Chapter 9 of 20

Phrase Replacement

Replacing an underlined phrase with the option that is both grammatically correct and idiomatically natural — a close cousin of Sentence Improvement.

📖 ~7 min read ✍️ Banking English Language

Introduction

Phrase Replacement underlines a multi-word phrase (rather than a single word) and asks for the best replacement. The correct option must fit both strict grammar rules and natural English idiom — a phrase can be grammatically valid yet still sound unnatural to a native speaker.

Solving Approach

  • Identify what's wrong with the underlined phrase: is it a tense error, a wrong preposition, redundant wording, or simply unidiomatic phrasing?
  • Eliminate options that fix one issue but introduce a new grammar error.
  • Between two grammatically valid options, choose the more commonly used, natural-sounding idiomatic phrase.
  • Watch for redundancy — phrases like "return back" or "each and every" repeat meaning unnecessarily and are common wrong-option traps.
Q. "The new regulations are expected to being implemented from next quarter." Replace the underlined phrase "are expected to being implemented."
(a) are expected to be implemented (b) are expecting to being implement (c) is expected to being implement (d) No improvement
"Expected to" must be followed by the base infinitive "be implemented," not the gerund "being implemented." Also, the subject "regulations" is plural, so "are" is correct (ruling out option c). Answer: (a) are expected to be implemented.
⚠️ Key Insight: Redundant phrasing (saying the same thing twice, like "revert back" or "final outcome") is grammatically parseable but still considered incorrect in formal English — bank exams frequently test this specific trap.
Practice Focus: Distinguishing grammatical validity from natural idiom · Spotting redundant phrasing · Infinitive vs gerund phrase correctness after specific verbs.

💡 Want More? Get the Full eBook

This free chapter covers the key concepts. For complete coverage with 500+ MCQs, mock tests, and previous year analysis — grab the premium eBook.

📚 Browse Premium eBooks →