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 underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

I do not remember the date on that we had a meeting with the district magistrate on the issue of adulteration.

  1. on that we had a meeting with the district magistrate on the adulteration issue

  2. on that we had a meeting with the district magistrate on a issue of adulteration

  3. on which we had a meeting with the district magistrate on the issue of adulteration

  4. on which we had a meeting with the district magistrate on a issue of adulteration

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'which' rectifies the error of the use of 'that'. If there is preposition before relative pronoun, the relative pronoun should be 'which', not 'that'. Here, after the preposition 'on', the relative pronoun 'which' is used.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

With the coming of Christianity women took on a new part, that of the temptress; and at same time she was also found capable of being a saint.

  1. that of the temptress; and at the same time she was also found capable of being a saint

  2. that of the temptress; but at same time she was found capable of being a saint also

  3. that of the temptress; and at the same time she was found capable of being a saint

  4. that of the temptress; but at the same time she was also found capable of being a saint

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'but' rectifies the error of using 'and'. To reflect contrast, 'but' is used. There is a contrast between 'temptress' and 'saint'. The use of 'the' before 'same time' rectifies the error of its omission. Article 'the' is used before a definite noun. 'same time' used for the time of 'coming of Christianity' which is referred earlier in the sentence. Thus, 'same time' is definite.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

The interaction between the two powers, India and China, will not only affect deeply their own future trajectories but also stability and prosperity of the entire region.

  1. The interaction between the two powers, India and China, will not only affect their own future trajectories deeply

  2. The interaction between the two powers, india and China, not affect not only their own future trajectories deeply

  3. The interaction between the two powers, india and China, deeply affect not only their own future trajectories

  4. The interactions between the two powers, india and China, deeply affect not only their own future trajectories

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'deeply' and 'not only' rectifies the error of their misplacement. Adverb 'deeply' and 'not only' should be placed before the word for which they are used. In the original sentence adverb 'deeply' is used for verb 'affect' and adverb 'not only' is used for 'own future trajectories'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

There were few people who could make the work of computer faster or differently and they were called hackers.

  1. There were few people who could make the computer work faster or differently

  2. There were a few people who could make the computer work faster or differently

  3. There were the few people who could make the computer work faster or differently

  4. There were a few people who could make the work of computer faster or differently

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

Here, 'a few' rectifies the error of using 'few'. few' has a negative meaning. 'Few' means 'hardly any'. So it does not fit in framework of the meaning of original sentence. 'A few' means 'some'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

Oral inspection may not yield conclusive diagnosis of deadly diseases, but however in a country like India, where blood test may not be possible on a large population, it serves an efficient screening process.

  1. but in a country like India, where blood test may not be possible on a large population, it serves as an efficient screening process

  2. but in a country like India, where test of large population blood may not be possible, it serves as an efficient screening process

  3. however in a country like India, where blood test may not be possible on a large population, it serves an efficient screening process

  4. however in a country like India, where test of large population blood may not be possible, it serves as an efficient screening process

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

Here, omission of 'however' rectifies the error of using 'however' and 'but' together. Either 'but' or 'however' is used in a sentence. 'As' rectifies the error of its omission. In the original sentence 'oral inspection' is compared to 'screening process'.  to show the comparision 'as' is used.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

If there is a fundamental distinction between man and beast, it is the former's progressive recognization of the law and its application in practice to his personal life.

  1. it is the former's progressive recognization of the law and its application in practical to his personal life

  2. it is the former's progressive recognition of the law and its application in practice to his personal life

  3. it is the former's progressive recognition of the law and its application in practical to his personal life

  4. it is the former's progressive recognizance of the law and its application in practice to his personal life

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

Here, 'recognition' rectifies the error of using 'recognization'. The noun 'recognition' means 'acknowledgement' and this meaning fits in the framework of the meaning of original sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

Time does not destroy the great thoughts contained in the books which are as fresh today as when they passed through their first author's mind.

  1. which are such fresh today as when they passed through their first author's mind

  2. which are such fresh today as when they passed first through their author's mind

  3. which are as fresh today as when they passed first through their author's mind

  4. which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's mind

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, Position of adverb 'first' rectifies the error of its misplacement. Some adverbs as 'first' are used before the word for which they are used. Here, adverb 'first' is used for the verb 'passed'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

The only effect of time has been to throw out of the bad products currency among books.

