Directions: Correct the following sentences (if necessary) and give reasons for your corrections.
Question 1: Charles Burchfield, isolated as he was for most of his life, was not the most cosmopolitan of the American watercolourists, which flourished in the twenties and thirties.
Answer: Charles Burchfield, isolated as he was for most of his life, was not the most cosmopolitan of the American watercolourists, who flourished in the twenties and thirties. [Use of Relative Pronouns]
Question 2: If anyone cares to join me in the campaign, either now or in the near future, they will be welcomed gratefully.
Answer: If anyone cares to join me in the campaign, either now or in the near future, he will be welcomed gratefully. [Pronoun Consistency]
Question 3: The committee had intended both you and I to speak at the assembly; however, only one of us will be able to.
Answer: The committee had intended both you and me to speak at the assembly; however, only one of us will be able to. [Pronoun Case]
Question 4: I wonder whether you are sure that scheme of your’s will work.
Answer: I wonder whether you are sure that scheme of yours will work. [Use of Possessive Pronouns]
Question 5: One can learn more about new computers by actually working with them instead of merely reading the instructional pamphlet.
Answer: One can learn more about new computers by actually working with them than by merely reading the instructional pamphlet. [Parallelism with Comparative Structures]
Question 6: He interviewed people whom he thought had valuable information to present.
Answer: He interviewed people who he thought had valuable information to present. [Pronoun Case]
Question 7: The two brothers reconciled to each other after years of estrangement.
Answer: The two brothers reconciled with each other after years of estrangement. [Use of Prepositions]
Question 8: The exhibition does not include many of the characteristics that we consider as painterly or sculptural in the traditional sense, but it certainly proves that the artist is ingenious.
Answer: The exhibition does not include many of the characteristics that we consider as painterly or sculptural in the traditional sense, but it certainly proves that the artist is ingenious. [No Error]
Question 9: It is very difficult to prevail on such odds.
Answer: It is very difficult to prevail against such odds. [Use of Prepositions]
Question 10: He showed himself to be very negligent of carrying out his duty.
Answer: He showed himself to be very negligent in carrying out his duty. [Use of Prepositions]
Question 11: From this committee’s point of view, the venture capitalist has not proved as public-spirited as their public relations campaign suggests.
Answer: From this committee’s point of view, the venture capitalist has not proved as public-spirited as his public relations campaign suggests. [Noun-Pronoun Agreement]
Question 12: Nobody offered to give up their seat to her.
Answer: Nobody offered to give up his seat to her. [Pronoun Consistency]
Question 13: I have scarcely no qualms about the righteousness of our cause; we are justified in our efforts to depose our oppressor.
Answer: I have scarcely any qualms about the righteousness of our cause; we are justified in our efforts to depose our oppressor. [Double Negatives]
Question 14: Neither of them were prepared for the emergency.
Answer: Neither of them was prepared for the emergency. [Subject-Verb Agreement]
Question 15: The house looked it’s age, despite our efforts to beautify it.
Answer: The house looked its age, despite our efforts to beautify it. [Use of Possessive Determiners]
