Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The ability to communicate effectively in written English is crucial for civil servants, as it forms the basis of report writing, policy drafting, and official correspondence. This question assesses a candidate’s understanding of standard English grammar and their ability to identify and rectify errors in sentence construction. The given sentence, while conveying a clear meaning, contains a subtle grammatical inaccuracy that needs to be addressed to ensure clarity and precision.
The original sentence is: "The traders dealing with garments are jittery about the impact of GST."
Correction and Explanation
The corrected sentence is: "The traders dealing in garments are jittery about the impact of GST."
Detailed Explanation of the Error
The preposition "with" is incorrectly used in the original sentence. While "dealing with" can mean handling or negotiating, when referring to the *subject matter* of trade, the correct preposition is "in". Traders deal *in* commodities, goods, or services. Using "with" implies they are actively engaged in a process *related to* garments, rather than trading the garments themselves.
Why other changes are unnecessary
The rest of the sentence is grammatically sound. "Traders" is a plural noun and correctly paired with the plural verb "are". "Jittery" accurately describes a state of anxiety or nervousness. "About the impact of GST" correctly indicates the source of their anxiety. Therefore, only the preposition needs correction.
Illustrative Examples
- Correct: "She deals in antiques."
- Correct: "He is a dealer in precious stones."
- Incorrect: "She deals with antiques." (implies she is handling a situation *regarding* antiques, not trading them)
The corrected sentence maintains the original meaning while adhering to standard English grammatical conventions. It accurately conveys that the traders are anxious about how the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will affect their business of trading garments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the primary error in the original sentence stemmed from the incorrect preposition used with the verb "deal." Replacing "with" with "in" rectifies this error, resulting in a grammatically correct and clearer sentence. This demonstrates the importance of precise language use, particularly in formal writing contexts like those encountered in the civil services.
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.