Sentence Improvement & Correct Usage - Cheat sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for mastering sentence improvement and correct usage in Language Proficiency exams
Punctuation Rules
Important facts
- Apostrophe shows possession (Toast's stream) or contraction (didn't)
- Hyphen joins words (well-known); En dash shows ranges (July 10–12)
- Quotation marks cite exact speech: "I shall return"
- Ellipsis shows omission (...) or pause in speech
- Parentheses add explanations (COVID-19)
Key definitions
Period (.)
Example
The quick brown fox jumped. U.P.
Marks end of declarative sentences and abbreviates words
Comma (,)
Example
Let's eat, grandma! (versus Let's eat grandma!)
Marks pauses between parts or separates list elements
Semicolon (;)
Example
I went to the mall; I bought face masks.
Joins two closely related independent clauses
Colon (:)
Example
Remember this: wear a mask.
Second clause explains or illustrates the first
Em Dash (—)
Example
There was only one thing—face the consequences.
Creates emphasis or indicates interruptions
Sentence Structure Errors
Important facts
- Run-on fix: use conjunction, semicolon, or separate sentences
- Fragment fix: add missing subject or predicate
- Modifier must be next to what it describes
- Parallel structure applies to lists, comparisons, and series
- Active voice preferred over passive voice
Key definitions
Run-on Sentence
Example
I was lazy I ate whatever was available (WRONG)
Two or more sentences incorrectly joined without proper punctuation or conjunction
Sentence Fragment
Example
Got tired when she finished. (WRONG - no subject)
Incomplete sentence missing subject or predicate
Parallel Structure
Example
arranged, packed, drove (not drive)
Elements performing same purpose must be in same form
Misplaced Modifier
Example
The coach praised the batter who hit a homerun (WRONG)
Modifier placed far from word it modifies, causing confusion
Dangling Modifier
Example
With thesis defended, the trip was decided (WRONG)
Word being modified is not mentioned in sentence
Diagrams to know
- Sentence structure diagram showing subject-verb-object
- Modifier placement flowchart
Grammar Agreement Rules
Important facts
- Collective nouns (team, family) usually take singular verbs
- Either/or, neither/nor: verb agrees with nearest subject
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone) are usually singular
- Compound subjects joined by 'and' take plural verbs
- Subject-object distinction: he/him, she/her, they/them
Key definitions
Subject-Verb Agreement
Example
Joe likes pizza (not like)
Singular subject takes singular verb; plural subject takes plural verb
Pronoun Agreement
Example
Kelly and Sue... they went (not she went)
Pronoun must match noun in number and type
Verb Tense Consistency
Example
I went to store and bought pizza (not get)
Cannot shift tenses without time transition word
Commonly Confused Words
Important facts
- Can = ability; May = permission or possibility
- Bring = toward you; Take = away from you
- Disinterested = unbiased; Uninterested = not interested
- Ensure = make certain; Insure = buy insurance
- Nauseous = causing nausea; Nauseated = feeling nausea
Key definitions
Affect vs Effect
Example
Rain affects growth; Rain has an effect on growth
Affect (verb) = influence; Effect (noun) = result
Fewer vs Less
Example
Fewer flowers, less sugar
Fewer = countable items; Less = uncountable amount
Lie vs Lay
Example
I lie down; I lay the book down
Lie = recline (no object); Lay = put down (needs object)
Imply vs Infer
Example
Speaker implies; Listener infers
Imply = suggest; Infer = conclude from evidence
Comprise vs Compose
Example
Game comprises two halves; States compose USA
Comprise = include (whole first); Compose = make up (parts first)
Sentence Types and Clauses
Important facts
- FANBOYS conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
- Subordinating conjunctions: because, although, if, when, while
- Adjective clauses start with who, which, that
- Use 'that' for essential clauses; 'which' for non-essential (with commas)
- Comma splice error: joining sentences with only comma
Key definitions
Simple Sentence
Example
The mother went to the grocery.
One independent clause with subject and verb
Compound Sentence
Example
Sarah walked to class, but Kevin ran.
Two or more independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunction
Complex Sentence
Example
Though he was wealthy, he was still unhappy.
One independent clause plus one or more dependent clauses
Independent Clause
Example
I like pizza
Contains subject and verb; can stand alone as sentence
Dependent Clause
Example
because I was hungry
Contains subject and verb but cannot stand alone
Diagrams to know
- Sentence type classification tree
- Clause relationship diagram
Must remember
- Subject-verb agreement: singular with singular, plural with plural
- Parallel structure: keep same form for related sentence elements
- Modifier placement: put modifier next to what it describes
- Run-on sentences need proper conjunction or punctuation
- Sentence fragments must have both subject and predicate
- Affect = verb (influence); Effect = noun (result)
- Fewer = countable; Less = uncountable amounts
- Essential clauses use 'that' (no commas); Non-essential use 'which' (with commas)
- Comma splice error: can't join sentences with comma alone
- Verb tense must be consistent unless time shift indicated
Last minute tips
- Read entire sentence before choosing answer - don't stop at first error you see
- Check for subject-verb agreement by identifying true subject (ignore prepositional phrases)
- For modifier errors, ask 'What is being described?' and ensure it's next to modifier
- Sound alone isn't reliable - many wrong answers 'sound right' in casual speech
- In parallel structure questions, list all elements and check they're in same form
Comparison tables
Affect vs Effect Usage
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affect | Affect | Verb | To influence | Water affects plant growth |
| Effect | Effect | Noun | Result/consequence | Pollution is an effect of smoking |
Sentence Error Types
| Error Type | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Run-on | Two sentences joined incorrectly | Add conjunction or semicolon |
| Fragment | Missing subject or verb | Add missing part |
| Comma Splice | Two sentences joined by comma only | Add conjunction or use semicolon |
Essential vs Non-Essential Clauses
| Type | Punctuation | Word Choice | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | No commas | Use 'that' | The book that I read was good |
| Non-Essential | Use commas | Use 'which' | The book, which I read, was good |
Diagrams
Sentence Improvement Concepts Overview
Complete overview of all sentence improvement concepts and their relationships
Sentence Error Identification Process
Step-by-step process for systematically identifying sentence errors in exam questions
Punctuation Decision Tree
Decision tree for choosing correct punctuation marks in different sentence situations