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 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.

Although religion does not inhabit (A)/ the acquisition of wealth (B)/ the tenor of its teaching is to induce (C)/ an attitude of indifference to worldly things (D). No error (E).

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

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

The word 'inhabit' (to live or dwell in) is used out of context. It should be, 'inhibit' (to prohibit; forbid) .

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence is divided into four parts and one of theses has an error. Choose the part which has an error. If there is no error, choose E.

If a safe, effective, preventive AIDS vaccine is found (A)/ everyone stands to profit (B)/ those who have invested in it (C)/ and those who created it (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

Correct; the error of parallelism of tense makes it incorrect. The preceding clause uses present perfect tense, so the following clause should also use present perfect tense, viz., 'those who have created it'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence is divided into four parts and one of theses has an error. Choose the part which has an error. If there is no error, choose E.

The father asked (A)/ his son how was he (B)/ getting on (C)/ with his studies (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

Correct; when the question is reported in indirect speech, it should change into a simple sentence, i.e., the subject 'he' should come in front of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

It makes out that (1) both sides have greater good of the nation in mind but (2) merely disagree to (3) the means to achieve (4) it. No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Change ‘to’ to ‘about/on/over’. You can disagree about something with someone.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

Every teacher and every student have their (1) own views (2) about (3) deteriorating relationship between (4) teachers and students. No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Change ‘have their’ to ‘has his’. When two singular nouns are joined by ‘and’ and are preceded by ‘each’ or ‘every’, the verb or pronoun must be singular.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

One should, therefore, (1) be careful not to (2) make himself (3) obnoxious to (4) others. No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

‘Oneself’ is the correct usage because ‘one’ is always followed by ‘one’ or ‘oneself’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

On seeing (1) a policeman the culprit started running (2) away (3) and the policeman ran for him (4). No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Change ‘ran for’ to ‘ran after’ to correct the error. ‘Ran after’ means to try to catch somebody.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

The need to bridge (1) the gap (2) in perception (3) and reality (4) is essential in order to secure a better future. No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Change ‘in’ to ‘between’ as we have to bridge the gap between ‘perception’ and ‘reality’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

He said that (1) if he had (2) the information booklet he would know (3) what to do (4). No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Delete ‘that’ to correct the error. 'That' is redundant.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

Without hardly (1) any delay, (2) the government machinery (3) began to provide succor (4) to quake victims. No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Use either ‘without’ or ‘hardly’ because both ‘without’ and ‘hardly’ have negative meanings.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

From the balcony (1) at the airport you can see the planes (2) taking off (3) and land (4) No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

‘Taking off and landing’ corrects the error of parallel structure of gerund.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any)

He urgently (1) asked the retailer to give him (2) a half kilo sugar (3) and a bottle of cola (4). No error (5)

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

‘Half a kilo sugar’ is the correct usage in place of ‘a half kilo sugar’.