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 underlined portion of the following sentence has some errors. Four options are given below the sentence. Choose the correct option to replace the underlined part.

The old will have to be sent to old people's home, not out of callousness but simply as they cannot be accommodated.

  1. not out of callousness and because simply they cannot be accommodated

  2. not out of callousness but as they simply cannot be accommodated

  3. not out of callousness but simply because they cannot be accommodated

  4. not out of callousness but because they cannot be accommodated simply
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Here, the use of 'because' rectifies the error of 'as'. 'Because' shows the strong reason. Here, the problem of accommodation is a strong reason.

Multiple choice

Directions: The underlined portion of the following sentence has some errors. Four options are given below the sentence. Choose the correct option to replace the underlined part.

Great strain put upon brain of students of having to remain constantly engaged in studies during several months in the year makes it necessary for the brain to have some rest.

  1. The great strain put upon brain of students of having to remain constantly engaged in studies during several months in the year

  2. Great strain put upon the brain of students of having to remain engaged constantly in studies during several months in the year

  3. The great strain put upon the brain of students of having to remain constantly engaged in studies during several months in the year

  4. The great strain put upon brain of students of having to remain engaged constantly in studies during several months in the year
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The use of 'the' before 'great' and 'brain' rectifies the error . In the original sentence, 'the strain' (which is put upon the brain of students) and 'the brain' (the brain of students) are definite nouns. Article 'the' is used before a definite noun.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence is divided into four parts labeled (a), (b), (c) and (d). One of these four parts may have an error in it. Choose that part as your answer. If there is no error, choose (e) as your answer.

The role of parents is to (a) / provide emotional security to their children (b) / as well as providing them an environment (c) / where they can fully realize their potential (d) /. No error (d)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)

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

 Error of parallelism and redundancy. To provide emotional security ... to provide an environmentor simply: To provide emotional security ... an environment.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence is divided into four parts labeled (a), (b), (c) and (d). One of these four parts may have an error in it. Choose that part as your answer. If there is no error choose (e) as your answer.

In today's scenario, (a) / the effective use of information technology (b) / alone can give an organization (c) / an edge over their competitors (d)/. No error (e)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)

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

Error of noun-pronoun aagreement. Subject 'organization' (singular noun) needs to be followed by 'its' (singular pronoun) rather than by 'their' (plural pronoun).

Multiple choice

Directions: The given statement is divided into four parts, labelled (a), (b), (c) and (d). One of these may have an error in it. Choose that part as your answer. If there is no error, choose (e) as your answer.

The act (a) / of extending preferential treatment (b) / to service providers (c) / were highly appreciated. (d) / No error (e)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)

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

'Act' is a singular term, so we have accompany it with other singular term. Singular of 'were' is 'was'. So, here D is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence is divided into four parts labeled (a), (b), (c) and (d). One of these four parts may have an error in it. Choose that part as your answer. If there is no error choose (e) as your answer.

The fact finding team (a) / which is being to the area (b) / found villagers unwilling to (c) / cooperate with the investigation. (d) / No error (e)

  1. (a)

  2. (b)

  3. (c)

  4. (d)

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

This is the passive case of past perfect. 'Which is being' needs to be chabged with 'which had been'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Part of the sentence is underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Choose the option that best corrects the error if there is no error choose 4.

If we stand united we can become a power to reckon with.

  1. power to be reckon with

  2. power to reckon

  3. power to reckoned

  4. No improvement

  5. reckoned power.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is perfectly correct. 'Power to reckon with' means someone or something that is important and powerful and must not be ignored.

Multiple choice

Directions: Part of the sentence is underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Choose the option that best corrects the error if there is no error choose 5.

All their efforts were aimed at promote harmony among different ethnic groups.

  1. aimed at promoting

  2. aimed to promoting

  3. aimed with promoting

  4. aimed with promote

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

Here 'aim at' need to be followed by a gerund form. Fence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Part of the sentence is underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Choose the option that best corrects the error if there is no error choose 5.

How she will react to this new development is not our matter of concern.

  1. How she was reacting

  2. How she is reacting

  3. How does she react

  4. No improvement

  5. How did she react

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is an assertive sentence, and not an interrogative one. So, as per rules it is perfectly correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Part of the sentence is underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Choose the option that best corrects the error if there is no error choose 5.

The speaker emphasizes the role women play for bringing about social changes.

  1. in bringing about

  2. at bringing about

  3. in bringing over

  4. for bringing over

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

Case of idiomatic usage. 'Bring about' means 'to make something happen'. Moreover, role (in such cases) is followed by preposition 'in' .

Multiple choice

Directions: Part of the sentence is underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Choose the option that best corrects the error if there is no error choose 5.

The local authorities were never bothering to worry about the poor law and order situation in the area.

  1. were never bothered

  2. never bothering

  3. were never bothering

  4. never were bothering

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

Error of verb usage. Here, in place of verb (bothering), we need verb of being (bothered).

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. 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.

The (A) principal felt (B) very sorry (C) for the candidates who (D) failed. (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

have failed.  The sentence is in the present perfect tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. 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.

He (A) need not to (B) apply for a new job (C) as he (D) will be promoted soon. (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

need not.  Delete to words 'need not' are never followed by preposition 'to'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question tests your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. The sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. 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.

Daniel is (A) cleverest (B) of all the (C) boys in (D) the class. (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

the cleverest. Definite article 'the' is always used before the superlative degree in a sentence.