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

A seismograph records oscillation of the ground (A) caused by seismic waves, vibrations that (B) travel from (C) its points of origin, (D) through the Earth or along its surface. (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

The correct answer is C because 'its' should be 'their'. The antecedent is 'seismic waves' (plural), so the pronoun must be plural ('their' not 'its'). The possessive pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent.

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).

The Zoning Improvement Plan, (A) better known as zip codes, (B) enable postal clerks (C) to speed the routing of (D) an ever- increasing volume of mail. (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 correct answer is B because 'enable' should be 'enables'. The subject is 'The Zoning Improvement Plan' (singular), so it requires a singular verb. The phrase 'better known as zip codes' is an interrupter and doesn't change the subject.

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).

Everyone (A) who has travelled across the country (B) by car, or bus (C) are surprised to see (D) such a large expanse of territory with such variation among the life-styles of the people. (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

The correct answer is C because 'are' should be 'is'. The subject is 'Everyone' (singular indefinite pronoun), which requires a singular verb. The intervening phrase 'who has travelled...' doesn't change the number of the subject.

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).

In human beings, as in other (A) mammals, (B) hair around the eyes and ears and in the nose, (C) prevents dust, insects, and other matter from (D) entering these organs. (E) No error

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)

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

The sentence is grammatically correct and uses appropriate parallelism and prepositional phrasing. No part of the sentence contains an error.

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) Because entertaining is (B) such a competitive business, a group of singers or musicians (C) need a manager to help (D) market the music. (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

The correct answer is C because 'need' should be 'needs'. The subject is 'a group' (singular), not 'singers or musicians'. When using a collective noun like 'group', the verb must agree with 'group', not with the complement.

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).

Thor Heyerdahl, accompanied (A) by the crew of the Ken Take (B) has sailed specifically (C) charted courses in order to prove (D) their theories of cultural diffusion. (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

The correct answer is D because 'their' should be 'his'. The antecedent is 'Thor Heyerdahl' (singular), so the pronoun must be singular ('his' not 'their'). While modern English sometimes uses 'their' as singular, in formal grammar and on standardized tests, singular antecedents require singular pronouns.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Most MBAs, unless they are from a prestigious institute, earns relatively less as a manager than they might in business.

  1. earns relatively less as a manager than they might in business

  2. earn relatively little as managers than they might in business

  3. earn relatively less as managers than they might in business

  4. earn as less as managers as they might in business

  5. earn precious little as managers than they might in business
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The subject 'Most MBAs' is plural (referring to multiple MBA graduates), so the verb must be plural 'earn' not 'earns'. Additionally, the comparison 'as managers' uses the plural form to match the plural subject, making option C grammatically correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Most lachrymose of soap operas in which there is a real comical character captures the interest of the viewers.

  1. captures the interest of viewers

  2. captures interest of the viewers

  3. captures the interests of viewers

  4. capture the interest of viewers

  5. attracts interest of the viewers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The subject is 'Most lachrymose of soap operas' which refers to multiple soap operas, so the verb must be plural 'capture' not singular 'captures'. The phrase 'of viewers' is more idiomatic than 'of the viewers' in this context.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Many cardiologists now believe that a sedentary life–style and not faulty food habits are the major reason of heart strokes.

  1. believe that a sedentary life-style

  2. believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits are

  3. believe that a sedentary life-style is the major reason

  4. believe that sedentary life-styles and not faulty food habits are

  5. believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 What is the reason? 'Sedentary life-style' (and not faulty food habits) is the major reason. 

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Between I and he, there's nothing more to say.

  1. Between I and he,

  2. Between me and him,

  3. Between him and me,

  4. Between I and him,

  5. Between him and I,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The preposition 'between' requires the objective case for pronouns. 'I' changes to 'me' and 'he' changes to 'him'. The correct word order is 'him and me' following conventional English usage.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Although he had been looking forward to participating in the football match, a sprain in the ankle prevented him taking part.

  1. prevented him taking part

  2. prevented his taking part

  3. prevented him to take part

  4. prevented him in taking part

  5. prevented him for taking part
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The verb 'prevent' is typically followed by either a possessive form plus gerund ('prevented his taking part') or an object form with 'from' ('prevented him from taking part'). Option B uses the correct possessive + gerund construction.

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).

The high protein content of various strains of alfalfa plants, along with the (A) characteristically long root system that (B) enables them to survive long droughts, (C) make them (D) particularly valuable in arid countries. (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

 'makes them'  The usage of 'along with' means that the verb will connect with the first subject, which is singular 'high protein content'.

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).

Rice, (A) which still forms the staple diet of (B) many of the world's population, grows (C) best in (D) hot, wet lands. (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

'Population' is a mass noun in this context, referring to people as a collective whole. Mass nouns take 'much' rather than 'many' for quantification. The correct phrase should be 'much of the world's population'.

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).

Because of (A) its vast tracts of (B) virtually uninhabited northern forest, Canada has (C) one of the lowest population (D) density in the world. (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

When comparing one thing to others using 'one of the...', the noun that follows must be plural. 'Population density' is what's being compared, so it should be 'one of the lowest population densities' (plural). The singular 'density' is incorrect.

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).

The manufacture of (A) automobile was (B) extremely expensive (C) until assembly-line techniques (D) made them cheaper to produce. (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

In this context, 'automobile' is used as a mass noun referring to automobile manufacturing in general, so the singular verb 'was' is correct. However, the pronoun referring back to it must be plural 'them' to match the idea of multiple automobiles being produced.