the double negative “cannot by no means” for clarity. Instead, it uses the phrase “by any means” to convey that there are no acceptable ways or methods for the action to be allowed.
My friend said he never remembered having read a more enjoyable book.
My friend said he had never remembered reading a more enjoyable book.
The correction uses “had never remembered reading” to maintain proper past perfect tense. This construction clarifies the sequence of events by indicating that, at a specific point in the past, your friend had never recalled experiencing a more enjoyable book than the one mentioned.
Going up the hill, an old temple was seen.
While going up the hill, we saw an old temple.
The corrected sentence clarifies the subject performing the action by using “we” and rearranges the structure for better clarity. The original sentence implies that the old temple itself was going up the hill, which is not the intended meaning.
One day the bird did not perform certain tricks which had thought it to his satisfaction.
One day, the bird did not perform certain tricks that had been taught to it, much to his dissatisfaction.
The corrected sentence uses “taught to it” to clarify that the tricks were taught to the bird. Additionally, “to his dissatisfaction” replaces “which had thought it to his satisfaction” to better convey the disappointment or dissatisfaction of the person teaching the bird.
I was rather impressed by the manner of the orator than by his matter.
I was more impressed by the orator’s manner than by his content.
The corrected sentence rephrases the comparison for better clarity. It contrasts the orator’s delivery style (manner) with the substance of what was said (content), using “manner” and “content” for a clearer comparison.
What an awful weather!
What awful weather!
The corrected sentence removes the article “an” before “awful” to properly modify the noun “weather.” When expressing an exclamation about the weather, it’s more natural to use “what” before the adjective “awful” without the article.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2017
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
In the accident one of my arms was broken and my legs bruised.
In the accident, one of my arms was broken, and my legs were bruised.
The corrected sentence maintains parallel structure by using “and” to connect the two injuries. Additionally, it adds “were” before “bruised” to match the structure of the first part of the sentence and make it grammatically complete.
The people who had been raising slogans against the government for many hours they wanted increase.
The people who had been raising slogans against the government for many hours wanted an increase in their salaries.
The corrected sentence removes the redundant “they” after “hours” and adds “an” before “increase” to make the sentence grammatically correct and clearer.
You have been working very hard for the last two years. Isn’t it?
You have been working very hard for the last two years, haven’t you?
The corrected sentence turns the statement into a question using the tag question “haven’t you?” for proper grammatical structure. It maintains the conversational tone while seeking confirmation or agreement.
John could hardly do no better than to have caught a bass of such dimensions.
John could hardly have done better than to have caught a bass of such dimensions.
The corrected sentence removes the double negative “could hardly do no better” to make it clearer and more grammatically correct. “Could hardly have done better” indicates that John achieved a considerable feat in catching a bass of significant size.
I who have no chance to meet him would rather go with you instead of sitting at home.
Since I have no chance to meet him, I would rather go with you than sit at home.
The correction separates the clauses and clarifies the reason for the preference. “Since I have no chance to meet him” serves as an introductory clause to explain the decision, creating a clearer connection between the circumstances and the choice made.
He not only comes there for swimming but also for coaching new swimmers.
He comes there not only for swimming but also for coaching new swimmers.
The correction rearranges the sentence structure for better clarity. Placing “not only” before “for swimming” helps to emphasize the dual purpose of his visits, clarifying that swimming is not his sole reason for being there.
When he visited the fair last time, he bought no less than twenty school bags.
When he visited the fair last time, he bought as many as twenty school bags.
The correction replaces the phrase “no less than” with “as many as” for a clearer and more idiomatic expression to convey the quantity of school bags he bought.
Ten cattles were grazing in the field.
Ten cattle were grazing in the field.
The correct plural form of “cattle” is the same as the singular form, so it doesn’t require an “s” at the end. Therefore, “cattle” is both singular and plural.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2016
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
We were staying at my sister’s cape’s code vacation home.
