English Language

Spotting Errors

4,734 Questions
All Noun, Article, and Determiner Usage 629 Subject-Verb Agreement 529 Preposition and Phrasal Verb Choice 510 Tense and Time Sequence 429 Pronoun Agreement and Case 415 Adjective and Adverb Form 372 Idiom and Confusable Word Choice 367 Verb Complement and Mood 347 Sentence Structure and Modifier Placement 296 Conjunction and Connector Choice 228 Parallel Structure 220 Redundancy and Negation 148

Spotting Errors Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts (A), (B) and (C). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (D).

Rohit’s hobbies include (A)/ driving his new car, (B)/ dancing and to swim. (C)/ No error (D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this part of the sentence has the error. This sentence says that Rohit’s hobbies include three different activities and to make the sentence correct, all of these hobbies must have the same parallel structure. Thus, the correct sentence would be, “Rohit’s hobbies include driving his new car, dancing and swimming”.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts (A), (B) and (C). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (D).

The height of (A)/ Amit is more than (B)/ of Rahul. (C)/ No error (D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this part of the sentence has the error. Here, the comparison is illogical as the sentence is comparing the height of Amit with ‘of Rahul’. Here, to clarify the nature of comparison, ‘that’ needs to be inserted. The correct sentence would be, “The height of Amit is more than that of Rahul”.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts (A), (B) and (C). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (D).

I had been taking a bath (A)/ when someone knocked (B)/ at the door. (C)/ No error (D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this part of the sentence has the error. Here, an incorrect past perfect continuous tense (had been taking) has been used in place of past continuous tense (was taking). Past continuous tense is used to indicate uncompleted actions of the past, with or without time reference. The correct sentence would be, “I was taking bath when someone knocked at the door”.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence may have an error in it. Identify the part which contains an error. If there is no error, choose option (d) as your answer.

Neither the Chief Minister (a) / nor his colleagues (b) / has given any explanation for this. (c) / No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Error of subject-verb agreement. Coordinative conjunction 'neither nor' connects to the second subject. As here the second subject (i.e. the colleagues) is plural, so a plural auxilary verb (have) is required.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence may have an error in it. Identify the part which contains an error. If there is no error, choose option (d) as your answer.

The ship was wrecked (a) / and every man, woman and (b) / child were drowned. (c) / No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Error of subject-verb agreement. Words like 'each', 'every', 'somebody' etc take singular auxilary verb. So, 'were' should be replaced with 'was'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence may have an error in it. Identify the part which contains an error. If there is no error, choose option (d) as your answer.

Neither of (a)/ the combatants were (b)/ able to win a decisive victory. (c)/ No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Error of subject-verb agreement. Words 'neither', 'either' (if used without thier coordinative conjunctions) take singular auxialry verb. So, 'were' should be replaced with 'was'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a part of the sentence may have an error in it. Identify the part which contains an error. If there is no error, choose option (d) as your answer.

For we, who remember (a) / the India of pre-partition days, this novel (b) / will have a special appeal. (c) / No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Error of subject-object usage. Subjective form 'we' needs to be changed into objective form 'us'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is underlined in three separate parts and each one is labelled as (a), (b) and (c). Read the sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part. The part containing the error is the answer. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark (d) as your answer.

The President, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee (a)/ is much sought after by school students and (b)/ is invited for many functions. (c)/ No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option 3 is incorrect as 'for' should be replaced by 'to'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is underlined in three separate parts and each one is labelled as (a), (b) and (c). Read the sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part. The part containing the error is the answer. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark (d) as your answer.

As he is a perfectionist (a)/ so he always insists (b)/ on regular practice. (c)/ No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option 2 is incorrect. Delete 'so'; it is superfluous.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is underlined in three separate parts and each one is labelled as (a), (b) and (c). Read the sentence to find out whether there is an error in any underlined part. The part containing the error is the answer. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark (d) as your answer.

Some discussion is going on (a)/ among the (b)/ two groups of the society. (c)/ No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option 2 is incorrect as among should not be used. Among is used for comparing many things, while between is used for comparing two things.