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

  1. The short story

  2. should not exceed

  3. more than

  4. two hundred words

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

Exceed means to go beyond a limit. Saying exceed more than is redundant because exceed already includes the concept of more than. The correct phrasing is either exceed two hundred words OR be more than two hundred words, not both together.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Engines used in space shuttles are

  2. much larger and

  3. more strong than

  4. the ones used in jet planes

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

Strong is a one-syllable adjective, so its comparative form is stronger, not more strong. The rule is: short adjectives take -er suffix (stronger, faster, taller), while longer adjectives use more before them (more expensive, more beautiful).

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 Egyptians (A) first discovered that (B) drying fruit preserved it, made it (C) sweeter, (D) improving its flavor. (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

Parallel structure error. After discovered that, all three verb forms must match: preserved (past tense), made (past tense), improved (should be past tense). Using improving (present participle) breaks the parallel pattern. Correct: discovered that drying fruit preserved it, made it sweeter, improved its flavor.

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 ballad (A) is characterized by informal diction, by a narrative largely (B) dependent on action and dialogue, by thematic (C) intense, and by (D) stress on repetition. (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

Parallel structure requires consistent grammatical forms after each by. The pattern is by [noun phrase]: informal diction (noun phrase), narrative dependent on (noun phrase), but thematic intense (adjective+adjective) breaks this. It should be thematic intensity (noun phrase).

Multiple choice

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

  1. I never considered him to

  2. be a person who would

  3. go back on his promise and

  4. then do not even apologize

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

Tense inconsistency. Would is conditional, but do not is present tense. After would go back on his promise, the parallel structure requires the second verb to also use conditional: would not even apologize. The correct phrasing is would go back on his promise and not even apologize.

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).

Critical thinkers are (A) able to identify (B) main issues, recognize (C) underlying assumptions, and (D) evaluating evidence. (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

Parallel structure error. After able to, all verbs must be in base form (identify, recognize, evaluate). Using evaluating (present participle) breaks this pattern. The correct phrase is able to identify main issues, recognize underlying assumptions, and evaluate evidence.