Select the alternative that will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case there is no improvement select ‘No improvement’. There was no sign of recognition on his face when they met after ten years.
No improvement
Analyzing the Sentence Improvement Question
The question asks us to evaluate whether the underlined part of the sentence, "no sign of recognition", can be improved by selecting one of the given alternatives. If the original sentence is correct as it is, we should choose 'No improvement'.
The original sentence is: "There was no sign of recognition on his face when they met after ten years."
Understanding 'Sign of Recognition'
The phrase "sign of recognition" is a standard and idiomatic expression in English. It means an indication or a signal that someone remembers or identifies another person. In the given sentence, it suggests that the person's face showed no indication that they recognized the other person after a long time.
Examining the Alternatives for Sentence Improvement
Let's look at each provided option and see if it correctly or better fits the sentence.
- Option 1: no sign to recognise
This phrasing is grammatically awkward and not commonly used. "Sign to recognise" doesn't convey the same meaning as "sign of recognition". A "sign to recognise" might imply a sign that is supposed to be recognised, rather than a sign indicating recognition.
- Option 2: no any sign of recognition
Using both "no" and "any" together in this context is redundant and grammatically incorrect. "No" already indicates the absence of something. The phrase "no any" is generally avoided in standard English. You would say "no sign" or "not any sign", but not "no any sign".
- Option 4: no sign for recognition
Similar to option 1, "sign for recognition" is not the standard or correct idiom. "Sign for recognition" could potentially mean a sign that is intended to lead to recognition, which is different from a sign that shows recognition is happening or has happened. The preposition "of" is crucial in the standard phrase "sign of recognition".
- Option 3: No improvement
The original phrase "no sign of recognition" is grammatically sound and semantically correct within the context of the sentence. It effectively conveys that the person showed no indication of remembering the other person.
Choosing the Best Option
Based on the analysis of each alternative, the original sentence uses the correct and standard English idiom "sign of recognition". None of the provided alternatives offer an improvement; in fact, they introduce grammatical errors or non-standard phrasing.
Therefore, the sentence "There was no sign of recognition on his face when they met after ten years" requires no improvement.
Revision Table - Sentence Improvement Analysis
| Phrase | Analysis | Improvement? |
|---|---|---|
| no sign of recognition (Original) | Standard idiom, grammatically correct. Means 'no indication of recognizing'. | N/A |
| no sign to recognise | Awkward phrasing, not standard idiom. Meaning is unclear or incorrect. | No |
| no any sign of recognition | Grammatically incorrect. "No" and "any" are redundant together here. | No |
| no sign for recognition | Incorrect preposition, not standard idiom. Meaning is different from 'sign of recognition'. | No |
Additional Information - Idiomatic Expressions
Understanding common English idioms and phrasal verbs is essential for sentence improvement questions. Idioms are phrases where the meaning is not obvious from the individual words. "Sign of recognition" is a set phrase that English speakers use to mean an indication of remembering someone.
Other examples of phrases using "sign of" include:
- Sign of life (an indication that someone or something is still alive or active)
- Sign of trouble (an indication that something is wrong or will go wrong)
- Sign of relief (an action showing relief, like a sigh)
Using the correct prepositions ("of", "for", "to", etc.) in idiomatic phrases is crucial for conveying the intended meaning accurately. Misusing a preposition can make a sentence sound unnatural or even change its meaning entirely.
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”
My old teacher gave many poor students money in spite of he was poor.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
You should to read the newspaper regularly if you want to be well-informed.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
If he had listening to me he would not have got lost.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”
He asked for a bank loan also he didn't have sufficient resources.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
I went to the shop to buy some stationeries .
