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: In the following sentence four words or phrases have been underlined. Only one underlined part is not acceptable in Standard Written English. Pick up the part (A) or (B) or (C) or (D). If there is no mistake, mark (E).

The Durbar hall of (A) 19th century (B) Jai Vilas Palace, (C) residence of the Scindia family has a pair of Chandeliers (D) reputed to be the largest in the world. (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) Article 'the' before 19th.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Your incessant meddling in my affairs, your obnoxious ridiculing of my suggestions and sudden departure prevented our conference from yielding significant results.

  1. and sudden departure prevented

  2. and your suddenness of departure prevented

  3. and your sudden departing prevented

  4. and your sudden departing caused the prevention of

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

In its first two phrases, the original sentence establishes a pattern of parallelism (“Your . . . meddling, your . . . ridiculing”). (A), (B) and (E) fail to continue the pattern. Both (C) and (D) do continue it (“Your . . . departing”), but (D) adds three unnecessary words, leaving (C) as the best version. Answer: (C)

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Should we be told that our recommendations pertinent to the kind of use made of our vehicles have been accepted, we will gladly cooperate with the ultimate plan.

  1. Should we be told that our recommendations pertinent to the kind of use made of our vehicles have been accepted, we will

  2. If we are told that recommendations about use of our vehicles has been accepted, we will

  3. Should we be told that our recommendations for the use of our vehicles have been accepted, we will

  4. Our being told of the acceptance of our recommendations pertinent to use made of our vehicles should cause us to
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(B), (D) and (E) all change the meaning of the original; B also use the singular verb “has” with the plural noun “recommendations”.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

The argument that the dominant form of family structure today is not the nuclear family, but rather it is a family which is modified and extended, is based on a number of facts: the existence of three-generational families, the amount of vertical and horizontal communication between family subunits, and the extent to which family members offer assistance to one another.

  1. family, but rather it is a family which is modified and extended, is based on a number of facts: the existence of three-generational families

  2. family, but is instead a family that is modified and extended, is based on a number of facts: three-generational families exist

  3. family, which has been modified and extended, is based on a number of facts: the existence of three-generational families

  4. family but a modified extended family is based on a number of facts: the existence of three-generational families

  5. family, but also a modified and extended family, is based on a number of facts: three-generational families exist
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(A) is eliminated as the pronoun 'it' does not indicate what is it used for? (B) is wordy and redundant. Similarly (C) is also eliminated. (E) is not complete, as 'but also' does not have a context like 'not only'.  (D) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Unlike transplants between identical twins, whose genetic endowment is the same, all patients receiving hearts or other organs must take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives.

  1. Unlike transplants between identical twins, whose genetic endowment is the same

  2. Besides transplants involving identical twins with the same genetic endowment

  3. Unless the transplant involves identical twins who have the same genetic endowment

  4. Aside from a transplant between identical twins with the same genetic endowment

  5. Other than transplants between identical twins, whose genetic endowment is the same
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Answer is (C). In (A) and (B) the phrases beginning 'unlike' and 'besides' modify patients, thus company transplants with patients, hence eliminated. (D) is incorrect as it suggests that only 'some' identical twins are genetically identical. (E) illogically suggests that some patients are transplants.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

The growing demand for housing, traffic congestion, and longer commuting trips has all but eliminated the cost advantage of owning a house in many suburban areas.

  1. The growing demand for housing, traffic congestion, and longer commuting trips has

  2. Traffic congestion, the growing demand for housing, and longer commuting trips has

  3. Longer commuting trips, traffic congestion, and the growing demand for housing has

  4. Traffic congestion, longer commuting trips, and the growing demand for housing have

  5. The growing demand for housing, as well as traffic congestion and longer commuting trips, have
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(D) is the answer. 'Originating, a participle, is paralleled with perpetuated, a participle. (D) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, is finding uses in medicine, archaeology, and criminology.

  1. Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a technique called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,

  2. Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, having the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it, a technique called proton induced x-ray emission

  3. A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced x-ray emission, which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it,

  4. A technique originally developed for detecting air pollutants, called proton-induced x-ray emission, which has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying it,

  5. A technique that was originally developed for detecting air pollutants and has the ability to analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance quickly and without destroying the substance, called proton-induced x-ray emission,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The original sentence is correct. The other options include modifier errors and change the meaning of the actual sentence, and change the inference of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

Formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.

  1. Formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.

  2. Because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses.

  3. Because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, new small businesses are not subject to the same applicability of formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity as established big businesses.

  4. Because new small businesses are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to them in the same way as to established big businesses.

  5. New small businesses are not subject to the applicability of formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity in the same way as established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

What are growing and are seldom in equilibrium? The formulas or the small businesses? (A), (B) and (E) are eliminated as they all relate the growth with the formula and not with small business. (C) is incorrect as 'they' has been used without any noun to justify the usage. Answer: (D)

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

There is no point in engaging in endless discussion with students as they have already stated that they are not going to come round to your point of view.

  1. in engaging in endless discussion with students as they have

  2. to engage in endless discussion with the students as they have

  3. of engaging yourself in endless discussion with students as they have

  4. in engaging yourself into endless discussion with students as they have

  5. in engaging yourself in endless discussion with the students as they have
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

(E) One engages 'oneself' in some activity. Also article 'the' is needed as the statement is specific about particular students.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

The increased popularity and availability of televisions has led to the decline of regional dialects, language variations which originate from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages and perpetuated by geographic isolation.

  1. which originate from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages and perpetuated

  2. that originated from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages and perpetuated

  3. originated from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages and perpetuated

  4. originating from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages and perpetuated

  5. originating from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages and perpetuating
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(D) is the answer. 'Originating, a participle, is paralleled with perpetuated, a participle.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined part the following sentence may have an error of grammar or syntax. The part has been rewritten in options (B) to (E) in four different ways - (A) being an exact restatement of the underlined part. Pick up the option (B) or (C) or (D) or (E) that corrects the error in the underlined part, if any. If there is no error, mark (A).

With cloning technology, scientists are approaching what has long been the ultimate goal of modern husbandry: achieving a consistency of quality and production in farm animals as once thought to be limited to manufactured goods.

  1. achieving a consistency of quality and production in farm animals as once thought to be

  2. achieving farm animals with a consistency of quality and production as were once thought of as

  3. achieving in farm animals a consistency of quality and production that was once thought to be

  4. achievement of farm animals whose consistency of quality and production are the same as what were once thought to he

  5. achievement of farm animals at a consistency of quality and production once thought of as

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

Gerund form is preferred with 'achieve' as it maintains the tense structure of the sentence;  (D) and (E) are eliminated. (B) changes the meaning as we are not achieving farm animals but quality in the  animals.  (C) is the answer.