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

(A) A perfectionist is one of (B) those persons who is (C) never satisfied with (D) work of other people. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

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

 Change 'is' to 'are' to correct the error of subject verb agreement. The relative pronoun 'who' refers to 'those persons' (subject).

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.

Thomas, serving (A) both as mother and father to his children, (B) are deciding (C) to send them to the (D) boarding school. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

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

(is). In the above sentence the two parts of the subject are referring to the same person and idea. So, the verb used will be singular.Thomas, serving as mother and father to his children is………….

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.

Navin Patnaik was (A) one of those victorious (B) candidates (C) who attributed (D) his victory to the people of Orissa. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

  5. <font face="Arial">E</font>
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 Change 'his' to 'their' because subject of the relative pronouns 'who' is 'candidates' (plural). So, the pronoun in the clause will be according to 'candidates' not Navin Patnaik. 

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) Five minutes (B) were given to (C) every candidate to jot down (D) his views on the topic to be discussed. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

  5. <font face="Arial">E</font>
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 (was). In the above sentence, the plural noun denotes some specific quantity (time allowed). The specific quaintly is always followed by a singular verb.

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 harvest of wheat in the local farms decreased in 1995 for the third straight year but were still at a robust level.

  1. The harvest of wheat in the local farms decreased in 1995 for the third straight year but were

  2. The harvest of wheat in local farms began to decrease in 1995 for the third straight year but were

  3. In 1990, the harvest of wheat in the local farms decreased for the 3rd straight year but were

  4. The harvest of wheat in the local farms decreased for the 3rd straight year in 1995 but was

  5. The harvest of wheat in the local farms began decreasing in 1995 for the third straight year but was
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 This is the correct option in which singular verb 'has' is used for singular subject 'harvest' without changing meaning of the sentence.

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 quality of Mr. Kapoor's speeches (A) on 'Increasing Public Awareness” (B) were (C) better (D) than that of Mr. Arora. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

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

(was). In the sentence, the problem lies in locating the right subject. The correct subject is not 'speeches', it is 'quality'; which is singular, so the verb used will be also singular.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence has a part (or whole sentence) underlined. The part may have error of grammar and/or syntax. Identify the error and select the option that rectifies the error. Just around the corner is a bakery and a supermarket.

  1. Just around the corner is a bakery and a supermarket.

  2. At the corner, just around, is a bakery and a supermarket.

  3. A bakery and a super market is just around the corner.

  4. Just around the corner are a bakery and a super market.

  5. A bakery along with a super market are just around the corner.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 (D) is grammatically correct as in the sentence there are two things, supermarket and a bakery and verb 'are' used is also plural.

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.

Everyone over the age of fifty have become fair game for a wide array marketing ploys aimed at the burgeoning population of aging “baby boomers,” one of the most affluent generations in history.

  1. have become fair game for

  2. has become fair game for

  3. are becoming fair game to

  4. have becoming fair game of
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (B) is correct as singular verb 'has' is used for singular subject 'everyone'.

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.

Many cardiologists now believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits are the major reason of heart strokes.

  1. believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits are

  2. believe that sedentary life-styles but not faulty food habits are

  3. believe that it is sedentary life-style but not faulty food habits.

  4. believe that sedentary life-styles and not faulty food habits are

  5. believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 The hint to this sentence can be taken from the latter part where the sentence that concludes that 'life style' is the major cause, not causes for the problem. This implies that the subject is singular, and this is the reason why the verb should be singular which we find in (E), the correct option.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. The sentence does not contain more than one error. If the sentence contains an error, select the underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E). In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

What (A) they are going to discuss in the (B) forthcoming annual board meeting (C) is still a mystery to all the members (D) except to the chairman. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

As there is no error in any part of the sentence, this is the correct answer.

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.

Cordless phones send radio waves through the air, so when you have more than one in your home you have to make sure that it doesn’t interfere with each other.

  1. make sure that it doesn’t interfere with each other

  2. be sure that each doesn’t interfere with the other one

  3. ensure against their interfering with each other

  4. make sure that they don’t interfere with each other

  5. ensure that it don’t interfere with the other one
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 ‘Cordless phones’ is a plural subject and the pronoun ‘they’ used is also plural, hence, the sentence maintains the pronoun agreement and is correct.

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.

I have helped (A) the party (B) become victorious in the elections (C) as much as (D) him. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

  5. <font face="Arial">E</font>
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 Change 'him' to 'he'. 'As much as' is a compound conjunction, not preposition. So pronoun used after a conjunction is in 'nominative' case, not in 'objective' case.

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.

Everyone (A) in the crowded shopping arcades, in the grocery stores and in the food stores, (B) as well as (C) those who visit the departmental stores down the hill, (D) were looking for bargains. (E) No error

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

  4. D

  5. <font face="Arial">E</font>
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 (was). On account of the subject 'everyone'; we will use a singular verb. All the words which have indefinite pronoun as their suffix always take a singular verb. Also, where the coordinating conjunction 'as well as' is used, the verb will refer to the first subject.