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.

From being a land of shared community, India began turning towards a land of shared opportunity.

  1. India began turning towards a land of shared opportunity

  2. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times" new="">India</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times" new=""> began to turn toward a land of shared opportunity

  3. India began to turn towards a land of shared opportunity

  4. India began turning into a land of shared opportunity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence contains prepositional error. You turn to or towards somebody, say, for help. Here a change in self is involved. The correct prepositional use is “turning into”.

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.

Had the party dispensed of the contentious issues it would have got the majority at its own.

  1. Had the party dispensed of the contentious issues

  2. Was the party dispensed of the contentious issues

  3. Was the party dispensed without the contentious issues

  4. Had the party dispensed with the contentious issues

  5. Had the party dispensed without the contentious issues
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Corrects the error of phrasal preposition. ‘To dispense with’ means ‘to manage without’

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.

His immediate task may be to keep the coalition in the state going unless he can think of ways to counter Mr. Singh's mission now to demolish the parent party.

  1. unless he can think of ways to counter Mr. Singh's mission

  2. unless he can't think of ways to counter mission of Mr. Singh

  3. till he can think of ways to counter Mr. Singh's mission

  4. till he can think ways to counter mission of Mr. Singh

  5. unless he can think about ways countering Mr. Singh's mission
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This option rectifies the error of subordinating conjunction and changes 'unless' into 'till'. 'Unless' is a conjunction of condition while 'till' refers to 'time'. The sense conveyed is that he has to do some temporary arrangement till he finds solution to the problem.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has an part underlined. 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 part that best represents the replacement for the part underlined.

Hot deserts are found near the western coasts of continents because the winds passing by the cold ocean currents blowing along these coasts are dry.

  1. the winds passing by the cold ocean currents blowing along these coasts

  2. the wind passing through the cold ocean current blowing along these coasts

  3. the wind passes through the cold ocean current blowing along these coasts

  4. the wind passes by the cold ocean current flowing from these coasts

  5. the winds passing over the cold ocean currents flowing along these coasts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Winds don’t ‘pass by’ the ocean; they ‘pass over’. Also currents don’t ‘blow’, they ‘flow’. Here ‘by’ is changed into ‘over’ and incorrect usage ’blowing’ is rectified to ‘flowing’.

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 (1) labourers were allowed (2) into prison (3) to repair (4) some damaged cells. (5) No error

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Use definite article 'the' before prison, because labours were allowed to enter a particular place for work. “Into prison” (without the demonstrative) sounds as if they were imprisoned.

Multiple choice

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

As (1) consumers’ response to traditional (2) advertising techniques declines, businesses are (3) beginning to develop new methods (4) in reaching customers. (5) No error

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

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

Replace ‘in’ by ‘for’. New methods are being developed ‘for’ reaching customers.

Multiple choice

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

(1) Each chemical element is characterized (2) as per the number of protons that (3) an atom of that element contains, called (4) the element's atomic number. (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 ‘as per’ by ‘by’. The element is characterised ‘by’.