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 recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E). In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of the standard written English.

The obstacles (A) to which Gandhiji (B) had to surmount were (C) mostly (D) on moral and spiritual grounds. (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

(A) - delete 'to' after 'obstacle'; unnecessary use of preposition.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E). In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of the standard written English.

(A) When the classroom environment (B) is conducive (C) with the teaching goals, (D) then the learning is optimum. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

(C) 'with' should be replaced by 'to'; incorrect preposition usage.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E). In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of the standard written English.

(A) I am given (B) to understand that you (C) all are already (D) well acquaint with the rules governing us. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

(D) 'acquaint' should be replaced by the adjective form 'acquainted'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E). In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of the standard written English.

The leader of our union (A) pleaded his case (B) very strongly but the (C) judge found him guilty (D) for murder. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

(D) 'for' should be replaced by 'of; incorrect preposition usage.

Multiple choice

Find error in underlined parts (a), (b) or (c) and mark the answer accordingly. If you feel that there is no error in a sentence, then mark (d) which signifies no error.

(a) If it were not (b) for you, (c) I would not be alive today. (d) No error

  1. a

  2. b

  3. c

  4. d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is a standard second/third conditional construction in past subjunctive mood using were, which is grammatically correct. There are no errors in parts a, b, or c.

Multiple choice

Find error in underlined parts (a), (b) or (c) and mark the answer accordingly. If you feel that there is no error in a sentence, then mark (d) which signifies no error.

(a) He looked like a lion (b) baulked from (c) its prey. (d) No error

  1. a

  2. b

  3. c

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

The error lies in the prepositional phrase 'baulked from'. The correct idiomatic expression is 'baulked of', which means to be hindered or deprived of something expected or desired.

Multiple choice

Find error in underlined parts (a), (b) or (c) and mark the answer accordingly. If you feel that there is no error in a sentence, then mark (d) which signifies no error..

(a) She regards (b) negotiating prices with customers (c) as her special preserve. (d) No error

  1. a

  2. b

  3. c

  4. d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is grammatically correct. 'Regard as' is the appropriate phrasal verb, and 'special preserve' correctly refers to a particular area of activity or interest.

Multiple choice

Find error in underlined parts (a), (b) or (c) and mark the answer accordingly. If you feel that there is no error in a sentence, then mark (d) which signifies no error.

(a) Widespread flooding (b) is effecting (c) large areas of the villages.(d) No error

  1. a

  2. b

  3. c

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

Correct Answer: b Correct phrase should be 'is affecting'. It means the flooding is producing some change in the areas. Effect means result and does not fit.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, a sentence is divided into three parts (A), (B) and (C). One of these parts may have an error. Mark that part as your answer. If the sentence is correct as given, mark your answer as (D).

In search of food(A)/ the dog left(B)/ the village.(C)/ No error(D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

The sentence 'In search of food, the dog left the village' is grammatically correct. There are no errors in the phrasing.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, a sentence is divided into three parts (A), (B) and (C). One of these parts may have an error. Mark that part as your answer. If the sentence is correct as given, mark your answer as (D).

Did you see (A)/ some elephant (B)/ in the forest? (C) No error (D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

It is incorrect. Instead of 'some', 'any' should be used. 'Any' is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, a sentence is divided into three parts (A), (B) and (C). One of these parts may have an error. Mark that part as your answer. If the sentence is correct as given, mark your answer as (D).

He came soon(A)/ after you(B)/ ring him up.(C)/ No error(D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

Instead of “ring”, “rang” should be used. A past tense in the main clause of a sentence having two or more clauses must be followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, a sentence is divided into three parts (A), (B) and (C). One of these parts may have an error. Mark that part as your answer. If the sentence has no error mark (D) as your answer.

In the search for food (A)/ the dog left (B)/ the village. (C)/ No error (D)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

“Search for” does not fit in this context, and “in the search of” is an appropriate phrase that fits in this context.