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. 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 your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English..

(A) Neither of my three brothers (B) was ready (C) to send me (D) to a boarding for further studies. (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

'None' is used for more than two persons whereas neither is used only for two persons.

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. 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 your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

She is confident (A) to speak the truth (B) even in (C) the presence of the judge and (D) the culprit. (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

With the word 'confident' we use the verb in the gerund form 'of speaking'.

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. 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 your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

It was (A) very difficult for him to (B) choose (C) an university after his high secondary (D) was over. (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

The words starting with 'u' and 'eu' and giving the sound of 'u' are preceded by the article 'a' and not 'an'.

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. 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 your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) Every student (B) are to be given financial aid (C) by the university authorities to help him/her obtain (D) higher education. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

Indefinite pronouns like each, every, etc. are used in the singular form. So singular verb 'is' should be used.

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. 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 your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) One of the (B) decision (C) made by the committee (D) is still to be implemented. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

The expression “one of the' is always followed by a plural noun. Hence, 'decisions' should be used instead of 'decision'.

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. 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 your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) In case she (B) will do her work (C) in time, she (D) will be able to go for the movie. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

With conditional words like incase, when, etc. we do not use words like “will and shall”. We use 'does'.

Multiple choice

His work of art rank high in the appraisal for competent critics

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. Are high in the appraisal for

  2. Are ranking high with the appraisal of

  3. Rank high in the appraisal of

  4. Rank high by the appraisal of

  5. No correction required

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

The correct preposition to use with 'appraisal' in this context is 'of'. Therefore, 'rank high in the appraisal of' is the grammatically correct phrase.

Multiple choice

Blessed with much intelligence, he saw very few meaning in religious rites that are performed as mere rituals.

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. Observes very few meaning

  2. Saw quite a few meanings

  3. Looked for very few meanings

  4. Saw little meaning

  5. No correction required

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

The original phrase 'saw very few meaning' is grammatically incorrect because 'meaning' should be pluralized or used as an uncountable noun. 'Saw little meaning' is the most idiomatic and grammatically correct replacement.

Multiple choice

Systematic and carefully analyses of spoken languages must be done by scholars.

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. Systematic and careful

  2. Systematically and careful

  3. Systematically and carefully

  4. System of carefully

  5. No correction required

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

The phrase requires adjectives to modify the noun 'analyses'. 'Systematic' and 'careful' are both adjectives, whereas 'carefully' is an adverb.

Multiple choice

As years rolled by, his name and fame spread all through the country.

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. When years rolled by

  2. When years rolled through

  3. As years rolled upon

  4. After years rolled by

  5. No correction required

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

The phrase 'As years rolled by' is a standard English idiom used to describe the passage of time. No correction is necessary.

Multiple choice

Many problems that India faces today are wrought with the potential for destroying her very integrity as a nation

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. Has faced every day are wrought with

  2. Faces today are wrought by

  3. Faced these days have wrought with

  4. faces today have wrought with

  5. No correction required

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

The phrase 'wrought with' is a common idiom meaning filled with or characterized by. The sentence is grammatically correct as written.

Multiple choice

Many public servants can become untrustworthy and corruption.

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. Untrustful and corruption

  2. Untrusting and corruption

  3. Untrusting and corruptive

  4. Untrustworthy and corrupt

  5. No correction required

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

The sentence requires adjectives to describe the public servants. 'Untrustworthy' is an adjective, but 'corruption' is a noun; therefore, 'corrupt' (the adjective form) is needed to maintain parallel structure.

Multiple choice

Mere being equipped by moral programming does not mean we practice moral behaviour

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with a part of it printed in bold type. That part may contain grammatical error. This sentence is followed by phrases. Find out which phrase should replace the phrase given in bold to correct the error if there is any, and to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct if the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.

  1. Mere being equipped with

  2. Merely being equipped with

  3. Mere equipping by

  4. Merely being equipped for

  5. No correction required

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

The adverb 'Merely' is required to modify the participle 'being equipped'. 'Mere' is an adjective and cannot modify the phrase correctly.