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UPSC MainsENGLISH-COMPULSORY201410 Marks
Q41.

The audience loudly cheered the Mayor's speech.

How to Approach

This question tests basic English grammar and sentence construction. The core task is to identify and correct any grammatical errors in the given sentence. The approach should involve analyzing the sentence for subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage, appropriate use of adverbs, and proper punctuation. A clear and concise answer demonstrating understanding of these grammatical principles is expected. The answer should not merely state that the sentence is correct, but rather explain *why* it is correct, or if incorrect, provide a corrected version with justification.

Model Answer

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Introduction

Effective communication relies heavily on grammatical accuracy. A sentence, while conveying a message, must adhere to established rules of grammar to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretation. The given sentence, "The audience loudly cheered the Mayor's speech," appears straightforward, but a thorough examination is necessary to confirm its grammatical correctness. This analysis will focus on identifying the subject, verb, and any modifying elements to determine if they function harmoniously within the sentence structure. The goal is to demonstrate a command of English grammar principles and apply them to a practical example.

Grammatical Analysis of the Sentence

The sentence "The audience loudly cheered the Mayor's speech" is grammatically correct. Let's break down the components:

  • Subject: "The audience" – This is a collective noun.
  • Verb: "cheered" – This is the past tense of the verb "cheer," and it agrees with the subject.
  • Adverb: "loudly" – This modifies the verb "cheered," describing *how* the audience cheered. Its placement is appropriate.
  • Object: "the Mayor's speech" – This is the direct object of the verb "cheered." The possessive form "Mayor's" is correctly used.

Collective Nouns and Verb Agreement

A common point of confusion arises with collective nouns. While "audience" refers to a group of individuals, it is treated as a single unit in this context. Therefore, it takes a singular verb ("cheered"). If the sentence were to emphasize the individual actions of the audience members, a plural verb might be used, but that would require a different sentence structure (e.g., "The audience members cheered loudly").

Adverbial Placement

The placement of the adverb "loudly" is also correct. Adverbs of manner (like "loudly") typically appear after the verb or before the main verb in a compound tense. In this case, placing it after the verb "cheered" is natural and grammatically sound.

Possessive Case

The use of the possessive case ("Mayor's speech") is accurate. It clearly indicates that the speech belongs to the Mayor. Using "the speech of the Mayor" would be grammatically correct but less concise and less common in this context.

Potential Alternative (though not necessary)

While the original sentence is correct, a slightly more formal phrasing could be: "The audience cheered the Mayor's speech loudly." However, this is a stylistic preference and doesn't represent a grammatical correction.

Table Summarizing Grammatical Elements

Element Description Correctness
Subject-Verb Agreement "Audience" (singular) - "cheered" (singular past tense) Correct
Adverbial Placement "Loudly" modifying "cheered" Correct
Possessive Case "Mayor's speech" Correct

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sentence "The audience loudly cheered the Mayor's speech" is grammatically sound. It demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement, appropriate adverbial placement, and accurate use of the possessive case. The sentence effectively conveys its intended meaning without any grammatical errors. Understanding these fundamental principles of English grammar is crucial for clear and effective communication, both in written and spoken form.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

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Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Collective Noun
A collective noun refers to a group of things taken as a whole, such as 'audience', 'team', 'family', or 'committee'. They can be singular or plural depending on whether they are considered as a unit or individual members.
Possessive Case
The possessive case shows ownership or relationship. It is typically formed by adding an apostrophe and 's' ('s) to a noun (e.g., "John's book").

Key Statistics

Approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide speak English as a first or second language (British Council, 2023).

Source: British Council (2023)

Studies show that individuals with stronger grammar skills tend to earn 15-20% more than those with weaker skills (PayScale, 2020).

Source: PayScale (2020)

Examples

Incorrect Collective Noun Usage

Incorrect: "The team are playing well." Correct: "The team is playing well." 'Team' is treated as a single unit in this context, requiring a singular verb.

Topics Covered

Language SkillsGrammarAdverbsSentence StructureGrammatical Accuracy
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