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 been divided into four parts. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

Although research has been ongoing (1) since 1930, the (2) existence of ESP – extra sensory perception – a communication without the (3) use of sight, (4) hear, taste, touch, or smell – is still disputed. (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

Error of parallel construction. ‘Sight…hearing…taste…touch…’

Multiple choice

Directions: The part of the sentence that has been underlined may have 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.

In all the big cities, there is a flood of health clubs which claim to build strength, decrease stress level and weight is reduced.

  1. decrease stress level and weight is reduced

  2. decrease stress level and weight reduces

  3. decrease stress level and reduce weight

  4. decrease stress level and reduced weight

  5. decreasing stress level and reducing weight
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Corrects the error of parallel construction. 'Build strength, decrease stress-level and reduce weight'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has been divided into four parts. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

Critical thinkers are (1) able to identify (2) main issues, recognize (3) underlying assumptions, and (4) evaluating evidence. (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

Error of parallel construction. Base form of verbs has been used in the earlier part of the sentence, so same form required for third verb also. ‘Identify…recognize…evaluate’.

Multiple choice

Directions: The part of the sentence that has been underlined may have 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 government needs to focus on cutting unnecessary red tapism rather than to worry about a partly reduction in card fees.

  1. rather than to worry about a partly reduction in card fees

  2. rather to worry about a partly reduction in card fees

  3. rather than to worry about a part reduction in card fees

  4. rather than worrying about a partly reduction in card fees

  5. rather than to worry for a part reduction in card fees
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Corrects the error of parallel construction of 'gerund'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or 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.

When the British Empire partitioned the Bengal into its two administration units for the purpose of greater efficiency, it overlooked the language and religious groupings within the area.

  1. When the British Empire partitioned Bengal into two administrative units

  2. When British Empire partitioned the Bengal area into two administration units

  3. When the British Empire partitioned the Bengal into two administration units

  4. When British Empire partitioned Bengal into two administrative units

  5. When the British Empire partitioned the Bengal into its two administration units
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) replaces the noun form ‘administration’ by the adjective form ‘administrative’ and removes the article ‘the’ from ‘the Bengal’. Hence, this is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or 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.

India could have become a superpower if its economy reached great heights.

  1. if its economy reached great heights

  2. if its economy was to reach great heights

  3. its economy were to reach great heights

  4. if its economy would have reached great heights

  5. had its economy reached great heights
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The clause after 'could have' or 'would have', ought to begin with 'if its economy had' or 'had its'. This option rectifies the error by using the latter expression.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or 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.

Once asked to describe the key to creativity, Tagore reportedly said to quit never working on your subject until you get what you are after.

  1. Tagore reportedly said to quit never working on your subject

  2. reportedly Tagore said to quit never working on your subject

  3. reportedly Tagore said to quit never work on your subject

  4. Tagore reportedly said never quit working on your subject

  5. Tagore reportedly said never to quit working on your subject
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The corrects the error of placement of adverb of frequency ‘never’ and correctly puts the statement in imperative form.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or 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.

The recent formulated law has hardly done anything to emend the previous one except for changing its wording.

  1. The recent formulated law has hardly done anything

  2. The recent formulated law has done hardly anything

  3. The recently formulated law has done hardly anything

  4. The recently formulated law has hardly done anything

  5. The law recently formulated has hardly done anything
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence incorrectly uses adjective in place of adverb. Recent is an adjective, qualifying another adjective 'formulated. But adjectives are qualified by adverbs. Hence, we need adverbial form 'recently'. This option rectifies the adverbial error.