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 has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

(A) The matter is (B) to be decided (C) between (D) you and I. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

 Change 'you and 'I' to 'you and me' because preposition is always followed by objective pronoun.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

(A) When one misses (B) one's bus, (C) he is (D) very disappointed. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

 Change pronoun 'he' to 'one' as pronoun must agree with its antecedent.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

The principal and teacher (A) have (B) a soft corner (C) for (D) students. (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

 Change 'have' to 'has'. When two or more singular nouns are joined by 'and' and 'the' definite article is used only before the first noun, they refer to the same person.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

(A) The jury of the federal court (B) were divided (C) in its verdict (D) over the recounting of disputed votes. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

 Change 'in its verdict' to 'in their verdict' to correct the use of pronoun. (lack of unanimity means plurality of verdict)

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

The critic and the intellectual (A) has expressed his (B) grave concern over communalization (C) of (D) politics. (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

 Change 'has expressed his' to 'have expressed their'. When two or more singular nouns are joined by 'and' and each is preceded by definite article 'the', they refer to separate persons.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

The right notes (A) for it would have been (B) the singing of black birds (C) and the ringing of (D) the blacksmith anvil. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

Error of parallelism. we compare two similar things. So notes to be compared with the sound of the anvil. Correct phrase will be blacksmith's anvil.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

If you run your own business, trying to organize your activities, finances, and personal contacts are some of the most difficult things you'll ever have to do.

  1. are some of the most difficult things you'll ever have

  2. is one of the most difficult things one ever has

  3. are some of the hardest things you're likely to ever have

  4. is among the most difficult things a person ever has

  5. is one of the most difficult things you ever have
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 The subject in this sentence is 'trying' (as trying to do this is one of the most difficult things one has to do), which is in singular; hence it would take a singular verb. This leaves us with two options - (B) and (E). But (B) involves unnecessary shift in pronoun from 'you' to 'one'. So, Option (E) is the best choice.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

Nothing but fraud and double dealing are discernible in his actions.

  1. Nothing but fraud and double dealing are discernible in his actions.

  2. Nothing except fraud and double dealing are discernible in his actions.

  3. Nothing but fraud and double dealing is discernible in his actions.

  4. Anything but fraud and double dealing is discernible in his actions.

  5. Nothing but frauds and double dealings are discernible in his actions.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This introduces an error in subject verb agreement. "Nothing" is a singular noun and is the subject. Therefore, the verb 'are' must be in the singular form (is). 

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

Tropical forests exist close to the equator, where both high temperature and abundant rainfall occurs year-round.

  1. Tropical forests exist close to the equator, where both high temperature and abundant rainfall occurs year-round.

  2. Tropical forests exist closer to the equator, where both high temperature and abundant rainfall occurs year-round.

  3. Tropical forests exist close to the equator, where both high temperatures and abundant rainfalls occur year-round.

  4. Tropical forests exist close to the equator, where both high temperature and abundant rainfall occur year-round.

  5. Tropical forest exists closer to the equator, where both high temperature and abundant rainfall occurs year-round.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 When two subjects are combined by 'and' the verb should be plural ('both is always followed by plural verb').  (D) is grammatically correct as it follows subject-verb agreement rule.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

You are (A) the person (B) who (C) wish to bail him out (D) of the problem. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

 Change 'wish' to 'wishes', the subject for the verb 'wish' is 'the person' in singular number.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

Precisely because photographs are produced by mechanical devices, a camera's image now seem to some artists a perfect means for expressing the modern era.

  1. now seem to some artists perfect means for expressing the modern era

  2. now seems to some artists a perfect means for expressing the modern era

  3. now seem to some artists a perfect means for expressing the modern era

  4. now seem to some artists perfect mean for expressing the modern era

  5. now seem to some artists perfect means to expressing the modern era
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 (B) What seems to be the perfect means of expression? The camera’s image, which is a singular subject. It should be followed by ‘seems’ and not ‘seem’ makes it correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

Designers of athletic footwear finely tune each category of shoes to their particular activity by studying human motion and physiology.

  1. finely tune each category of shoes to their particular activity

  2. finely tune each category of shoes to their particular activities

  3. fine tune each category of shoes to their particular activity

  4. finely tune each category of shoes to its particular activity

  5. finely tune all categories of shoe to their particular activity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 Each should be always followed by a singular pronoun. So, 'their' is incorrectly used and should be changed to 'its', which is only rectified in (D). Also, 'fine tune' is a better usage than 'finely tune'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

Ensconced in multiple layers of sponge, none of the Chinese potteries were broken when the worker inadvertently dropped the crate.

  1. none of the Chinese potteries were broken when the worker inadvertently dropped the crate

  2. none of the Chinese pottery broke away when the worker inadvertently dropped the crate

  3. none of the Chinese pottery was broken when the worker inadvertently dropped the crates

  4. none of the Chinese potteries got broken when the workers inadvertently dropped the crate

  5. none of the Chinese pottery was broken when the worker inadvertently dropped the crate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 In (E) verb agrees with the subject: none is followed by was, hence, (E) is appropriate choice.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

The contest judges were told to give the prize to whomever draw the best picture.

  1. to give the prize to whomever draw the best picture

  2. to give the prize to whoever drew the best picture

  3. to give whomever drew the best picture the prize

  4. to give to whomever drew the best picture the prize

  5. to give the prize to whomever it was who drew the best picture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Since the subject of the dependent clause 'is the one who draws the best picture', we will use 'whoever'. 'Whomever' is used in the objective case and is incorrect here. Furthermore, the tense of the sentence is past and correct option must also be in past tense (drew). Hence, option 2 is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error.

Undergraduates, as well as us graduate students, are at the low end of the academic totem pole.

  1. Undergraduates, as well as us graduate students

  2. Undergraduates, as well as us graduates

  3. Undergraduates, as well as we graduates

  4. Undergraduates, as well as we graduate students

  5. Undergraduates students, as well as us graduate students
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The usage of 'us' is faulty in this sentence. The objective case 'us' cannot relate with 'are at'. In option (D) the sentence is rectified with minimal changes, hence, is correct.