We were staying at my sister’s Cape Cod vacation home.
The correction removes the unnecessary apostrophe in “cape’s” and correctly punctuates “Cape Cod” as a proper noun describing a location. The possessive form should only be used with “sister’s” to indicate ownership of the vacation home.
She recommended me that I take a few days off from work.
She recommended that I take a few days off from work.
The correction removes the unnecessary “me” after “recommended.” In English, after “recommend,” the object pronoun is not typically used before the clause that follows.
I tried to explain him the problem, but he had difficulty understanding me.
I tried to explain the problem to him, but he had difficulty understanding me.
The correction rearranges the structure to place the object pronoun “him” and “me” in their appropriate positions after the verbs “explain” and “understanding.” The preposition “to” is added after “explain” to convey the direction of the explanation.
I’ll do the grocery shopping for you grandma, Lucy said.
I’ll do the grocery shopping for you, Grandma,” Lucy said.
The correction adds a comma after “you” to separate the direct address (“Grandma”) from the rest of the sentence. Commas are used to set off the person being directly addressed within a sentence.
We took a tent, a cooler, and a sleeping bag.
The sentence is already correct as it is!
The sentence is a simple list of items (“a tent, a cooler, and a sleeping bag”) and is correctly structured with commas separating the items in the list. It’s clear and concise in conveying the items taken.
I don’t know why you didn’t go. If I were you, I should have gone.
I don’t know why you didn’t go. If I were you, I would have gone.
The corrected sentence changes “should have gone” to “would have gone” to express a hypothetical situation more accurately. “Would have gone” is the correct conditional structure to convey a hypothetical past action in this context.
Kevin says he stopped to travel internationally because of his family.
Kevin says he stopped traveling internationally because of his family.
The correction removes the preposition “to” after “stopped.” In this context, the verb “stopped” doesn’t require the preposition “to” when describing the action of ceasing an activity like traveling.
Don’t run! Mr. Salman shouted.
Don’t run!” shouted Mr. Salman.
Inverting the position of the speaker’s identification (“Mr. Salman”) and the verb (“shouted”) makes the sentence flow more naturally in this case. Additionally, the exclamation mark is retained to indicate the shouting.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2015
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
Have either of you seen my pen?
Has either of you seen my pen?
The correct usage for “either” in this context requires the singular verb “has” instead of “have.” When “either” is used as part of a subject-verb construction, it takes a singular verb, hence “Has either.”
On attempting to restore the picture to its original condition, almost irreparable change was discovered.
While attempting to restore the picture to its original condition, we discovered an almost irreparable change.
The correction rephrases the sentence to make it clearer and more concise. It emphasizes the action (“we discovered”) that occurred during the process of restoring the picture rather than the passive construction of the original sentence.
The child is the prettiest of the two.
The child is the prettier of the two.
When comparing between two things or individuals, the superlative form “prettiest” is not appropriate. Instead, the comparative form “prettier” is used to compare two items, indicating that one is more pretty than the other.
I was annoyed arriving late, also his rather insolent manner put me out of temper.
I was annoyed by arriving late, and his rather insolent manner also put me out of temper.
The correction separates the two thoughts into distinct clauses for clarity. By using “by” after “annoyed,” it clarifies the reason for annoyance. Additionally, the conjunction “and” is used to connect the two related but separate ideas, creating a clearer structure in the sentence.
He is anxious not only to acquire knowledge, but also eager to display it.
He is not only anxious to acquire knowledge but also eager to display it.
The correction streamlines the sentence by rearranging the word order. It removes the redundancy of using “anxious” and “eager” separately and creates a more coherent sentence structure by linking “anxious” and “eager” through “not only… but also.”
If he was here now, we should have no difficulty.
If he were here now, we would have no difficulty.
The correction changes “was” to “were” in the conditional clause to express a hypothetical situation in the present. Using “were” with the subjunctive mood is more appropriate to indicate an unreal or hypothetical condition.
