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: 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.

Instead of being inspired by great ideas, we have even lost what we have.

  1. we have even lost what we have

  2. we are even at a loss what we have

  3. we were at a loss what we were

  4. we have even lost what we had

  5. we lose what we have
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 'Had' meaning 'possessed' should replace the second 'have'.  This option rectifies the error.

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.

I could wait hardly and would always ask if I could go to play cricket.

  1. I could wait hardly and would always ask

  2. I could wait hardly and always ask

  3. I could hardly wait and would always ask

  4. I hardly could wait and always would ask

  5. I could have hardly waited and would have always asked
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 This option corrects the error of placement of adverb. The adverb must be used before the word it modifies.

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.

If I have had more time, I would have equaled.

  1. If I have had more time

  2. If I would have more time

  3. If I had been granted with more time

  4. If I were having more time

  5. If I had had more time
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 'Would have' in the latter part of the sentence necessitates 'had' in a condition that precedes in time. This option corrects the error.

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.

Had he realized how near he was to qualifying, he would appear in the examination.

  1. he would appear in the examination

  2. he would have appeared in the examination

  3. he could appear in the examination

  4. he appeared in the examination

  5. he must have appeared in the examination
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 Perfect conditional sentence beginning with 'had' would take 'would have' (not would) in another clause. This option rectifies the error.

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.

During the Miss Universe contest, it was a difficult moment for judges to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece is the most beautiful.

  1. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece is the most beautiful

  2. to decide as to whether Miss India or Miss Greece is the most beautiful

  3. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece is more beautiful

  4. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece was more beautiful

  5. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece were beautiful
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The sentence has errors in usage of comparative degree (more) and tense (is). When comparison is drawn between two, we use comparative degree (more) and not superlative degree (most). 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.

He hoped truth will prevail on jury and the innocent could be saved.

  1. truth will prevail on jury

  2. truth will be prevailed on jury

  3. truth would prevail on jury

  4. truth would be prevailed on jury
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Hoped' should be followed by “would prevail”. This option corrects the error of tense.

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 spokesman said the party will take a stand when the issue actually comes up.

  1. the party will take a stand when the issue actually comes up

  2. the party would take a stand when the issue actually comes up

  3. the party would have taken a stand when the issue actually comes up

  4. the party would take a stand when the issue actually came up

  5. the party would take a stand when the issue comes up actually
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 This option corrects the error in tense. The reporting verb is in past tense so reported speech is also changed in past tense.

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 ruling elite drunk their wine from elaborately designed silver vessels.

  1. drunk their wine from

  2. had drunk their wine from

  3. were drunk with their wine from

  4. often drank their wine from

  5. often were drinking their wine from
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 This is a general statement warranting use of adverb of frequency 'often'. This option corrects the error of tense and placement of adverb of frequency.