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 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.

In the present age we see parallels (A) in the manufacture of such needless, and often harmful, things like (B) trinkets and gewgaws, (C) cars and cameras, televisions, jets, and computers, which only waste resources and (D) spew forth pollution. (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

Replace 'and' by comma splice to correct the error of parallel structure. 'Trinkets and gewgaw' convey the same idea, but cars and cameras don't. Other articles are all joined by comma splice.

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.

The (A) pastime is so positively agreeable (B) that it lets time (C) slip by unnoticed and (D) turns working time also into pastime. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

The sentence is correct as given.

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) Blind faith in science (B) is a privilege given only to a human being, but unfortunately (C) they will perish in the near future (D) because of scientific progress. (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

Replace 'they will' with 'he will' to correct the error of pronoun agreement. Singular noun 'a human being' should be followed by singular pronoun 'he'.

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.

The traditional religions teach us not to become (A) attached to material things, and as (B) proof to that they (C) tell us to make offerings and show the extent of (D) your belief. (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

The sentence bears error of shift of pronoun. Possessive form of pronoun 'us' is 'our' not 'your'. Replace 'your' with 'our' to correct the error of shifting pronoun.

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 the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Edison was tireless in his persistence to change a subject into something else through trial and error unless he found the idea that worked.

  1. a subject into something else through trial and error unless he found the idea that worked.

  2. a subject into something else through trial and error unless he found the idea that work.

  3. a subject into something else through trial and error until he found the idea that worked.

  4. a subject from something else through trial and error unless he found the idea that worked.

  5. a subject into something through trial and error unless he found the idea that worked.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears the error of conjunction. Use of 'unless' is incorrect in this sentence. 'Unless' is a conjunction of condition while the sentence implies 'till the time when'.

Explanation for (2): This option does not rectify the error of conjunction and makes unnecessary change in tense ('worked' is changed to ''work').

Explanation for (3): The sentence bears the error of conjunction. Use of 'unless' is incorrect in this sentence. 'Unless' is a conjunction of condition while the sentence implies 'till the time when'. This option corrects the error.
Explanation for (4): This option does not rectify the error of conjunction and introduces another error by replacing ''into' with 'from'. Explanation for (5): This option does not rectify the error of conjunction and it also introduces another error (deletes 'else').

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

Safety amid the physical ills (A) that beset mankind, and safety amid (B) the moral pitfalls that surround so many young people, (C) is the great crying demand (D) of the age. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

The sentence is correct as given.

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

Nothing (A) survives of the original buildings, La Oriole and the smaller St Martin's Hall in the south-east; (B) both of them were demolished (C) before the quadrangle was built in the (D) artisan mannerist style during the 17th century. (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

The sentence bears error of redundancy.  Use of 'of them' is superfluous; delete it to rectify the sentence.

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

The police inspector (A) who the local leader praised so (B) highly in the last function (C) has been arrested (D) on charges of bribery. (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 sentence bears error of relative pronoun. Police inspector in this sentence is object and the relative pronoun to refer to it is 'whom'. Change 'who' to 'whom' to rectify the sentence.

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) Part of Manchester's inner ring road - the stretch (B) where railroad tracks cross Rowsonville Square - (C) is to be closed for the entire weekend (D) for essential repair. (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

The correct usage is 'repairs', not 'repair', as the sentence is about repairs in general sense.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognise 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) Mathematics, which is sometimes classified (B) within a third group of science called (C) formal science, has both (D) similarities as well as differences with the natural and social sciences. (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

Replace ‘as well as’ with ‘and’. ‘Both’ and ‘as well as’ cannot be used together and ‘both’ is followed by ‘and’.

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

(A) The researches in the past few years have thrown light (B) on many facts relating to the physiology of man and woman, and the (C) diseases to which they are subject, and consequently (D) many reforms have taken place in the treatment and prevention of diseases. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

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

Research is used in singular sense. So the correct usage is “research has”. So it should be followed by singular verb 'has'.

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

The home team (A) controlled the ball (B) for a majority of the game, yet it couldn't succeed in (C) getting the ball into the opposite team's net (D) often enough. (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

Replace 'majority of the game' by 'much of the game'. Game is about duration of time and majority refers to numbers, not duration.

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 answer follow the requirements of standard written English.

The Ostrich, a flightless bird (A) possessing fully developed wings (B) as well as legs, (C) but unable to fly because of its weight, (D) is the largest bird in the avian family. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

The sentence is correct as given.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognise 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.

One of the first steps (A) educationists can take to (B) address the overall development of their students (C) is to build an environment (D) conducive for learning. (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

There is an error of preposition in this part. Replace ‘for learning’ with ‘to learning’.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognise 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.

Each of (A) the five constraints, social, cultural, aesthetic, artistic (B) and moral are important to define (C) the constituents of dance; (D) dance disciplines also exist in sports such as gymnastics, figure skating, and synchronized swimming. (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

The sentence has error of subject-verb agreement. Subject ‘each’ is singular and should be followed by singular auxiliary verb ‘is’.