Due to unforeseen environments, we shall have to leave early.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will have to leave early.
“Environments” is replaced with “circumstances” for clarity, as “unforeseen circumstances” is a common phrase used to refer to unexpected events or situations. Additionally, “shall” is changed to “will” for a more straightforward expression of future action.
People have and still do disagree on this matter.
People disagreed and still do on this matter.
The correction restructures the sentence for better flow and clarity. It simplifies the expression by placing the verb “disagreed” in the past tense and reshuffles the sentence to make it more direct and concise.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2014
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
Each furniture in this display is on sale for half price.
Each piece of furniture in this display is on sale for half price.
“Furniture” is a non-count noun, so it doesn’t take the singular form “furnitures.” Instead, “piece of furniture” is a more appropriate way to refer to individual items within the category of furniture. Additionally, the phrase “each piece of furniture” maintains a singular subject (“each”) in agreement with the singular verb “is.”
He is abusing the money of his father.
He is misusing his father’s money.
“Abusing” in this context implies mistreatment or harmful behavior towards the money, which might not be the intended meaning. “Misusing” suggests that the money is being used inappropriately or not for its intended purpose, which aligns better with the context provided.
The duties of the new secretary are to answer the telephone, to type letters and bookkeeping.
The duties of the new secretary are to answer the telephone, type letters, and handle bookkeeping.
The sentence was corrected by removing unnecessary repetition of “to” and restructuring the list using parallelism. This makes the tasks flow more smoothly and maintains consistency in the sentence structure.
The new models are not only less expensive but more efficient also.
The new models are not only less expensive but also more efficient.
By placing “also” after “more efficient,” the sentence maintains parallel structure, ensuring coherence and clarity. The revised structure aligns with standard usage when presenting contrasting or complementary ideas.
He complied with the requirement that all graduate students in education should write a thesis.
He complied with the requirement that all graduate students in education write a thesis.
In this corrected sentence, the verb “write” is in its base form “write” instead of “should write.” This change makes the sentence more concise and maintains consistency in expressing the requirement for all graduate students without using “should.”
No sooner we left the shop it began to rain.
No sooner had we left the shop than it began to rain.
This correction fixes the structure by adding the auxiliary verb “had” after “No sooner,” and it replaces “it” with “than” to establish the proper comparison between the two events. This structure is more grammatically accurate when expressing the sequence of events using “no sooner… than.”
The population of Karachi is greater than any other city in Pakistan.
The population of Karachi is greater than that of any other city in Pakistan.
This correction maintains clarity by explicitly comparing the population of Karachi to the populations of other cities in Pakistan. Using “that of” helps to refer back to “population” in a more precise manner, ensuring a clear and direct comparison.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2013
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
My boss agreed with my plan.
The sentence is already correct as it is! It conveys a clear message that your boss approved or supported your plan.
There are different ways to express agreement, but in this case, “agreed with” works perfectly fine to convey that your boss supported or accepted your plan.
If he was here, he would be as wise as he was during the war.
If he were here, he would be as wise as he was during the war.
The correction uses the subjunctive mood (“were”) to express a hypothetical or unreal condition. “Were” is used to indicate a hypothetical situation in the present or future. In the original sentence, “was” should be replaced with “were” to convey the hypothetical scenario of him being present and being as wise as he was during the war.
We have amusements in form of music.
We have amusements in the form of music.
By adding “the” before “form” in the sentence, it clarifies and specifies that the amusements are related to music and exist in a particular form, which is music. This change enhances the sentence’s clarity and structure.
You get hungry for all the work you have to do.
You get hungry from all the work you have to do.
The correction changes “for” to “from” to accurately convey the cause-and-effect relationship between working and feeling hungry. “From” is used to indicate the reason or cause behind feeling hungry, while “for” might imply hunger as a response to the work, but “from” better signifies that the hunger arises due to the workload.
We were glad for being there.
