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

(A) The greater the number of cars on the road, and (B) the greater the emission of exhaust gases, (C) greater is the (D) amount of pollution in the atmosphere. (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

When we are comparing comparatives, 'the' precedes the comparisons. Thus, the correct phrase is 'the greater is the amount of....'.

Multiple choice

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

The frequency of meteors in the Earth’s atmosphere increases (A) when the Earth passes (B) through a swarm of (C) particle generated (D) by the break-up of a comet. (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

Correct phrase is 'swarm of particles'. Swarm is a collective noun and hence, it will be followed by a plural noun.

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).

(A) Although pure diamond is colourless and transparent, (B) but when contaminated with other material, (C) it may appear in various (D) colours, ranging from pastels to opaque black. (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

'Although' and 'but' do not occur together. Correct phrase is '...when contaminated with other material..'

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).

Not only (A) speech enables man (B) to handle and (C) pass on more complicated ideas, it also (D) enables him to accumulate them. (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

Whenever we begin a sentence with a negative word, the helping verb always comes before the subject. "Not only does speech enable man...''

Multiple choice

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

  1. I had to do so because I felt

  2. that the safety of my sister–nurses

  3. and female attendants there

  4. were in peril

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

The subject of the sentence is safety and hence, we need the singular verb 'was' rather than 'were'. The nurses and attendants in this care are the objects fo the sentence. Hence, option 4 is correct.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Since the shipment of

  2. supplies of raw materials

  3. were delayed,

  4. we will have to reschedule our work

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

The subject is 'the shipment of supplies of raw materials' which is a singular phrase (the head noun is 'shipment'). Therefore, the verb must be singular 'was delayed' not plural 'were delayed'. This is a subject-verb agreement error where a long noun phrase with a prepositional phrase incorrectly uses a plural verb.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Cupid, one of the ancient

  2. Roman gods,

  3. were represented

  4. as a little winged child

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

Cupid is one specific Roman god (singular), so the verb must be singular 'was represented' not plural 'were represented'. This is a subject-verb agreement error. The phrase 'one of the ancient Roman gods' is just additional information about Cupid and doesn't make him plural.