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: Some parts of the following sentence have errors while others are error free. Choose the segment with errors and if the sentence is error free, then choose the fifth option.

I will have been studying grammar for two years by the end of this semester.

  1. I will have been

  2. studying grammar for

  3. two years by the end

  4. of this semester

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

This is the correct choice because this sentence is grammatically correct. And has no error.

Multiple choice

Directions: Some parts of the following sentence have errors while others are error free. Choose the segment with errors and if the sentence is error free, then choose the fifth option.

She works on two jobs to make ends meet; at least, that was her reason for not having time for joining us.

  1. She works on two jobs to make ends meet.

  2. at least

  3. that was her reason for not

  4. having time for joining us

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

This segment has error. There is subject verb disagreement in this segment. The correct segment should be ‘having time to join us’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Some parts of the following sentence have errors while others are error free. Choose the segment with errors and if the sentence is error free, then choose the fifth option.

A bouquet of yellow roses lend colour and fragrance to the room.

  1. A bouquet

  2. of yellow roses

  3. lend colour and fragrance

  4. to the room

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

This segment is incorrect because there is subject verb disagreement. It should be ‘lends colour and fragrance’. The subject is singular i.e. a bouquet is singular and therefore the verb should be singular too i.e. lends.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts and labelled (a), (b) and (c). Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as (d).

(a) The characters in Shakespeare’s (b) Merchant of Venice elevates this (c) play to a new level. (d) No error

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

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

(2) elevate. The subject and verb must agree. Ignore the words in between because they do not affect the agreement.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts and labelled (a), (b) and (c). Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as (d).

(a) The consensus between canvassers (b) is that the Congressmen (c) are going to win maximum seats. (d) No error

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

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

(1) The consensus among....Between applies to reciprocal arrangements (one member to another member), and among applies to collective arrangements (with all members involved).

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts and labelled (a), (b) and (c). Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as (d).

(a) Sunil has been (b) lived in Delhi for (c) twenty years. (d) No error

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

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

(2) has been living…. We use the present perfect continuous to show that something had started in the past and has continued up until now and its format is has/have + been + present participle form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts and labelled (a), (b) and (c). Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as (d).

(a) Athletics are mostly an (b) individual sport, with the (c) exception of relay races. (d) No error

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

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

(1). “Athletics is…...” Athletics is a singular noun and a singular form of verb is used with it.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence has been split into three parts and labelled (a), (b) and (c). Find out which part of the sentence has an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as (d).

(a) The doctors would have called (b) by now if they would have (c) finished the operation. (d) No error

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

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

(2) “If they had…” This is a third conditional sentence and its format is would/wouldn't have + V3 + if + past perfect. In if clause we cannot use would have. We need to use past perfect form.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. 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 answers follow the requirements of standard written English.

He (A) hit the ball (B) which (C) glanced over the goal post (D) into the net. (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

This part bears the error of incorrect phrase. Change 'glanced over' to 'glance off' to correct phrasal verb error. 'Glanced off' means 'to hit something at an angle and bounce off in another direction'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. 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 answers follow the requirements of standard written English.

He became a fisherman and (A) took to (B) the life (C) like a (D) duck in water. (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

Use of 'duck in water' is incorrect. The correct idiom is 'duck to water' which means 'high affinity with something'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. 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 answers follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) You will repent for (B) your imprudence (C) someday when (D) it is too late. (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

There is error in the use of preposition. Use 'repent of' in place of 'repent for' to rectify it.