PPSC Accounts Officer (BS-17) English Sentence Correction — Set 3

1. Question 1

   Q1. Which word completes She is responsible _____ student safety today?

   • A) for
   • B) by
   • C) from
   • D) onto

   Answer: for

   Explanation: "Responsible for" is the fixed collocation expressing accountability; "responsible for student safety" follows the standard prepositional pairing.

2. Question 2

   Q2. Which verb completes Neither boy _____ tired after the drills?

   • A) are
   • B) is
   • C) were
   • D) be

   Answer: is

   Explanation: "Neither…nor" constructions with singular nouns take a singular verb; "neither boy is tired" correctly uses the singular third-person form.

3. Question 3

   Q3. Pick the line that is grammatically sound in standard written agreement?

   • A) The criteria for selection is strict and transparent
   • B) The criteria for selection are strict and transparent
   • C) The criterias for selection are strict and transparent
   • D) The criterion for selection are strict and transparent

   Answer: The criteria for selection are strict and transparent

   Explanation: "Criteria" is the plural of "criterion" (from Greek); it requires a plural verb ("are"). "Criterias" is not a word in standard English.

4. Question 4

   Q4. Which revised line best keeps the meaning while fixing the agreement error in this student draft: "The committee were divided about the proposal, so it delayed the vote."?

   • A) The committee was divided about the proposal, so it delayed the vote.
   • B) The committee are divided about the proposal, so they delayed the vote.
   • C) The committee were divided about the proposal, so they delayed the vote.
   • D) The committee have been divided about the proposal, so it delayed the vote.

   Answer: The committee was divided about the proposal, so it delayed the vote.

   Explanation: In American English, collective nouns like "committee" are typically treated as singular units, taking singular verbs and singular pronouns ("was," "it").

5. Question 5

   Q5. Which correction fixes both the modifier and the logic: "Running for the bus, my phone fell out of my pocket."?

   • A) Running for the bus, my phone dropped from my pocket.
   • B) While I was running for the bus, my phone fell out of my pocket.
   • C) Running for the bus, falling was my phone from my pocket.
   • D) Running for the bus, the pocket lost my phone.

   Answer: While I was running for the bus, my phone fell out of my pocket.

   Explanation: A dangling modifier requires adding the correct subject to the main clause; "While I was running for the bus" provides the explicit subject "I" so the modifier is no longer dangling.

6. Question 6

   Q6. Which option uses the correlative pair correctly?

   • A) Either the interns or the supervisor have to approve the form.
   • B) Either the interns or the supervisor has to approve the form.
   • C) Either the interns nor the supervisor has to approve the form.
   • D) Neither the interns or the supervisor has to approve the form.

   Answer: Either the interns or the supervisor has to approve the form.

   Explanation: With "either…or," the verb agrees with the subject closer to it (proximity rule); "the supervisor" is singular, so the singular "has to" is correct.

7. Question 7

   Q7. Short context: A memo says revenue "increased from 12 percent to 9 percent". What is the most defensible editorial fix if the writer meant growth?

   • A) Change it to "increased from 9 percent to 12 percent."
   • B) Change "increased" to "decreased" only and keep the numbers as written.
   • C) Replace the numbers with "many" and "few".
   • D) Delete the sentence as unnecessary detail.

   Answer: Change it to "increased from 9 percent to 12 percent."

   Explanation: Revenue cannot simultaneously increase and move from 12% to 9% (a decrease); the numbers must be reversed to reflect genuine growth, making "increased from 9 percent to 12 percent" the correct fix.

8. Question 8

   Q8. Which sentence correctly uses "fewer" versus "less"?

   • A) We need fewer sugar in the samples.
   • B) We need less sugar in the samples.
   • C) We need less samples than last week.
   • D) We need fewer time to finish.

   Answer: We need less sugar in the samples.

   Explanation: "Fewer" is used with countable nouns (fewer samples, fewer questions) and "less" with uncountable nouns; "sugar" is uncountable, so "less sugar" is the grammatically correct choice.

9. Question 9

   Q9. Which option best completes the line using the right preposition: "He is married _____ his childhood friend."

   • A) with
   • B) to
   • C) for
   • D) by

   Answer: to

   Explanation: "Married to" is the only correct prepositional collocation in English; "married with" is a common error, but standard English always uses "to" after "married."

10. Question 10

    Q10. Which improved sentence fixes the vague pronoun reference: "When Zara emailed Yasir, she was unclear about the deadline."?

    • A) When Zara emailed Yasir, Zara was unclear about the deadline.
    • B) When Zara emailed Yasir, she was unclear because emails are confusing.
    • C) When Zara emailed Yasir, the deadline was unclear about she.
    • D) When Zara emailed Yasir, it was unclear about she.

    Answer: When Zara emailed Yasir, Zara was unclear about the deadline.

    Explanation: To fix vague pronoun reference, replace the ambiguous pronoun with the specific noun it refers to; "Zara was unclear" removes the ambiguity of who "she" refers to.

