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: Four parts of the sentence given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

The importance of (1) environment stimuli in the development of coordination (2) between (3) sensory input and motor response varies (4) from species to species. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Replace the noun 'environment' by adjective form 'environmental', to go with the noun 'stimuli'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentence given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

(1) If we (2) had have (3) more time, we (4) would have caught the robber. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

 Change 'had have' to 'had had'. The past participle form of have means 'had', meaning possessed. So, one 'had' is the helping verb and the other is a verb (possess).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

The recent formulated law has hardly done anything to emend the previous one except for changing its wording.

  1. The recent formulated law has hardly done anything

  2. The recent formulated law has done hardly anything

  3. The recently formulated law has done hardly anything

  4. The recently formulated law has hardly done anything

  5. The law recently formulated has hardly done anything
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence incorrectly uses adjective in place of adverb. Recent is an adjective, qualifying another adjective 'formulated. But adjectives are qualified by adverbs. Hence, we need adverbial form 'recently'. This option rectifies the adverbial error.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentence given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

Scientists believe that (1) by altering the genetic composition of plants it is possible to develop specimens that are (2) resisting to (3) disease and have (4) increased food value. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

 Replace gerund form 'resisting' by adjective form 'resistant'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence given below has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

He warned the government that attempts to curbing terrorism should not mean the loss of civil liberties.

  1. that attempts to curbing terrorism should

  2. that attempts of curb terrorism should

  3. that attempt to curb terrorism does

  4. that attempts to curb terrorism should

  5. that attempts at curbing terrorism should
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option 4 is the correct answer. The sentence has incorrect infinitive (to curbing in place of to curb). Option (4) corrects the error of infinitive.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

We did eventually, got the psephologist of our choice.

  1. We did eventually, got the psephologist of our choice.

  2. We did eventually, have got the psephologist of our choice.

  3. We eventually, did, got the psephologist of our choice.

  4. Eventually, we did have the psephologist of our choice.

  5. We did have, eventually, get the psephologist of our choice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This option corrects the error in the verb. The verb after 'did' should be in present form. 

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

This is the costliest mobile phone I have ever have in my life.

  1. I have ever have in my life

  2. I had ever had in my life

  3. I have ever in my life

  4. I have had in my life

  5. I ever will have in my life
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The main verb that follows 'has or have' should be in the past participle. 'Had' is the participle of 'have' (possessed).

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentence given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

(1) Unlike ethnographers, ethno historians (2) make systematic observations, but they (3) also gather data from documentary and oral (4) sources. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

 Part 3 states how ethnographers are different from ethno historians. Since this part begins with the contrasting conjunction but, part 1 must state how they are similar. Hence unlike should be replaced by like