We were glad to be there.
The correction simplifies the sentence structure by replacing “for being” with “to be,” which makes the sentence more concise and clear. “Glad to be there” directly expresses the feeling of happiness or contentment about being present at that location without unnecessary complexity.
I prefer the fifth act of Shakespeare King Lear the best of all.
I prefer the fifth act of Shakespeare’s King Lear the most.
The best of all” is revised to “the most” for better clarity and precision in expressing a preference. Additionally, I included the possessive form “Shakespeare’s” to indicate ownership of the play “King Lear.
After finishing my lecture, the bell rang.
After I finished my lecture, the bell rang.
The correction separates the phrases more distinctly by using the past tense “finished” instead of “finishing” to ensure consistency in the timeline of events. This adjustment clarifies that the speaker completed the lecture before the bell rang.
We needed not to be afraid.
We did not need to be afraid.
The phrase “needed not” is less commonly used in modern English. “Did not need to” is a more conventional way to express the absence of necessity, providing a clearer and more widely understood sentence structure.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2012
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
A ten-feet long snake made people run here and there.
A ten-foot-long snake made people run here and there.
When using a compound adjective before a noun, the singular form “foot” is used, not “feet.” Additionally, “ten-foot-long” is hyphenated to create a compound modifier describing the snake’s length.
We are going to the concert, and so they are.
We are going to the concert, and so are they.
In this correction, “so” is placed before the auxiliary verb “are” to maintain parallelism and coherence between the two clauses. This structure ensures that both parts of the sentence align grammatically and convey the intended meaning that both “we” and “they” are going to the concert.
Enclosed with this letter was a signed Affidavit and a carbon copy of his request to our main office.
Enclosed with this letter were a signed Affidavit and a carbon copy of his request to our main office.
The subject of the sentence is “a signed Affidavit and a carbon copy,” which is plural, so the verb “were” should agree in number with the subject. Therefore, “was” should be changed to “were” to match the plural subject “Enclosed with this letter.”
Fear from God.
Fear of God.
The phrase “Fear of God” is the more commonly used and idiomatic expression, signifying reverence, respect, or awe towards a divine entity. “Fear from God” doesn’t convey the intended meaning as effectively; “fear of” is the appropriate preposition used in this context to denote a feeling directed towards God.
Pakistan has and will support the Kashmiris.
Pakistan has supported and will continue to support the Kashmiris.
The correction separates the verb “supported” and “will support” to clarify the timeline and continuity of Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiris. This structure makes the sentence clearer by distinguishing the past support from the future commitment to supporting the Kashmiris.
He has come yesterday.
He came yesterday.
In English, the present perfect tense (“has come”) is used to indicate actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or actions that have relevance to the present moment. However, when you specify a past time like “yesterday,” it requires using the simple past tense (“came”) to convey that the action occurred in the past, specifically on the day before today.
Arshad’s down fall was due to nothing else than pride.
Arshad’s downfall was due to nothing other than pride.
The correction maintains clarity by using “other than” instead of “else than” to convey the idea that pride was the sole reason for Arshad’s downfall. “Other than” is the more appropriate phrase to express exclusivity or singularity in this context.
Do not avoid to consult a doctor.
Do not hesitate to consult a doctor.
The correction replaces “avoid to consult” with “hesitate to consult,” which conveys the intended meaning more clearly. “Hesitate” implies not delaying or refraining from seeking medical advice, whereas “avoid” might suggest actively steering clear of consulting a doctor, which isn’t the intended advice in this context.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2011
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
Please speak to the concerned clerk.
The sentence is correct as it is!
“Please speak to the concerned clerk” is grammatically accurate and conveys the idea that the person being referred to is the one related or responsible for the matter being discussed. There’s no need for correction in this instance!
You have got time too short for that.
You have too short a time for that.
This correction rearranges the sentence structure for clarity. “Too short a time” is a more idiomatic way to express that the time available is insufficient. Additionally, removing “got” streamlines the sentence while maintaining its meaning.
