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 or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

Upon reaching London, the travel agency sent a car to pick us up.

  1. Upon reaching London, the travel agency sent a car to pick us up.

  2. When reached London, the travel agency sent a car to pick us up.

  3. When London was reached, the travel agency sent a car to pick us up.

  4. Upon reaching London, we were sent a car by the travel agency.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The original sentence seems to be saying that the travel agency reached London, but the phrase, “reaching London” could only modify “we”. Thus, option 4 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below or part thereof has been underlined. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or diction. Select the option that best corrects the error, if any.

I had no sooner picked up my pen to begin my work when my secretary descended on me with her notebook and files.

  1. I had no sooner picked up my pen to begin my work when my secretary descended on me

  2. I had scarcely picked up my pen to begin my work than my secretary descended on me

  3. I had hardly no sooner picked up my pen to begin my work when my secretary descended on me

  4. I had no sooner picked up my pen to begin my work than my secretary descended on me
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correlative conjunctions “no sooner…… than” are used together so, option 4 is the correct option. Option 3 makes use of double negative. Option 5 does not follow the correct sentence order.

Multiple choice

Directions: 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 one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E).

Limbaugh lost his job for saying in public (A) what many football fans and analysts have been saying privately for (B) the past couple of seasons and though he pretty much told (C) the truth he had to pay a huge price (D). No error (E)

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

There is no error in the statement.

Multiple choice

Directions: 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 one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice (E).

Jane was by no means (A) popular with the other women, taking far too much upon (B) herself, the strength of her father's rank, and giving herself airs as (C) if she was better (D) than those around her. 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

Generally the subjunctive 'were' is used instead of "was" after if....'she were better...' 

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) If the principal allows (B) us to carry the flag, (C) Ramesh and me (D) will be leading the procession. (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

(C): Change 'Ramesh and me' to 'Ramesh and I' to correct the error of case. Subject of verb 'will be' should be in nominate case.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) If I would have realised (B) the danger involved in this adventure, (C) I would not have asked you to undertake (D) or participate in it. (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

(A): Change 'would have' to 'had'. The antecedent for past subjective 'would', the clause opening with 'if' and referring to an unreal present, the verb used should be 'had'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) I am (B) a make-shift captain (C) because John is (D) suffering of viral infection. (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

(D): Change 'suffering of viral infection' to 'suffering from viral infection'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) The principal of the school (B) has decided dropping the math and science classes (C) because of unavailability of teachers (D) for these disciplines. (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

(B): Change 'has decided dropping' to 'has divided to drop' to correct the error of infinitive. 'Decided' is followed by infinitive 'to + verb', and not by gerund 'verb + ing'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) The social organizations volunteer (B) to serve the poors; (C) this provides them different (D) kind of satisfaction. (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

(C): Change 'to serve the poors' to 'to serve the poor'. Poor is an adjective, used as a plural noun, denoting a class of persons, preceded by article 'the'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) One should not drive (B) in the state of being drunk; (C) he might (D) cause an accident. (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

(C): Change 'he might' to 'one might'. The subject is 'one', not he.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, some parts have been underlined and labelled A, B, C and D. Identify the part that contains an error. If there is no error in any part of the sentence, mark your answer as E.

(A) Neither the principal (B) nor the teachers (C) has been satisfied with the performance of students (D) in the final examination. (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

(C): Change 'has been' to 'have been'. In 'neither nor', 'either or' construction, verb connects with the second subject, which is plural in this case.