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: 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.

To say that the graceful dance movements of Helen were less enchanting than those of Matondkar is doing a grave injustice to both the dancers.

  1. less enchanting than those of Matondkar is doing a grave injustice to both the dancers

  2. any less enchanting than those of Matondkar is doing a grave injustice to both of them

  3. less enchanting than those of Matondkar is to do a grave injustice to both the dancers

  4. less enchanting than that of Matondkar is doing a grave injustice to both the dancers

  5. less enchanting than Matondkar is doing a grave injustice to both the dancers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence requires parallel structure: 'To say... is to do'. Option A incorrectly uses 'is doing', which breaks the infinitive parallel. Option C correctly uses 'is to do', matching 'To say'. The phrase 'grave injustice to both the dancers' is parallel in referring to Helen and Matondkar.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the underlined part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (5).

Climatic changes happen due to global warming and increased pollution levels but effective measures have not yet been undertaken to curb the effects.

  1. due to

  2. increased pollution levels

  3. but

  4. not yet been undertaken

  5. no error
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Because of should be used and not due to. When the effect is a verb, use because of and when the effect is a noun, use due to. Here, the cause is global warming and the effect is that climate changes happen. Happen is a verb, so use because of.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (5).

If your child does not do something good, do not force the child to become better at it.

  1. your child

  2. do something good

  3. the child

  4. better at it

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

To do something good is to do something kind or generous. Here, the sentence is talking about the efficiency of an act. The correct usage is do something well.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the underlined part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (5).

If you regularly watch news on TV, you realize that there are many news everyday.

  1. If you

  2. watch news

  3. realize that

  4. are many news

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

News is an uncountable noun and is always singular. Both are and many cannot be used here. The correct usage is there is much news or there are many bits of news.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the underlined part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (5).

In an economy that is not strong, the currency value falls, inflation rate is always increasing, and the cost of living goes up.

  1. an economy

  2. value falls

  3. is always increasing

  4. goes up

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

The other two verbs in the sentence - falls and goes up - are in simple present. The correct construction should be inflation rate increases.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the underlined part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (5).

Evolution is misunderstood as something that happens over many years: People do not realize that evolution happens everyday.

  1. is misunderstood

  2. that happens

  3. years: People

  4. happens everyday

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

When two independent clauses are joined, the correct punctuation to be used is a semi-colon, and not a colon.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the underlined part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (5).

The heart, though the most vital of the internal organs, is not the largest either.

  1. The heart

  2. the most vital

  3. is

  4. either

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

Not the largest either can be used if the sentence had earlier stated one other quality that the heart does not have. For example, the sentence can state that The heart is not softest organ or the largest either. Here, the sentence is talking only about the size and the either is redundant.