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: In the following question, a sentence has been divided into three parts labelled (A), (B) and (C). Select the part having an error. If there is no error, then mark (D) as your answer.

The perfume (A)/ you gifted to her (B)/ smells nicely. (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 an error. Here, ‘smells’ is a sense verb which describes someone’s sensation or feeling or perception. Sense verbs require adjectives, not adverb modifiers. Thus, the correct sentence would replace ‘nicely’ (adverb) with the adjective (nice).

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) Some of the guests might be important (2) to his future in politics (3) but he was dressed to impress. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

The conjunction ‘and’ is used to indicate an additional thing, situation or fact. It links words and phrases.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) He said he is starting a new party, (2) unless the present party did not reflect (3) the views and aspirations of the cadres. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

Option (2) is incorrect because the conjunction ‘unless’ is used to indicate a condition. In this context, the correct subordinating conjunction should be a word that indicates the cause and effect relationship between the clauses. ‘Because’ or ‘since’ will be correct in this context.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) Despite India trying its best to prevent Chinese submarines (2) from stopping in Sri Lanka, (3) another Chinese attack submarine is docking in Colombo. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

Option (3) is incorrect as ‘stopping’ is in the present participle. The corresponding verb in a sentence cannot end in present participle and should end in past participle. 

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) Government is permitting transfer of private land (2) to industrial, tourism or hydel purposes (3) within a very short period. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

Option (2) is incorrect. The preposition ‘for’ is used to indicate an intention of benefitting someone or something aimed at somebody. 

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) The story added to a growing debate (2) over whether the Government (3) was failing in their most basic duties. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

The pronoun ‘their’ is used for plural possessive pronouns. The correct pronoun in this context is ‘its’.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) As you miss home or car loan installment, (2) not only are you slapped with a penalty, (3) but your credit score also suffers. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

 ‘If’ is the condition of failing to pay the installment.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) When she was youngest, (2) my baby sister was incredibly innocent (3) and fell for all my tricks. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

The correct comparative degree in this context is ‘younger’ as the superlative degree is youngest.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been broken into three parts (1), (2) and (3). If there is any grammatical error in any of these parts, that is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (4).

(1) It is normal for your memory to deteriorate as you get older, (2) but there are some factors (3) who can accelerate this deterioration considerably. (4) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

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

Option (3) is incorrect due to incorrect pronoun usage in this segment. The relative pronoun ‘who’ is used for individuals. In this context, the noun ‘factors’ does not refer to humans.  The correct relative pronoun is represented by ‘that'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is divided into four parts (A, B, C and D). One word in each part is in bold letters, which is either mis-spelt or incorrectly used. Choose the option which has the error. If there is no error, choose E.

Being civilised means (A)/ making and liking beautiful things, (B)/ thinking freely and maintaning justice (C)/ equally between man and man (D). No error (E)

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

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

Correct; the spellings are incorrect. The correct spellings should be 'maintaining'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is divided into four parts (A, B, C and D). One word in each part is in bold letters, which is either mis-spelt or incorrectly used. Choose the option which has the error. If there is no error, choose E.

If the machines do not get their meals(A)/ when they except them, (B)/ they grow sulky (C)/ and spread ruin and destruction all around them (D). No error (E)

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

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

The word 'except' is incorrect in this context. It should be 'expect'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is divided into four parts (A, B, C and D). One word in each part is in bold letters, which is either mis-spelt or incorrectly used. Choose the option which has the error. If there is no error, choose E.

Many people, unfortunately (A)/ seem to think that the Government (B)/ can always pay out money (C)/ quiet easily and in any quantity (D). No error (E).

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

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

'Quiet' means 'making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound' which is incorrect in this context. The correct word would be 'quite' which means 'enough'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given sentence is divided into four parts (A, B, C and D). One word in each part is in bold letters, which is either mis-spelt or incorrectly used. Choose the option which has the error. If there is no error, choose E.

If cricket is menaced (A)/ with creeping paralyses (B)/ it is because it is losing (C)/ the spirit of joyous adventure (D). No error (E).

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

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

It is correct. Here, we need to use the singular form, i.e. paralysis. 'Paralyses' is the plural form.