11. Question 11

    Q11. Which sentence uses the article most acceptably in a general statement?

    • A) Honesty is best policy in public service.
    • B) Honesty is the best policy in public service.
    • C) The honesty is best policy in public service.
    • D) Honesty is a best policy in public service.

    Answer: Honesty is the best policy in public service.

    Explanation: "Honesty is the best policy" is a fixed proverbial expression where "the" is required before the superlative; "honesty" as an abstract noun does not take an article in general statements.

12. Question 12

    Q12. Which correction fixes tense consistency in a report sequence?

    • A) The team collected data, analyzes it, and presented findings.
    • B) The team collected data, analyzed it, and presented findings.
    • C) The team collects data, analyzed it, and presents findings.
    • D) The team collected data, analyzes it, and presents findings.

    Answer: The team collected data, analyzed it, and presented findings.

    Explanation: Tense consistency in a narrative sequence requires all verbs to be in the same tense; "collected," "analyzed," and "presented" are all simple past, maintaining consistency throughout.

13. Question 13

    Q13. Which line correctly uses "between" versus "among"?

    • A) The secret leaked among the two directors only.
    • B) The secret leaked between the two directors only.
    • C) The secret leaked between all committee members in the large hall.
    • D) Among you and I, the plan worked.

    Answer: The secret leaked between the two directors only.

    Explanation: "Between" is used for exactly two parties; "the two directors" are precisely two people, making "between" correct. "Among" applies to three or more.

14. Question 14

    Q14. Read this note: "If I was the chair, I would reschedule." Which fix fits standard formal conditional use?

    • A) If I am the chair, I would reschedule.
    • B) If I were the chair, I would reschedule.
    • C) If I be the chair, I would reschedule.
    • D) If I had been the chair, I would reschedule tomorrow without past context.

    Answer: If I were the chair, I would reschedule.

    Explanation: The subjunctive mood is required in formal hypothetical conditionals; "If I were the chair" uses the past subjunctive "were" for all persons, not the indicative "was."

15. Question 15

    Q15. Which improvement fixes the comma splice?

    • A) The results were inconclusive, we repeated the test.
    • B) The results were inconclusive, so we repeated the test.
    • C) The results were inconclusive we repeated the test.
    • D) The results were inconclusive and, we repeated the test.

    Answer: The results were inconclusive, so we repeated the test.

    Explanation: A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma; it is corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction ("so") after the comma to properly link the two clauses.

16. Question 16

    Q16. Which rewrite removes the double negative while keeping a cautious meaning?

    • A) We can hardly not rule out delays.
    • B) We can hardly rule out delays.
    • C) We cannot hardly rule out delays.
    • D) We might not never rule out delays.

    Answer: We can hardly rule out delays.

    Explanation: Double negatives ("cannot" + "not") cancel each other out or create confusion; removing one negative gives "can hardly rule out delays," which preserves the cautious, hedging meaning.

17. Question 17

    Q17. Which sentence uses "who" versus "whom" most acceptably in formal writing?

    • A) Whom should I email for clearance?
    • B) Who should I email for clearance?
    • C) Whom should I email to is unclear.
    • D) To who should the form be sent?

    Answer: Whom should I email for clearance?

    Explanation: In formal questions, "whom" is used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition; "Whom should I email?" uses "whom" correctly as the object of "email."

18. Question 18

    Q18. Which revision fixes the fused sentence?

    • A) The appeal was filed late the tribunal rejected it.
    • B) The appeal was filed late, so the tribunal rejected it.
    • C) The appeal was filed late the tribunal rejected it, however.
    • D) The appeal was filed late but the tribunal rejected it without a connector plan.

    Answer: The appeal was filed late, so the tribunal rejected it.

    Explanation: A fused (run-on) sentence lacks punctuation or a conjunction between independent clauses; adding "so" with a comma correctly joins the two clauses and shows cause and effect.

19. Question 19

    Q19. Which sentence correctly pairs correlative conjunctions?

    • A) Not only the guide was late but the bus also broke down.
    • B) Not only was the guide late, but the bus also broke down.
    • C) Not only was the guide late but also the bus broke down without comma balance.
    • D) Not only the guide was late but also broke down the bus.

    Answer: Not only was the guide late, but the bus also broke down.

    Explanation: "Not only…but also" is a correlative conjunction pair; subject-verb inversion is required after "not only" at the start of a clause, giving "not only was the guide late."

20. Question 20

    Q20. Which option fixes pronoun case after a preposition?

    • A) The coordinator spoke with she and me about duties.
    • B) The coordinator spoke with her and me about duties.
    • C) The coordinator spoke with her and I about duties.
    • D) The coordinator spoke between she and I about duties.

    Answer: The coordinator spoke with her and me about duties.

    Explanation: After a preposition, the objective case of the pronoun is required; "with her and me" uses the correct objective pronouns, whereas "she" and "I" are subjective forms.