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: Find out which part of the given sentence has an error of grammar usage. If the sentence has no error, mark your answer as (D).

No one coming (A)/ to the meeting were (B)/ allowed to carry firearms. (C)/ No error (D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

This part of the sentence has the error. Here, the pronoun (No one) used is a singular pronoun and thus, its verb should also be singular (was) and not plural (were).

Multiple choice

Directions: Find out which part of the given sentence has an error of grammar usage. If the sentence has no error, mark your answer as (D).

He was a real brave (A)/ soldier who fought many (B)/ battles against the enemy. (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 part of the sentence has the error. Here, an adjective (real) is modifying an adjective (brave) whereas only an adverb (really) can modify an adjective. Thus, ‘real’ should be changed to ‘really’.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

As the discussion progressed, the defenders of the new policy spoke more and more excited.

  1. As the discussion progressed, the defenders of the new policy spoke more and more excited.

  2. As the discussion progressed, the defenders of the new policy got more and more excited.

  3. As the discussion progressed the defenders of the new policy grew more and more excitedly.

  4. As the discussion kept moving further, the defenders of the new policy were beginning to speak more and more excitedly.

  5. As the discussion progressed, the defenders of the new policy spoke more and more excitedly.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In (A) the adjective 'excited' is modifying the verb 'spoke' and we need an adverb to modify it so, it is wrong. C is wrong as it uses an adverb 'excitedly' to modify the noun 'defenders'. D and E are too verbose. Hence, the correct option is (B) here the adjective 'excited' modifies the noun 'defenders'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

The drugs prescribed by the doctor failed to have any affect even after 15 days of his operation.

  1. to have any affect even after

  2. to show any affect even after

  3. to be affective even after

  4. to have any effect even after.

  5. to have any effects even after

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Incorrect word usage has been done in A, B and C. 'Effect' is a noun and 'Affect' is a verb. Here the result is shown so noun form will be used. (E) makes use of plural form of 'effect' which is wrong on account of adjective 'any' used before it meaning 'one'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

To improve in the reading comprehension section, one must read newspaper daily, revise the reading strategies, and you should regularly solve all the exercises given in the SAT book.

  1. and you should regularly

  2. solving regularly

  3. regularly solving

  4. and you should regularly solve

  5. and solve regularly

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is a mistake of parallelism all the actions should be in the same grammatical format and option E best does that. B and C make the sentence nonsensical. A and B lack parallelism.

Multiple choice
Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.
Neither of the child's parents is supportive or interested in sending the child abroad for further studies.

  1. is supportive or interested in

  2. is supportive at or interested in

  3. is supportive of or interested in

  4. support or are interested in

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

With the singular subject “neither”, the verb or verbs must be singular. Option 1 omits the necessary preposition “of” hence, making the sentence incomplete.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

The women working in the large organizations have formally protested, their being overlooked for promotion.

  1. their being overlooked for promotion

  2. overlooking themselves for promotion.

  3. their over looking for promotion.

  4. themselves overlooking for promotion.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is A, as correct phrasing has been done. The possessive (their) before the gerund (being overlooked).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

The coast guard presently is on a mission of searching the wreckage of an unidentified craft.

  1. Presently, the coast guard is on a mission for searching the wreckage of an unidentified craft.

  2. The coast guard is on a mission presently to search the wreckage for an unidentified craft.

  3. Searching the wreckage for an unidentified craft is the present mission of the coast guard.

  4. Presently, the coast guard is on a mission to search the wreckage of an unidentified craft.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option (B) and (C) change the entire meaning of the sentence. Options (A) and (E) are wrongly phrased. Hence option (d) is the correct one.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

The thyroid gland collects Iodine from the blood, produces thyroxin, an important hormone which stores it an in active form.

  1. Blood, produces thyroxin which is an important hormone which stores in an inactive form.

  2. Blood to produce thyroxin an important hormone which it stores in an inactive form.

  3. Blood, to manufacture thyroxin, an important hormone to store in an inactive form.

  4. Blood, to store an inactive hormone called thyroxin which is important.

  5. Blood, produces thyroxin which is in store in an inactive form.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Options (C) and (D) are totally incorrect for wrong word substitution, (E) does not specify where thyroxin stored is and (A) is just a repetition of the original incorrect sentence. Hence (B) is the answer.

Multiple choice
Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.
She has been easily taken advantage of several times because of her being of a naively nature.

  1. because of her being of a naively nature.

  2. because of her naïve nature.

  3. because she is being naively.

  4. because of her naively nature.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A, C and D make use of an adverb 'naively' to modify the noun 'nature' which is wrong. E makes use of incorrect transition word 'although' which completely alters the meaning conveyed. B option makes use of an adjective naïve to modify the noun nature. Hence, B is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

The organization known as the United Nations was made up of more than 150 member countries, were established after World War II to preserve international peace.

  1. United Nations is the organization made up of more than 150 member countries which were established after World War II to preserve international peace

  2. The organization known as United Nations which was established after World War II to preserve international peace had more than 150 member countries.

  3. The organization established after World War II, had more than 150 member countries to preserve international peace was the Untied Nations.

  4. Made up of more than 150 members countries, the organization known as the United Nations was established after World War II to preserve international peace and security.

  5. United Nations, the organization was established after World War II to preserve international peace had more than 150 members.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Options (A) and (B) have wrong verb usage, as with 'UN' 'was' is to be used and not were since it's a singular noun. Option (C) and (E) have an incorrect subject placement. Hence (D) is the correct option.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

When people visit a new place, they may make a local museum their first stop because they provide a quick and entertaining introduction to the area.

  1. because they provide

  2. because it providing

  3. they because it provides

  4. because it provides

  5. provide they because
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A does not shows agreement between subject and verb. B is completely making the sentence nonsensical. C and E are not phrased correctly. D is the best option as it maintains best the subject- verb agreement

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

The reason for the sudden explosion in the aircraft, till today, had not been discovered.

  1. Aircraft, till today, had not been yet discovered.

  2. Aircraft is till today not yet discovered.

  3. Aircraft had not been discovered, till today.

  4. Aircraft, till today, has not been discovered.

  5. Aircraft has not been discovered till today.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence has two mistakes one is use of 'had' which is to be replaced by 'has' as the tense isin present continuous and 'had' is used in past tense. The second mistake is in the phrasing of the sentence. Both mistakes are rectified only in option (E), hence its the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

Cervantes used Don Quixote and sancho to illustrate the conflict among the idealist and the realist.

  1. to illustrate the conflict among the idealist and the realist

  2. in illustrating the conflict between the idealist and the realist.

  3. to illustrate the conflict between the idealist and the realist.

  4. to illustrate the conflict amongst the idealist and the realist

  5. to give an elaborate view of the conflict between the idealist and realist.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 A, D are wrong as they use incorrect prepositions 'among' and 'amongst' respectively.  B alters the original meaning conveyed by the sentence and E is too verbose. C options makes use of a correct preposition 'between', which is used to refer to two things