Not only he was a thief, but he was also a murderer.
Not only was he a thief, but he was also a murderer.
Inverting the subject (“was he”) and auxiliary verb (“was”) helps to form a grammatically correct sentence structure. This change aligns with standard English syntax when using “not only…but also” to emphasize two qualities or characteristics of a person or situation.
They thought that the plan would be succeeded.
They thought that the plan would succeed.
The verb “succeed” should be used without “be” to indicate that the plan will achieve success or be successful in the future. In this context, “succeed” is the appropriate verb to convey the intended meaning of the plan achieving success.
It is unlikely that he wins the race.
It is unlikely that he will win the race.
In this case, the use of “will win” expresses the future possibility of him winning the race, aligning with the context of uncertainty indicated by “unlikely.” The original sentence uses the present tense “wins,” which doesn’t capture the speculative nature of the event in the future.
My uncle has told me something about it yesterday.
My uncle told me something about it yesterday.
The correction replaces “has told” with “told” to align the verb tense with the specific time reference “yesterday.” When referring to a specific past time like “yesterday,” the simple past tense (“told”) should be used instead of the present perfect (“has told”).
I hoped that by the time I would have got there it would have stopped raining.
I hoped that by the time I got there, it would have stopped raining.
This revision simplifies the sentence structure by using the past perfect (“had stopped”) to refer to the action (rain stopping) that was completed before another past action (arriving). The original sentence had unnecessary complexity in its structure, which was streamlined for clarity.
They prevented the driver to stop.
They prevented the driver from stopping.
When expressing prevention or obstruction of an action, the preposition “from” is used after the verb “prevent” to connect it to the action that was stopped. Therefore, “prevented the driver from stopping” clarifies that the driver was stopped from performing the action of stopping.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2010
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
This house is built of bricks and stones.
The sentence is correct as it is!
“This house is built of bricks and stones” is grammatically accurate and effectively conveys that the house is constructed using both bricks and stones. There’s no need for correction here!
The climate of Pakistan is better than England?
The climate of Pakistan is better than that of England.
Adding “that of” helps in comparing the climates of Pakistan and England more explicitly, providing a clearer and more precise comparison between the two. This construction avoids ambiguity and ensures the comparison is specifically about the climates of the two places.
He swore by God.
The sentence “He swore by God” is already grammatically correct.
The phrase “swore by God” means that he made a solemn statement or promise invoking God as a witness or in affirmation. There’s no need for correction in this sentence.
You ought to have regarded him your benefactor.
You ought to have considered him your benefactor.
“Regarded” can be replaced with “considered” for a clearer and more commonly used verb in this context. “Considered” emphasizes the idea of thinking of someone as a benefactor, conveying the intended meaning more directly.
My friend is very ill, I hope he will soon die.
“My friend is very ill; I hope he will soon recover.”
The original sentence implies a negative wish for the friend to die, which might not be the intended sentiment. Changing “die” to “recover” conveys a more positive and compassionate hope for the friend’s health to improve, aligning with a more considerate and caring tone.
He is waiting for better and promising opportunity.
He is waiting for a better and more promising opportunity.
Adding the article “a” before “better” helps to maintain parallelism and clarity in the sentence structure. Also, including “more” before “promising” ensures consistency when comparing the level of opportunities, making the sentence more balanced and grammatically correct.
When I shall see her I will deliver her your gift.
When I see her, I will deliver your gift to her.
The use of “shall” is less common in modern English, so it’s more natural to use “will” in this context. Simplifying the structure by removing “shall” and reordering the sentence for better flow results in a clearer and more commonly used expression of future action.
Many a sleepless nights she spent.
She spent many sleepless nights.
The original sentence structure, using “Many a sleepless nights she spent,” is less common in modern English. Simplifying it to “She spent many sleepless nights” maintains clarity and a more typical sentence structure.