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: 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 devastating quake (B) in the Kutch region of Gujarat (C) has damaged (D) many worthseeing places. (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 'many worthseeing places' to 'many places worthseeing', because 'worthseeing' is an adjective phrase which should be put after noun (places).

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 difference between the candidates contesting for the post of (B) Congress President are that (C) one is radical, (D) the other moderate. (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 'are' to 'is' to correct the error in subject-verb agreement. The subject of the verb 'is' is the singular 'difference'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

  1. Even though he was over ninety

  2. he still enjoyed reading novels

  3. and sometimes spend

  4. an evening at the cinema

  5. No error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The subject 'he' is singular, so the verb must also be singular. 'Spend' is plural (used with 'they'), while 'spends' is singular (used with 'he'). The correct form should be 'he still enjoyed reading novels and sometimes spends an evening at the cinema'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (5).

  1. The ship

  2. was caught in a storm

  3. they sailed in

  4. along the coast of Japan

  5. No error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence has a pronoun reference error. 'The ship' is singular, but 'they' is plural. It should be 'it sailed in' to maintain subject-verb agreement. The correct phrase is 'The ship was caught in a storm as it sailed in along the coast of Japan'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentences given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (E).

Insulation from cold, (A) protect against dust and (B) sand, and camouflage (C) are among the (D) functions of hair for animals. (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 subject 'Insulation' is singular, so it needs a singular verb. 'Protect' is plural/infinitive form; it should be 'protects' (singular form) to agree with 'Insulation'. Additionally, the list should use 'protects... are' where each item has its appropriate verb form.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentences given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (E).

Paintings of a religious, ceremonial, or (A) of a character of history (B) tend to elevate (C) their subjects above the level of (D) ordinary existence. (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 phrase 'of a character of history' is grammatically awkward and breaks the parallel structure. The correct parallel form should be 'historical' (adjective) to match 'religious' and 'ceremonial'. The correct phrase is 'Paintings of a religious, ceremonial, or historical character' - or 'of historical character' without the redundant 'of'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentences given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (E).

Animal researchers have identified many behavioural patterns (A) associated with (B) selection of a place to live, avoiding (C) predators, and (D) finding food. (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

The error is in part (B). The word 'selection' should be 'the selection' because it refers to a specific action of choosing a place to live, requiring the definite article.

Multiple choice

Directions: Four parts of the sentences given below have been underlined. Identify the part having an error. If no part has an error, mark (E).

Most sand dunes are always in (A) motion as wind pushes sand (B) upward one side of each dune, over the top, (C) and down (D) the other side. (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

Wind pushes sand up the side of a dune (intransitive), not upward one side (transitive). 'Upward one side' suggests pushing sand to a location, but the context describes the sand's path of movement. 'Up the side' correctly shows the directional movement along the dune's surface.