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 tests your ability to recognise grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. The sentence does not contain more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains an error, select any one from the underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select option (E). In choosing your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) She is noble or (B) even nobler (C) as he; that's why she so (D) richly deserves respect. (E) No error.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

The correct usage is 'she is as noble' (because of comparison with ‘he’).

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into four parts. One of the parts may have an error of grammar or syntax. Select the part having the error. If there is no error, select option (5).

  1. The Durbar hall of 19th century Jai Vilas Palace,

  2. residence of the Scindia family has a

  3. pair of chandeliers reputed

  4. to be the largest in the world.

  5. No error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When we point out a particular time period (19th century), we need to use definitive article 'the'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into five parts. One of the parts may have an error of grammar or syntax. Select the part having the error.

  1. Those familiar with the aura

  2. of the historic buildings

  3. cannot feel that the aggressive bulk of the

  4. ill-conceived modern edifice

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

Flow of the argument is that they 'feel'. Add 'but' after 'cannot', to mean 'they cannot avoid the feeling'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into four parts. One of the parts may have an error of grammar or syntax. Select the part having the error. If there is no error, select option (5).

  1. The religious conflicts of

  2. the 16th and the 17th centuries

  3. led to the growth of

  4. national religion in our period.

  5. No error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Definite article 'the' should be used only before 16th century because '16th and 17th centuries' is functioning as a single unit.

Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Since hard work in an organization always pays and no employee can be a perfectionist, to enjoy success thoroughly is to commit errors and to learn from them

  1. to enjoy success thoroughly is to commit errors and to learn from them

  2. enjoying success thoroughly is committing errors and to learn from them

  3. to enjoy success thoroughly is committing errors and learning from them

  4. enjoying success thoroughly is to commit errors and to learn from them
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The comparable sentence parts (to enjoy…, to commit... and to learn…) are structurally similar. Hence the sentence is parallel.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, identify the underlined part that has a grammar or syntax error. If, there is no error in the sentence, mark (5).

The teenage years are a difficult period in everybody's life and a good stable friendship only helps get over the angst of growing up.

  1. are

  2. in everybody's life

  3. only helps

  4. angst of

  5. no error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The only is trying to refer to a good stable friendship. However, in order to do so, it has to be placed before the word it is referring to. 'Only a good stable friendship' will be the right construction.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, identify the underlined part that has a grammar or syntax error. If, there is no error in the sentence, mark (5).

The entire team, including the manager and his subordinates, are going on a weekend trip to Kerala.

  1. entire team

  2. the manager and his

  3. are going

  4. a weekend trip

  5. no error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The entire team is a singular subject. Therefore, the verb should also be singular. The sentence should read ' is going' , not 'are going'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, identify the underlined part that has a grammar or syntax error. If, there is no error in the sentence, mark (5). J.K. Rowling, who's Harry Potter series captivated children and adults alike, is considered the pioneer in modern day fantasy fiction, the most popular genre today.

  1. who's

  2. alike

  3. is considered the

  4. the most

  5. no error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct pronoun is whose and not who's. who's stands for who is and not for possession.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, identify the underlined part that has a grammar or syntax error. If, there is no error in the sentence, mark (5). Reading skills are vital for all professionals and it needs to be inculcated at a young age.

  1. are vital

  2. all professionals

  3. it needs

  4. at a

  5. no error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Reading skills is plural. Therefore, it needs would be incorrect. The correct construction would be the skills need. It would be incorrect to use they need as well because then there would be ambiguity in the sentence; they could refer to the skills or to the professionals.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, identify the underlined part that has a grammar or syntax error. If, there is no error in the sentence, mark (5).

The works of Christina Rossetti, a Victorian poetess, are unlike the poets of that era.

  1. works

  2. a Victorian

  3. are

  4. the poets

  5. no error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence seems to be comparing the works of one poetess to other poets. This is incorrect. The sentence should have read unlike the works of the poets.