  1. to throw out of the bad products among currency books

  2. to throw out of the bad products among books currency

  3. to throw out of currency the bad products among books

  4. to throw out of books the bad currency products

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Here, change of position of 'currency' rectifies the error of its misplacement. 'Out of currency' means 'out of fashion'. This meaning fits in the framework of the meaning of original sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

In our schools we look unfortunately upon children as mere raw stuff on which we can impose our unjust views through our powerful wills.

  1. In our school we look upon children as mere raw stuff unfotunately on which

  2. In our school we look unfortunately upon children as mere raw stuff on which

  3. In our schools we look upon children unfortunately as mere raw stuff on whom

  4. Unfortunately in our schools we look upon children as mere raw stuff on which

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'unfortunately' rectifies the error of its misplacement. When an adverb qualifies the whole sentence, it is used in the beginning of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

we are involved in the mechanism of the modern world and so we should seek religious truth not with our emotions only but also with our minds.

  1. mechanism of the modern world and so we should seek religious truth not only with our emotions but also with our minds

  2. mechanics of the modern world and so we should seek religious truth not only with our emotions but also with our minds

  3. mechanics of the modern world and so we should seek religious truth not with only our emotions but also with our minds

  4. mechanism of the modern world and so we should seek religious truth not with only our emotions but also with our minds

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

Here, change of place of 'only' rectifies the errors of its misplacement. 'Only' is used before  the word or phrase for which it is used.Here, 'only' is used before the phrase 'with our emotions'. 

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

How we envy riches who do not have to work for their living but can do just what they please all the year round.

  1. How we envy riches that do not have to work for their living but can do just

  2. How we envy rich people that do not have to work for their living but can do just

  3. How we envy rich people who do not have to work for their living but can do just

  4. How we envy riches who does not have to work for their living but can do just

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'rich people' rectifies the error of using 'riches'. 'Riches' is not the plural of 'rich'. Its meaning is 'wealth. So it cannot be used here. In the original sentence 'rich people' are mentioned.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

I went to mohan's office who is my cousin brother and does the job in Delhi.

  1. I went to Mohan's office who is my cousin

  2. I went to the office of Mohan who is my cousin brother

  3. I went to the office of Mohan who is my cousin

  4. I went to mohan's office who my cousin is

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'the office of Mohan' rectifies the error of using 'Mohan's office'. Antecedent of a relative pronoun should be placed just before it. Here, 'Mohan', the antecedent of the relative pronoun 'who' is placed just before 'who'. Omision of 'brother' rectifies the error of using  it with 'cousin'. 'Cousin brother' is a slang use.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

It is for nothing which I am trying to make him understand not to do such silly things that may harm his future.

  1. which I am trying to make him understand not to do such silly things which may harm his future

  2. that I am trying to make him understand not to do such silly things that may harm his future

  3. which I am trying to make him understand not to do such silly things that may harm your future

  4. that I am trying to make him understand not to do such silly things which may harm your future

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

Here, 'that' rectifies the error of 'which'. In complex sentences, 'nothing' is followed by relative pronoun 'that', not by 'which'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

This is the lady about that I told you, when we were standing at the platform waiting for the friend who was coming from his village.

  1. This is the lady about that I told you, when we were standing at the platform waiting for a friend

  2. This is the lady about that I told you, while we were standing at the platform waiting for the friend

  3. This is the lady that I told you about, while we were standing at the platform waiting for the friend

  4. This is the lady that I told you about, when we were standing at the platform waiting for the friend

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, the use of 'about' after 'you' rectifies the error of its use before 'that'. When 'that' is used as a conjunction, no preposition is used before it. The preposition is used in the end of the sentence or clause.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part of the sentence below may have some errors. Five options are given below the sentence. Choose the option that improves the sentence. If the sentence has no error, choose option 5 as your answer.

He is the same man as supported me when I was in miserable condition.

  1. as supported me while I was in miserable condition

  2. that supported me while I was in miserable condition

  3. who supported me when I was in miserable condition

  4. that supported me when I was in miserable condition

  5. No improvement required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'that' rectifies the error of using 'as'.The relative pronoun 'that' is used with 'same' in that condition when verb comes after it(same)Here, verb 'supported' follows the word 'same'.