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 sentence 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.

Implementing it wisely, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.

  1. Implementing it wisely, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.

  2. If it is implemented wisely, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.

  3. Having implemented it wisely, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.

  4. Because of its implementation, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.

  5. Because of its wise implement, the national education policy benefits all the sections of the society.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The underlined part has to be a condition that results in the benefits. 'If implemented wisely' makes sense.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence 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.

Were the politicians to assess themselves, honestly, they would find that they have lost their credibility.

  1. Were the politicians to assess themselves, honestly, they would find that they have lost their credibility.

  2. Were the politicians to assess themselves, honestly, they would find that they had lost their credibility.

  3. Were the politicians to assess themselves, honestly, they would find that they were lost-their credibility.

  4. Were the politicians to assess themselves, honestly, they would find that they lost their credibility.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

“Would' necessitates usage of the past tense. This option rightly changes 'have' to 'had'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

  1. Up to the time the last vote was recorded

  2. it was difficult

  3. to decide whether victory lay with the ruling party

  4. or the opposition

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

 If two events in the past are in sequence, the earlier event will use past perfect tense. Replace 'was recorded' by 'had been recorded', to precede simple past 'was difficult'.

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) A smile can be observed, described, and reliably (2) identified; it can also be elicited and (3) be manipulated under (4) experimental conditions. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

 Delete the repetitive 'be'. The correct usage is 'be elicited and manipulated'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentence given below have been underlined and numbered 1 to 4. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

Dinosaurs (1) are traditionally classified as cold-blooded reptiles, (2) but recent evidence based on their eating habits, posture, and skeletal structure (3) suggested some (4) may have been warm-blooded. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

 Replace ‘suggested’ by ‘suggests’ to go with ‘recent evidence’.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. The part has been rewritten under answer options 1 to 5. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Now HRD minister has come up with the proposal to make elementary education a fundamental right as if it is the panacea for all ill afflicting the education system.

  1. as if it is the panacea for all ill afflicting

  2. as if it were the panacea for all ill afflicting

  3. as if it were a panacea for all ill afflicting

  4. as if it were the panacea for all ills afflicting

  5. as if it were a panacea for all ills afflicting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 Clauses beginning with 'as if'/ as though' referring to a situation contrary to fact or unreal past use the helping verb 'were'. Also, 'ill' must be 'ills'. This option corrects both the errors.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. The part has been rewritten under answer options 1 to 5. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

The smooth passage of the Insurance Bill through the Lok Sabha is the best news which India has have in recent years.

  1. is the best news which India has have in recent years

  2. is the best news which India has had in recent years

  3. is the best news that India has had in recent years

  4. is the best news India has in recent years

  5. is the best news that India has in recent years
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 The sentence bears error of verb form ('have' in place of 'had') and use of incorrect conjunction ('which' in place of 'that'). 'Has' is always followed by third form of the verb and 'had' is used here as a verb to mean possessed. 'Which' is preceded by a comma and it represents a less important feature. The option corrects both the errors.