Direction: Improve the underlined part of the sentence. Choose 'No improvement' as an answer if the sentence is grammatically correct. Cell phones keeps loved ones and those nearly them well connected.
keep loved ones and those near
Improving Sentence Grammar: Cell Phones and Connections
The original sentence is: "Cell phones keeps loved ones and those nearly them well connected." We need to examine the underlined part, "Cell phones keeps loved ones and those nearly them", for grammatical correctness and clarity.
Let's break down the underlined phrase:
- Subject: "Cell phones". This is a plural subject.
- Verb: "keeps". This is a singular verb.
- Phrase: "nearly them". This phrase is used to indicate proximity.
There are two main issues in the original sentence:
- Subject-Verb Agreement: A plural subject requires a plural verb. "Cell phones" (plural) should be followed by "keep" (plural verb), not "keeps" (singular verb).
- Word Choice/Usage: The word "nearly" is an adverb meaning 'almost'. To indicate physical proximity, the word "near" is used as a preposition or adjective. In this context, "those near them" is the correct phrase to refer to people who are physically close to them.
Analyzing the Options for Sentence Improvement
Let's look at each option provided:
- Option 1: No improvement
This option suggests the original sentence is correct. However, as identified above, there are subject-verb agreement and word choice errors ("keeps" instead of "keep" and "nearly them" instead of "near them"). Therefore, this option is incorrect.
- Option 2: Keeping loved and nearly
This option changes the structure significantly. Starting with "Keeping" creates a participial phrase, which would require a different main clause structure or comma placement to be grammatically sound. It also incorrectly uses "nearly" instead of "near" and changes "loved ones" to "loved", altering the intended meaning of people dear to someone. This option is incorrect.
- Option 3: kept love and near
This option uses the past tense verb "kept". While grammatically correct in terms of subject-verb agreement if the subject were singular, the original sentence is a general statement about how cell phones function, suggesting a present tense verb is needed. It also changes "loved ones" to "love" (an abstract noun) and uses "near" correctly, but the verb tense and change in noun make it unsuitable. This option is incorrect.
- Option 4: keep loved ones and those near
Let's examine this option:
- "Cell phones" (plural subject) is followed by "keep" (plural verb). This corrects the subject-verb agreement error.
- "loved ones" correctly refers to people who are dear to someone.
- "those near" correctly uses "near" to indicate physical proximity, referring to people who are physically close.
This option correctly addresses both the subject-verb agreement and the word choice issues in the original sentence. It maintains the intended meaning while correcting the grammar.
Conclusion on Sentence Improvement
Based on the grammatical analysis, Option 4, "keep loved ones and those near", is the only option that correctly addresses the errors in the original sentence, ensuring proper subject-verb agreement and appropriate word choice.
Revision Table: Sentence Improvement Analysis
| Part | Original Sentence | Issue | Option 4 | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Cell phones | Plural | Cell phones | N/A |
| Verb | keeps | Singular verb with plural subject (Subject-Verb Agreement error) | keep | Plural verb with plural subject (Correct) |
| Phrase | nearly them | Incorrect word choice ("nearly" instead of "near" for proximity) | those near | Correct word choice ("near" for proximity) |
| Noun | loved ones | Correct | loved ones | N/A |
Additional Information: Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement and Word Choice
Subject-Verb Agreement:
The verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
- Example (Singular): The dog runs fast. ("dog" is singular, "runs" is singular)
- Example (Plural): The dogs run fast. ("dogs" is plural, "run" is plural)
- In the original sentence, "Cell phones" is plural, so the verb should be the plural form "keep".
Distinguishing 'Near' and 'Nearly':
- Near: Can function as a preposition (meaning close to), an adjective (meaning close in distance), or an adverb (meaning close by). In the phrase "those near them," "near" is used to indicate spatial proximity to "them".
- Nearly: Functions as an adverb meaning 'almost' or 'very nearly'. It is used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating degree rather than location.
- Using "nearly them" incorrectly implies "almost them", which doesn't make sense in the context of location or relationship. "Near them" correctly conveys proximity.
Understanding these fundamental grammar rules is crucial for correcting sentences and writing clearly.
Important Questions from Error Spotting
Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A honest mistake (a) / is no more than that; (b) / just an honest mistake. (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A company of five thousand soldiers , (a) / having marched tirelessly for over five days , (b) / have just moved into their cantonment . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
Every person who believes in principles (a) / must stand up to fight (b) / for their convictions . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The Olympic Games reflects(a) / the highest spirit of (b) / human endeavour and achievement . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The principal of the school (a) / stressed the need for discipline (b) / amongst the students. (c) / No error (d)
